JP2010233922A - Program, information storage medium, and game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game capable of providing a player with information necessary for the progress of the game not directly but in a natural way in the development of a story related to a trial, though the player can experience a pseudo citizen judge system or jury system in the game. <P>SOLUTION: The player can select options of questions to a witness to be asked to a witness on the next scene of supplementary inquiry on a scene of judicial inquiry. The options of questions include indispensable questions to be asked to the witness or the like for indispensable information on the progress of the game, and dummy questions other than those. When an indispensable question is not asked on the scene of supplementary inquiry, an NPC citizen judge to whom the indispensable question is previously assigned is compulsively controlled to ask the unasked indispensable question. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a program or the like for causing a computer to display and control a predetermined character to control the progress of a game.

  As a so-called “court battle” genre adventure game with the motif of the exchange between the prosecution and the defense in the courtroom, the player becomes a strong defense attorney and asks the true criminal who appears as a prosecutor's witness with an unfaithful face It has been known. In this game, the reasoning of the case is carried out by using the selection operation such as questioning the contradictions of the true criminal's testimony while applying the reasoning, and attaching the evidence that strikes the core of the case. This is to enjoy the story of saving the innocent defendant (see Non-Patent Document 1 regarding game software “reversal trial-reviving reversal”) for portable game device “Nintendo DS” manufactured by Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Capcom Co., Ltd., “Reversal Trial -Reviving Reversal-Instruction Manual”, 2005

  Nowadays, in Japan, there is a situation in which a judge system in which ordinary people are involved in trials as judges is starting. The jury system is the first in Japan, and there is a lot of interest in what to do with the jury system and what to do if you are selected as a judge.

  Also, in a game with a trial motif, how the player naturally receives information essential for the game progress (for example, information for understanding later story development, NPC remarks, information for underlining the story). It is an important viewpoint to maintain the game quality. For example, NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) appearing in the game may speak essential information one after another in order to make the game progress quickly, but from the viewpoint of game characteristics, simple and unobtrusive presentation of information will be interesting for the game. There is a risk of scraping.

  The present invention realizes a game that can provide a player with essential information for the progress of the game in an unobtrusive natural form in the story development related to the trial, while it is a game that can simulate the judge system or jury system The purpose is to do.

The first invention for solving the above problems is a PC (player character) judge or jury (hereinafter referred to as a “judgment etc.”), an NPC (non-playable character) judge, and a trial. A program for causing a computer to execute a virtual trial game in which a game progresses by interrogating and reviewing witnesses and parties (hereinafter referred to as “witnesses”) made up of NPCs.
Question option presenting means for presenting a player with a plurality of question options for a witness or the like (for example, the processing unit 200, the game operation unit 210, the question option presenting control unit 212, the storage unit 500, the interrogation and supplemental interrogation scenario data 530 in FIG. FIG. 7 question option set 530c, FIG. 13 steps S104 to S106),
Among the plurality of question options, PC question and answer execution means for executing a question and answer between the PC and a witness according to the question option selected according to the player's selection operation (for example, the processing unit 200 of FIG. 6, game calculation) Unit 210, PC action control unit 214, storage unit 500, acquired question registration data 536, step S188 in FIG.
Detecting means (for example, FIG. 6) that detects that a question question that is not subject to question and answer by the PC question and answer execution means includes an essential question option that is predetermined as a question that is indispensable for the progress of the game. Processing unit 200, game calculation unit 210, essential question execution guarantee unit 216, question execution flag TBL534, step S148 in FIG. 14),
NPC question-and-answer compulsory execution means for executing a question-and-answer between a judge, a judge, or the like made of an NPC and a witness in accordance with the detected required question option when the detection means detects ( For example, it is a program for causing the computer to function as the processing unit 200, the game calculation unit 210, the NPC action control unit 218, the raising hand flag TBL538, and the steps S150 to S152, S170, and S190 to S194 in FIG. .

As another form, a judge of a PC (player character) and a judge and a judge of an NPC (non-playable character) appear, and a witness or a party (hereinafter referred to as “witness etc.”) made up of an NPC. Is a game device that executes a virtual trial game in which the game proceeds by interrogating and reviewing
A question option presenting means for presenting a player with a plurality of question options for a witness or the like;
PC question and answer execution means for executing a question and answer between a PC and a witness according to a question option selected according to a player's selection operation among the plurality of question options;
A detecting means for detecting that a question option that is not targeted for a question and answer by the PC question and answer executing means includes an essential question option that is predetermined as a question that is indispensable for the progress of the game;
NPC question-and-answer compulsory execution means for executing a question-and-answer between a judge, a judge or the like made of an NPC and a witness in accordance with the detected required question option when the detection means detects , And can be configured as a game device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the player can select a plurality of question options for the witness, etc., and can ask the witness to ask the PC to ask the information according to the question option selected by the player. On the other hand, the question options that can be selected by the player include essential questions that are predetermined as questions that are indispensable for the progress of the game. When there is an indispensable question that is not subject to a question-and-answer session from the PC to the witness or the like, it is possible to cause the NPC to make the indispensable question the witness or the like.
That is, the player can freely select the contents of the question to the witness or the like, but if the essential information that can be heard from the witness or the like is not asked, the NPC executes the required question to obtain the required information. Offers can be secured in a natural way.

The second invention is an interrogation execution means (for example, the processing unit 200, the game operation unit 210, the interrogation and supplemental interrogation scenario data 530 in FIG. 6, FIG. 13) that interrogates the witness by the prosecution side and / or the defense side. In step S100, S114 to S118),
The question option presenting means presents the question option during the interrogation by the interrogation executing means, and the PC question-and-answer executing means and the NPC question-and-answer compulsory executing means serve as supplementary interrogation to a witness or the like. A program of the first invention for causing the computer to function as if executed.

  According to the second invention, the same effect as that of the first invention is achieved, and while the state of forensic interrogation is reproduced, the player can select the question option while observing the state of the interrogation. Based on the question option selected at the timing, the PC can make a question to a witness or the like. In other words, it is possible to provide the player with information essential to the progress of the game in a question-and-answer session in the supplementary questioning scene that follows the court questioning of the game with the trial as a motif in the development of the trial.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the computer functions so that the question option presenting means sequentially presents a plurality of sets of question options including a plurality of question options including at least one essential question option. Selected question storage means (for example, the processing unit 200, the game calculation unit 210, the question option presentation control unit 212, and the acquired question registration data in FIG. 6) that stores the question options selected from each group according to the player's selection operation. 536, steps S108 to S110 in FIG.
Further, the computer question and answer execution means causes the computer to function to execute a question and answer between the PC and a witness for the question options stored by the selection question storage means. It is a program of the 1st or 2nd invention for functioning.

  According to the third invention, the same effect as the first or second invention can be obtained, and when the player selects a question option, a set of question options including at least one essential option can be presented.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the computer detects the essential question option presented by the question option presenting means and is not stored in the selected question storage means. It is a program of the 3rd invention for functioning.

  According to the fourth invention, the same effect as the third invention can be obtained, and even if the player does not select the required question option, the execution of the question and answer according to the required question option can be ensured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, for each question option stored in the selected question storage means, management means for managing whether or not the question option is a question and answer target (for example, the processing unit 200 of FIG. 6, game calculation) Unit 210, question execution flag TBL534, acquired question registration data 536, step S186 in FIG.
No-question instruction input means for inputting an instruction indicating that there is no question by a judge, etc. composed of a PC in accordance with the operation input of the player (for example, the button display 6e for “see off” in FIG. 5, the operation input unit 100 in FIG. Unit 200, game calculation unit 210), and causing the computer to function,
The detection means is stored in the selected question storage means when an instruction is input by the no-question instruction input means, and is managed by the management means as not being a question and answer target. It is a program of the 3rd or 4th invention for making the said computer function so that it may detect that there is an essential question option.

  According to the fifth invention, the same effect as in the third or fourth invention is achieved, and when an instruction indicating that there is no question by the PC is input, the essential question by the NPC is executed. Can ask essential questions.

  A sixth invention is a computer-readable information storage medium storing the program of any one of the first to fifth inventions. The “information storage medium” mentioned here includes, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an IC memory, and the like. According to the sixth invention, by causing the computer to read and execute the program of any one of the first to fifth inventions, the computer has the same effect as any one of the first to fifth inventions. It can be demonstrated.

The figure which shows the system structural example of a portable game device. The conceptual diagram which shows the flow of the main scenario of a virtual trial game. It is a figure which shows the example of a game screen, and a basic operation input example, and is the example of a screen in a "case outline explanation" sequence. The figure which shows the example of a screen structure in an interrogation sequence. The figure which shows the example of a screen structure in a supplementary interrogation sequence. The functional block diagram which shows a function structural example. The figure which shows the data structural example of interrogation and supplementary interrogation scenario data. The figure which shows the data structural example of question setting data. The figure which shows the data structural example of question execution flag TBL. The figure which shows the data structural example of acquisition question registration data. The figure which shows the data structural example of the raising hand flag TBL. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the main processes. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of an interrogation and a supplementary interrogation sequence process. 14 is a flowchart continued from FIG.

  As an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, a PC (player character) judge, an NPC (non-playable character) judge, and a judge appear in a portable game device. An example will be described in which a virtual trial game in which a game progresses by interrogating and reviewing a party (hereinafter referred to as “witness etc.”) is performed.

[Configuration of game device]
FIG. 1 is an external view for explaining a configuration example of a portable game device. A portable game apparatus 1400 according to this embodiment includes a direction input key 1402 and a button switch 1404 for a player to input a game operation, a first liquid crystal display 1406, a second liquid crystal display 1408, a speaker 1410, and a control unit. 1450 is provided in a flip-flop type apparatus main body 1401 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 1414.
On the display surfaces of the first liquid crystal display 1406 and the second liquid crystal display 1408, touch panels 1407 and 1409 that can touch and input arbitrary positions on the display screen by touching with a stylus pen 1416 or the like are mounted, respectively. .

  Further, the apparatus main body 1401 is provided with a memory card reader 1418 capable of reading and writing data from and to a memory card 1440 that is a computer-readable information storage medium. The memory card 1440 stores programs and various setting data necessary for the control unit 1450 of the portable game apparatus 1400 to execute various arithmetic processes related to game play. In addition, the apparatus main body 1401 is provided with a built-in battery, a power button, a volume control button, and the like which are not shown.

  The touch panels 1407 and 1409 cover almost the entire areas of the display screens of the first liquid crystal display 1406 and the second liquid crystal display 1408 without shielding the display screen, respectively, and a touch operation that the player touches with the stylus pen 1416 (or a finger or the like). By doing so, the contact position coordinates in the orthogonal Xt, Yt axis coordinate system with the upper left as the origin can be output to the control unit 1450.

The control unit 1450 corresponds to a control board of the game apparatus, and includes various microprocessors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a VRAM, and the like. Various IC memories such as RAM and ROM are installed.
The control unit 1450 includes a wireless communication module 1412, a triaxial acceleration sensor 1422, driver circuits for the first liquid crystal display 1406 and the second liquid crystal display 1408, driver circuits for the touch panel 1407 and the touch panel 1409, direction input keys 1402, and button switches. A so-called I / F circuit (interface circuit) such as a circuit for receiving a signal from 1404, an amplifier circuit for outputting an audio signal to the speaker 1410, and a signal input / output circuit to the memory card reader 1418 is mounted. Each element mounted on the control unit 1450 is electrically connected via a bus circuit so that data can be read and written and signals can be transmitted and received.

  The 3-axis acceleration sensor 1422 detects accelerations in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions orthogonal to detect the attitude change or position change of the portable game apparatus 1400, and sends the detection signal to the control unit 1450. Output. In addition, it is good also as a structure provided with a gyro sensor as a function addition instead of an acceleration sensor. Alternatively, a function of a magnetic sensor that detects a change in position or posture with reference to geomagnetism may be added.

  The control unit 1450 reads out the program and data stored in the memory card 1440 by the memory card reader 1418 and temporarily stores them in the IC memory to be mounted. Then, the read program is executed to execute arithmetic processing, and a game is executed by controlling each part of the portable game apparatus 1400 in accordance with operation inputs from the direction input key 1402, the button switch 1404, and the touch panels 1407 and 1409. .

  In the present embodiment, the portable game device 1400 is configured to read out necessary programs and various setting data from the memory card 1440, but via the wireless communication module 1412, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), WAN ( It is also possible to connect to a wired / wireless communication line 1 such as a Wide Area Network and download from an external device.

[Game Overview]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a main scenario flow of the virtual trial game in the present embodiment. The adventure game of the present embodiment is a virtual trial game in which a player participates in a trial for a murder case as one of the judges, and has a flow simulating from the occurrence of the case to the end of the trial. Dividing the game progress by sequence (1) Description of the case, (2) Trial opening, (3) Factual confirmation, (4) Interrogation, (5) Supplemental interrogation, (6) Criminalization, (7) Final statement, The sequence is composed in the order of (8) verdict by judges, (9) handing over judgments, and (10) ending. Of course, if the trial to be simulated is different, the contents, order and repetition of the sequence can be set as appropriate. For example, the interrogation and supplementary interrogation sequences may be repeated a plurality of times depending on the number of witnesses appearing. In the present embodiment, the sequence of interrogation and supplemental interrogation will be described as one time each.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a game screen example and a basic operation input example in the present embodiment, and is a screen example in the “case summary description” sequence.
A game screen W2 is displayed on the first liquid crystal display 1406 of the portable game apparatus 1400. On the game screen W2, various images 2 explaining the progress of the game and text 4 such as situation explanations and dialogues of characters are displayed. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the screen 2 of the news program on the television is displayed, the text 4 of the announcer's dialogue is displayed, and the outline of the case subject to trial in this game is about to be told.

  On the second liquid crystal display 1408, an operation screen W4 is displayed. On the operation screen W4, various information display fields and one or a plurality of button displays 6 are displayed according to the progress of the game at that time, and the player selects and inputs the desired button display 6 by touching with the stylus pen 1416. To advance the game. In the example of FIG. 3, in the outline explanation of the case, a “next” button display 6 for inputting a game progress operation to advance the talk is displayed. When this button display 6 is touched, the game progresses to the next game screen according to predetermined scenario data. That is, the player can enjoy an adventure game with a trial as a motif by selecting and operating the information display and button display 6 displayed on the operation screen W4 while viewing the game screen W2.

Now, the fun of the virtual trial game is that you can virtually experience the judge system, while examining various evidences and observing how to approach the hidden truth by asking appropriate questions in interrogation and supplementary interrogation. There is a place to enjoy reasoning.
Therefore, what is important is how to provide the player with dummy information for properly hiding the truth and essential information for the progress of the game. Indispensable information includes, for example, information necessary as prior knowledge for later story development and information as a hidden line to clarify and understand the truth of the case, and can be set as appropriate by the game production side .

  If only the smooth game progress is taken into consideration, it is only necessary to automatically give a witness or other character a testimony regarding the necessary conditions from the beginning in the interrogation and supplementary interrogation, but this is not very interesting as a game. However, if all the questions and timing of questions to witnesses are left to the player, the questions will be insufficient and the necessary information will not be sufficiently presented to the player, and the sequence will proceed. There is a concern that the story development will be lost or that the trap will not match (the story will be developed on the premise that the player knows information that is not presented to the player or that the player does not know).

In view of this, the present embodiment has a configuration in which the execution of the essential question is secured by the compulsory question execution by the NPC judge.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in the interrogation sequence, the player interrogates an witness, such as a prosecutor or a lawyer, and sees a scene where the witnesses testify and respond to it on the game screen. In the next supplementary interrogation sequence, any of the question options 12a, 12b, 12c,.

  The question options 12a, 12b, 12c,... That can be obtained by the player in this interrogation sequence are essential questions (Q1 in FIG. 2) that can be obtained from witnesses and the like as essential information. The dummy questions (Q2, Q3, etc. in FIG. 2) from which the dummy information can be heard from a witness or the like are formed as a set of question options appropriately mixed. For each interrogation scene, the set of question options is presented to the player. The questions selected / acquired by the player in the interrogation sequence become a supplementary interrogation question set 14a that can be executed by the PC judge in the next supplementary interrogation sequence.

  While the player can choose what the PC judges can ask in supplementary questioning, each NPC judge can ask questions in supplementary questioning is the assignment of supplementary questioning questions including one or more required questions and dummy questions It is preset as 15a and 15b.

  In the interrogation sequence, for example, the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. That is, on the game screen W6 of the first liquid crystal display 1406, the characters of the witness 20 and the interrogator 22 are displayed, and the speech of the characters is displayed in text in the balloon 24.

  On the other hand, on the operation screen W8 of the second liquid crystal display 1408, button displays 6a, 6b, and 6c to which “Memo”, “Determine”, and “Next” operations are respectively assigned are displayed at the right end of the screen. When the player touches the “Memo” button display 6a while viewing the game screen W6, a question option display field 26 that the player can acquire in the interrogation scene is displayed in the center of the screen. In the question option display field 26, question options 28a, 28b, and 28c that can be selected by a touch operation are displayed. When the player touches and selects one of the question options 28a, 28b, and 28c, and touches the “determine” button display 6b, the selection is determined. When the selection is determined, as shown on the operation screen W10, the memo text 32 is displayed so as to appear in the memo pad 30, and it is as if the player has looked at the questioning and wrote down the contents to be asked in the supplementary questioning. Directed.

In the supplementary interrogation sequence following the interrogation sequence, for example, a screen is displayed as shown in FIG. In other words, on the game screen W12 of the first liquid crystal display 1406, the characters of the PC judge or NPC judge 25 who have a question with the witness 20 are displayed, and the speech of these characters is displayed in text in the balloon 24, and the supplementary interrogation scene is displayed. Is displayed.
On the other hand, on the operation screen W14 of the second liquid crystal display 1408, button displays 6d, 6e and 6c to which operations of “raise hand”, “see off”, and “next” are respectively assigned are displayed at the right end of the screen, and the center of the screen is displayed. The notepad 30 held by the PC judge is displayed in the section.

An operation input for causing the PC judge to execute a question in the supplementary questioning sequence is assigned to the button display 6d for “raising hands”. When raising a hand, an opportunity to ask a question to the witness 20 can be obtained by drawing from among NPC judges treated as raising hands. An image of the character asking the question is displayed in the screen as in the game screen W12, and a dialogue line of the testimony such as a question dialogue or a witness 20 is displayed in a balloon 24.
The “send” button display 6e is assigned an operation input for seeing off the hand and inputting an instruction that the PC judge has no question.

Returning to FIG. 2, execution / non-execution of the questions of the PC judge supplementary questioning set 14 a and the NPC judge supplementary question assignments 15 a and 15 b are managed by flags.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the notepad 30 displays the memo texts 32a, 32b, 32c of the questions obtained by the player in the interrogation sequence, and which of the PC judge and the NPC judge asked the question. Regardless, a check mark 34 indicating that the question has been given is added to the memo text 32 (the memo text 32b in the example of FIG. 5) corresponding to the executed question.

  And in the supplementary interrogation sequence, if the player did not ask the required question (that is, if the player did not select the required question from the question choices in the previous questioning sequence, or selected the required question) However, if a question is not asked due to the player's free will, a question by an NPC judge assigned an unquestioned mandatory question is forcibly executed (see questions Q1, Q8, and Q11 in FIG. 2). As a result, the contents of the question and the choice of whether or not to ask the selected question can be determined at the discretion of the player, but indispensable information for proceeding with the game is provided in a natural form that is not obvious from the storyline. It is devised so that.

  In the present embodiment, the question to be asked by supplementary interrogation is a PC judge or an NPC judge. However, the NPC judge can also ask questions, and the compulsory question of the NPC judge guarantees the execution of essential questions. Of course it is good.

[Description of functional block]
Next, a functional configuration example for executing the above-described game will be described.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the present embodiment includes an operation input unit 100, a processing unit 200, a sound output unit 350, an image display unit 360, a communication unit 370, and a storage unit 500.

  The operation input unit 100 outputs an operation input signal to the processing unit 200 in accordance with various operation inputs made by the player. The operation input unit 100 of this embodiment includes a contact position detection unit 104.

The operation input unit 100 can be realized by a button switch, a joystick, a touch pad, a trackball, an acceleration sensor unit, a tilt sensor unit, or the like. The direction input key 1402 and the button switch 1404 in FIG. 1 correspond to this.
The contact position detection unit 104 is a device that can detect a contact position to the display screen range. The touch panels 1407 and 1409 in FIG. 1 correspond to this.

  The processing unit 200 is realized by electronic components such as a microprocessor such as a CPU and a GPU, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and an IC memory, and includes the operation input unit 100 and the storage unit 500. Input / output data to / from each functional unit. Then, various arithmetic processes are executed based on predetermined programs and data, and operation input signals from the operation input unit 100 to control the operation of the portable game apparatus 1400. In FIG. 1, the control unit 1450 corresponds to this. The processing unit 200 in this embodiment includes a game calculation unit 210, a sound generation unit 250, an image generation unit 260, and a communication control unit 270.

The game calculation unit 210 executes various processes related to the progress of the game. For example, (1) a process for controlling display of game screens in the order of a predetermined scene according to sequence data prepared for each sequence, and (2) a supplementary questioning scene to a witness by a PC judge or NPC judge in a supplementary questioning sequence. (3) Processing for determining the individual verdict of guilty / innocence of each NPC judge and NPC judge according to a predetermined thought routine according to the combination of questions executed in the supplementary interrogation sequence, etc. (4) Processing to determine a judgment from the individual verdicts of all NPC judges and NPC judges and guilty / non-guilty individual verdicts selected and input by the player, and (5) processing to select an ending corresponding to the determined verdict Is done.
In addition, the game calculation unit 210 of the present embodiment includes a question option presentation control unit 212, a PC behavior control unit 214, an essential question execution guarantee unit 216, and an NPC behavior control unit 218.

  When the question option presentation control unit 212 detects a predetermined question acquisition operation (a touch operation of the “Memo” button display 6a in FIG. 4 in this embodiment) from the player during the progress of each interrogation scene in the interrogation sequence. The question option display field 26 is controlled to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 1408, and after the selection operation by the touch operation to the question options 28a, 28b, 28c displayed in the second liquid crystal display 1408, the selection determination operation (in the present embodiment, FIG. 4 (touch operation of the “decision” button display 6b) is detected, it is determined that the selected question option has been acquired, and is included in the question set for supplementary interrogation 14a of the PC judge (see FIG. 2) Set to In the present embodiment, storage / registration management in the supplementary questioning question set 14a is realized by a flag operation in the acquired question registration data 536 of the storage unit 500 described later.

  The PC behavior control unit 214 controls the behavior of the PC judge in the supplementary inquiry sequence. That is, when a question starting operation (touch operation on the button display 6d for “raise hand” in FIG. 5) is detected, the player selects one of the questions stored / registered as the supplementary question. , The selected question is assumed to be executed. When the player selects a question stored and registered as a supplementary question, the game calculation unit 210 executes a lottery to select a judge who is given an opportunity to ask a supplementary question from among the PC judge and the NPC judge. And control the presiding judge to give the right to the elected judge. When the PC judge wins, the PC behavior control unit 214 controls display of a supplementary interrogation scene for asking a question selected by the PC judge to the witness.

  The essential question execution guarantee unit 216 detects an unexecuted (not asked to a witness) essential question. If an unexecuted essential question is detected by the essential question execution guarantee unit 216, the NPC behavior control unit 218 executes forced question control by an NPC judge to whom the detected essential question is assigned. Since the present embodiment takes the form of a trial, the “forced question control” referred to here is a process of asking an NPC judge who has been given an opportunity to make supplementary questions in the supplementary question sequence. As the contents of the question, one unexecuted question is automatically selected from the required question and the dummy question assigned to the NPC judge. Then, the NPC judge controls display of a supplementary questioning scene in which the selected question is asked to a witness or the like.

  The sound generation unit 250 is realized by a processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a voice synthesis IC, or an audio codec capable of playing back an audio file, for example. Based on the processing result of the game calculation unit 210, sound effects and BGM related to the game Then, sound signals of various operation sounds are generated and output to the sound output unit 350.

  The sound output unit 350 is realized by a device that outputs sound effects, BGM, and the like based on the sound signal input from the sound generation unit 250. In FIG. 1, the speaker 1410 corresponds to this.

  The image generation unit 260 is realized by, for example, a processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a digital signal processor (DSP), a drawing frame IC memory such as a video signal IC, a video codec, or a frame buffer. The image generation unit 260 generates one game image in one frame time (for example, 1/60 second) based on the processing result by the game calculation unit 210, and outputs an image signal of the generated game image to the image display unit 360. To do.

  The image display unit 360 displays various game images based on the image signal input from the image generation unit 260. For example, it can be realized by an image display device such as a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, or a head mounted display. In FIG. 1, the first liquid crystal display 1406 and the second liquid crystal display 1408 correspond to this.

  The communication control unit 270 executes data processing related to data communication, and realizes data exchange with an external device via the communication unit 370.

  The communication unit 370 is connected to the communication line 1 to realize communication. For example, it is realized by a wireless communication device, a modem, a TA (terminal adapter), a cable communication cable jack, a control circuit, and the like, and the wireless communication module 1412 of FIG. 1 corresponds to this.

  The storage unit 500 stores a system program for realizing various functions for causing the processing unit 200 to control the portable game device 1400 in an integrated manner, a game program necessary for executing the game, various data, and the like. . Further, it is used as a work area of the processing unit 200, and temporarily stores calculation results executed by the processing unit 200 according to various programs, input data input from the operation input unit 100, and the like. This function is realized by, for example, an IC memory such as a RAM and a ROM, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM and DVD. In FIG. 1, this corresponds to an IC memory or a memory card 1440 mounted on the control unit 1450.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 500 stores a system program 501 and a game program 502. The system program 501 is a program for realizing the basic functions of the portable game apparatus 1400, and includes various types of firmware that can be used by calling each function unit on the application software side. The game program 502 is application software for realizing the function as the game calculation unit 210 by being read and executed by the processing unit 200.

  The storage unit 500 stores game data 510 as data prepared in advance. Furthermore, a question execution flag TBL (table) 534, acquired question registration data 536, and a raising hand flag TBL 538 are stored as data that is generated and updated as needed as the game is prepared and progressed. In addition, data (for example, a timer value and a counter) necessary for executing a process related to the progress of the game is also stored as appropriate.

  The game data 510 includes an image of each character necessary for displaying a game screen and an operation screen, an image of a balloon 24, an image of a notepad 30, an image of each button display 6, and a moving image reproduced during a sequence. Including various data.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the case summary explanation sequence data 512, the court opening sequence data 514, the fact confirmation sequence data 516, the report requesting sequence data 518, the final statement sequence data 520, the judgment passing sequence data 522, and the ending sequence Data 524. These store data for display control of scenes included in each sequence. The data structure can be the same as the scene data of a known action game.

  In addition, the game data 510 of the present embodiment stores interrogation and supplementary interrogation scenario data 530 and question setting data 532 in advance.

The interrogation and supplemental interrogation and supplemental interrogation scenario data 530 stores information for controlling the display of the state of interrogation and the state of supplemental interrogation in the interrogation sequence and supplemental interrogation sequence. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the dialogue option 530b displayed in the balloon 24 in association with the scene 530a registered in the display order, and the question option that defines the identification information of the question option that can be acquired by the player regarding the scene The set 530c is stored.
The questions set in the question option set 530c are preferably configured to include at least one essential question for each scene 530a. In addition, the interrogation and supplementary interrogation scenario data 530 is appropriately associated with the image of the character of the witness 20 or the interrogator 22 displayed in the scene, the background image, the material image of the balloon 24, the display completion flag of the scene, and the like. Are stored.

  The question setting data 532 stores setting information about all questions that can be asked by the PC judge and the NPC judge in the supplementary interrogation sequence. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in association with the question ID 532a, the assigned NPC 532b indicating the identification information of the NPC judge to which the question is executable, the question type 532c, and the notepad 30 are displayed in a superimposed manner. Memo text 532d, question dialogue data 532e displayed in the balloon 24 on the game screen when the question is asked, and response dialogue data 532f such as a witness to that are stored. In addition, it is assumed that an image of the character of the witness 20 or the NPC judge 25 displayed in the scene, a background image, and the like are stored in association with each other as appropriate.

  The question execution flag TBL 534 is information for identifying a question made in the supplementary interrogation sequence. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an execution flag 534b is stored in association with each question ID 534a of all questions defined in the question setting data 532. The execution flag 534b indicates that the initial value is “0” and “1” has been executed.

  The acquired question registration data 536 is information for identifying a question selected from the question options 28a, 28b, and 28c displayed by the player in the option display field 26 in the inquiry sequence, as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an acquisition flag 536b is stored in association with each question ID 536a of all questions defined by the question setting data 532. The initial value of the acquisition flag 536b is “0”, and the question acquired by setting the acquisition flag 536b of the question selected by the player from the option display field 26 to “1” is stored / registered.

  Raised hand flag TBL538 is information for managing the identification of characters participating in the lottery given the opportunity to ask questions by the presiding judge in the supplementary interrogation sequence. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a hand raising flag 538b is stored in association with each character ID 538a of the PC judge and NPC judge. If the flag is “1”, it indicates that the character is participating in the lottery.

[Description of process flow]
Next, the flow of processing in this embodiment will be described. A series of processing flow described here is realized by the processing unit 200 reading and executing the game program 502.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of main processing. First, the processing unit 200 refers to the case outline explanation sequence data 512 and sequentially displays scenes constituting the case outline explanation sequence on the first liquid crystal display 1406 as the game screen W2 in response to an operation input to the operation screen W4. (Step S2; see FIG. 2). This gives the player an overview of the case that will be trial.

  Next, the processing unit 200 refers to the court sequence data 514 to sequentially display scenes depicting the state until the trial is started on the game screen (step S4), and further refers to the fact confirmation sequence data 516, Scenes depicting the opening procedure and evidence procedure in the courtroom are sequentially displayed (step S6).

  Next, the processing unit 200 executes interrogation and supplementary interrogation sequence processing (step S8). 13 to 14 are flowcharts for explaining the flow of the interrogation and supplementary interrogation sequence processing in the present embodiment. In this process, first, the processing unit 200 refers to the interrogation and supplemental interrogation scenario data 530, controls the first liquid crystal display 1406 to display the first scene of the interrogation sequence as a game screen, and displays the operation screen on the second liquid crystal display 1408. Display control is performed (step S100; see FIG. 4).

  If a touch operation on the “Memo” button display 6 a is detected (YES in step S 102), the processing unit 200 refers to the interrogation and supplementary interrogation scenario data 530, and displays the currently displayed scene 530 a. It is determined whether or not the corresponding question option group 530c exists. If it exists (YES in step S104), the question option display column 26 that lists the options of the question option group 530c is displayed (step S106).

  If a touch selection operation on any of the question options 28a, 28b, and 28c in the display column, that is, a selection operation is detected (YES in step S108), the processing unit 200 corresponds to the question option selected and operated. The acquisition flag 536b of the acquisition question registration data 536 to be set is set to “1”, stored and registered (step S110), and the memo text 532d corresponding to the question ID 532a of the question option selected from the question setting data 532 is referred to. Then, the memo text 32 is displayed on the memo pad 30 in the operation screen (step S112; see FIG. 4).

If the processing unit 200 does not detect the touch operation on the “next” button display 6c (YES in step S114), the processing unit 200 returns to step S102, and if detected (step S114), displays all scenes of the interrogation sequence. Is determined (step S116).
If there is still a scene to be displayed (NO in step S116), the processing unit 200 executes display control for the next scene (step S118) and returns to step S102.

  If all the scenes of the interrogation sequence are displayed (YES in step S116), the processing unit 200 next executes processing related to the supplementary interrogation sequence (steps S120 to S200). Specifically, first, the display of a scene declared by the presiding judge to start supplementary inquiry is executed (step S120). Next, with reference to the acquired question registration data 536, the number of questions that the player has acquired in the interrogation sequence is referred to.

  If the number of acquired questions is not “0” (step S122), refer to each memo text 532d associated with the question whose acquisition flag 536b of the acquisition question registration data 536 is “1” from the question setting data 532. All are displayed on the memo pad 30 (step S124; see FIG. 5).

  Next, the processing unit 200 refers to the acquired question registration data 536 and the question execution flag TBL 534, and among the questions already acquired in the interrogation sequence, the unexecuted question (the acquisition flag 536b is “1” but the execution flag 534b is “1”). If there is a "0" question (YES in step S126), the buttons 6d and 6e of "Raise Hand" and "See Off" are displayed on the operation screen to prepare the PC judge to ask a question (step S128). .

  Next, the processing unit 200 displays on the game screen a scene in which the presiding judge requests the requester to raise his hand (FIG. 14; step S140), sets all the hand raising flags 538b of the hand raising flag TBL538 to “0”, and initially (Step S142).

  If a touch operation on the button display 6d of “Raised Hand” is detected (raising hand in step S144), the processing unit 200 sets the raised hand flag 538b corresponding to the PC judge to “1” (step S146). When the touch operation on the “see off” button display 6e is detected (see off in step S144), the change of the hand raising flag 538b corresponding to the PC judge is skipped.

  Next, processing related to raising a hand related to the NPC judge is executed (steps S148 to S162). Specifically, referring to the acquired question registration data 536, the question execution flag TBL 534, and the question type 532c of the question setting data 532, the question is asked to the witness by the PC judge without being selected by the player in the interrogation sequence. If it is determined that there is an indispensable question that is not a response target, or an unexecuted essential question that is selected in the interrogation sequence (YES in step S148), the processing unit 200 selects the corresponding unexecuted essential question. One of these is automatically selected at random (step S150), and the raised hand flag 538b of the NPC judge to whom the selected unexecuted essential question is assigned is set to “1” (step S152).

  On the other hand, even if there are no unexecuted essential questions (NO in step S148), if there are NPC judges whose unexecuted questions are greater than or equal to a predetermined reference number among the assigned questions (YES in step S160). The processing unit 200 sets the raised hand flag 538b of the corresponding NPC judge to “1” (step S162).

  If the processing related to raising the hand of the NPC judge is executed, the processing unit 200 automatically selects one of the PC judge and NPC judge whose hand raising flag 538b is “1” at random (step). S170), and display control of a scene permitting a question to the character automatically selected by the presiding judge (step S172).

  If the character selected in step S170 is a PC judge (PC judge in step S180), the processing unit 200 further selects a question option that has been acquired by the player and that is to be executed this time from among the unexecuted question options. A display prompting the user to do so is performed on the operation screen (step S182).

  If it is detected that the player has touched any of the memo texts 32 displayed on the memo pad 30 (step S184), the processing unit 200 sets the question execution flag 534b corresponding to the touched memo text 32 to “ 1 ”(step S186), and a scene in which the PC judge selects the question selected as a witness and a scene to which the witness responds are displayed (step S188). Then, among the memo texts displayed on the memo pad 30 on the operation screen, a check mark 34 is additionally displayed near the memo text 32 corresponding to the question executed in step S188 (step S196; see FIG. 5). Then, the process related to the current question is terminated, and the process returns to step S140.

  On the other hand, if the character selected in step S170 is an NPC judge (NPC judge in step S180), the processing unit 200 further executes an unexecuted question assigned to the NPC judge (essential if not executed). One is randomly selected (including questions and dummy questions) (step S190), and the execution flag 534b of the selected question is changed to “1” (step S192).

  Then, the scene where the NPC judge judges the selected question as a witness and the scene where the witness responds are displayed (step S194), and a check mark 34 is additionally displayed in the vicinity of the selected memo text 32. (Step S196), the process related to the current question is terminated, and the process returns to Step S140.

  If there is no unrequired essential question in step S148 (NO in step S148), and there are no NPC judges who have not been assigned more questions than the reference number (NO in step S160), the processing unit 200 The display of the scene where the presiding judge declares the end of supplementary interrogation is executed (step S200), and the interrogation and supplementary interrogation sequence processing is terminated.

  When a plurality of witnesses to be interrogated appear, it is preferable to repeat the interrogation and supplemental interrogation sequence processing accordingly.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 12, next, the processing unit 200 refers to the sentence requesting sequence data 518 to sequentially display scenes depicting the state of requesting submission (step S10), and further refers to the final statement sequence data 520. Then, the scenes depicting the final statement are sequentially displayed (step S12).

Next, the processing unit 200 determines an individual verdict of guilty / non-guilty for each NPC judge (step S14). The determination method of the individual verdict is appropriately determined according to a predetermined rule according to, for example, a player's operation input in a fact confirmation sequence or a combination of questions executed in an interrogation and supplementary interrogation sequence.
In addition, regarding the individual verdict of the PC judge, the processing unit 200 executes a process of causing the player to judge whether the PC judge is guilty / innocent (step S16). For example, a guide display for selecting one on the operation screen and two button displays of “guilty” and “not guilty” are displayed, and the setting corresponding to the button display on the touch-operated side is set individually for the PC judge. A verdict.

  When the individual judgments of the PC judge and the NPC judge are ready, the processing unit 200 selects a judgment and an ending (step S18). Then, the display of the scene to be judged and handed over is referred to with reference to the judgment handing over sequence data 522 (step S20), the ending is displayed with reference to the ending sequence data 524 (step S22), and a series related to the virtual trial game. Terminate the process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a virtual trial game in which a player participates as a member of a judge can be realized. Then, in the case of the court interrogation depicted therein, it is possible to select the contents of the question that can be asked by the PC judge in the next supplementary interrogation while watching the testimony and response of the witness to be interrogated.

  Among the question options that can be selected by the player in the case of this questioning in the courtroom, a mandatory question that can be obtained from a witness or the like as essential information to be presented to the player in the course of the game is presented as a dummy question. In other words, the player can have a degree of freedom to select the question contents while looking at the court questioning, while the possibility that the essential question is not asked in the next supplementary question arises. However, essential questions are assigned to NPC judges in advance as supplementary questions. If there are unrequired essential questions in the supplementary questions, the NPC judge will replace the PC judges with witnesses, etc. The compulsory control is performed so that the required questions are executed.

  Therefore, by giving the player a wide degree of freedom including selection of questions that can be executed by supplementary interrogation and selection of execution / non-execution of the selected questions, the observation and reasoning can be used on the spot to approach the truth of the case. While realizing a realistic play style that is going to be achieved, it is possible to reliably provide information essential to the progress of the game in an unobtrusive manner.

  In addition, in the action regarding the compulsory question by the NPC judge who guarantees the emergence of the essential question, a question randomly selected from among the dummy question and the essential question is executed. Is not necessarily an essential question, and is devised so that the essential question is not easily discriminated by the player.

  Although it is a virtual trial game like this, there has never been a game that reliably provides players with information necessary for the progress of the game across the scenes of interrogation and supplementary interrogation in the form of testimony of witnesses, etc. High game quality can be realized while producing.

[Modification]
Although the embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, the embodiment to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this configuration, and additions, omissions, and changes of components can be appropriately made.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, if there is an indispensable question that is not executed, the NPC judge is forced to ask a question from the beginning. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a situation in which the PC judge does not execute the mandatory question is detected. Then, it is good also as a structure which enables execution of the compulsory question by the NPC judge. That is, it is good also as a structure considered so that a PC judge may ask an essential question preferentially. Specifically, prior to step S148, a step of counting the number of continuous inputs of the “see-off” operation in step S144 is executed, and if the count number does not reach a reference value (for example, 5 times), then the mere appearance is seen. If it is determined that the number of counts has reached the reference value, it may be determined that the player is no longer willing to ask questions and the process branches to step S148. Of course, the reference value may be one time.

  In the above embodiment, the collateral of the essential question is realized by the compulsory question by the NPC judge, but a configuration realized by the compulsory question by the NPC judge can be added.

  Further, for example, the game device in the above embodiment is exemplified as the portable game device 1400. However, the game device is not limited to a stationary home game device and an arcade game device, but is limited to an electronic device sold as a “game device”. In addition, since electronic devices such as mobile phones, compact digital cameras, music players, and personal computers that can execute application software also function as game devices by executing game programs, the game devices that implement the present invention are used. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the game content is based on a murder trial, but the NPC interrogator who interrogates witnesses, etc., and the player character and the player character together with the behavior on a different occasion. If there is a situation in which the NPC that asks the same witness asks a question, a military court may be used as a motif, or a game using a detective activity as a motif may be changed as appropriate.

6 Button display 20 Witness etc. 22 Interrogator 24 Balloon 25 Judge 26 Question option display field 28a, 28b, 28c Question option 30 Notepad 32 Memo text 100 Operation input unit 104 Contact position detection unit 200 Processing unit 210 Game calculation unit 212 Question Choice presentation control unit 214 PC behavior control unit 216 Essential question execution guarantee unit 218 NPC behavior control unit 500 Storage unit 502 Game program 510 Game data 530 Interrogation and supplemental inquiry scenario data
530c Question option set 532 Question setting data
532b Assigned NPC
532c Question type 534 Question execution flag TBL
536 Acquisition question registration data 1400 Portable game device 1401 Device main body 1404 Button switch 1406 First liquid crystal display 1407 Touch panel 1408 Second liquid crystal display 1409 Touch panel 1450 Control unit

Claims (7)

PC (player character) judges or jurors (hereinafter referred to as “judgment etc.”), NPC (non-playable character) judges and judges, etc. appear, and NPC witnesses and parties A program for causing a computer to execute a virtual trial game in which the game proceeds by interrogating and reviewing (hereinafter referred to as “Witness etc.”),
Question option presenting means for presenting a player with a plurality of question options for witnesses, etc.
PC question-and-answer execution means for executing a question-and-answer between a PC and a witness according to a question option selected according to a player's selection operation among the plurality of question options;
A detecting means for detecting that a question option that is not targeted for the question and answer by the PC question and answer executing means includes an essential question option that is predetermined as a question that is indispensable for the progress of the game;
NPC question-and-answer compulsory execution means for executing a question-and-answer between a judge, a judge, or the like made of an NPC and a witness in accordance with the detected required question option when the detection means detects
A program for causing the computer to function as Allowing the computer to function as an interrogation execution means for interrogating witnesses by the prosecution and / or defense side;
The question option presenting means presents the question option during interrogation by the interrogation executing means,
The PC question-and-answer execution means and the NPC question-and-answer compulsory execution means execute the question-and-answer to witnesses as supplementary interrogation,
The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to function. The question option presenting means causes the computer to sequentially present a plurality of sets of question options including a plurality of question options including at least one required question option;
Causing the computer to function as selected question storage means for storing a question option selected according to a player's selection operation from each of the question option sets;
Furthermore,
The PC question-and-answer execution means causes the computer to execute a question-and-answer between the PC and a witness for the question options stored by the selection question storage means;
The program according to claim 1 or 2 for causing the computer to function as described above.   Claim for causing the computer to function to detect that the detection means is an essential question option presented by the question option presentation means and is not stored in the selected question storage means. Item 4. The program according to item 3. For each question option stored in the selected question storage means, a management means for managing whether or not the question option is a question and answer target,
A question-free instruction input means for inputting an instruction to the effect that there is no question by a judge, etc. consisting of a PC, according to the operation input of the player;
As the computer functions as
The detection means is stored in the selected question storage means when an instruction is input by the no-question instruction input means, and is managed by the management means as not being a question and answer target. Operating the computer to detect that there is a mandatory question option;
The program of Claim 3 or 4 for.   The computer-readable information storage medium which memorize | stored the program as described in any one of Claims 1-5. A game device for executing a virtual trial game in which a PC judge, an NPC judge, a judge, etc. appear, interrogate and review the witnesses and parties involved in the NPC, and the game proceeds.
A question option presenting means for presenting a player with a plurality of question options for a witness or the like;
PC question and answer execution means for executing a question and answer between a PC and a witness according to a question option selected according to a player's selection operation among the plurality of question options;
A detecting means for detecting that a question option that is not targeted for a question and answer by the PC question and answer executing means includes an essential question option that is predetermined as a question that is indispensable for the progress of the game;
NPC question-and-answer compulsory execution means for executing a question-and-answer between a judge, a judge or the like made of an NPC and a witness in accordance with the detected required question option when the detection means detects ,
A game device comprising:

Images