JP2011092623A - Computer program, recording media and game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game program which increase an opportunity for a player to participate in the game so as to enjoy the multiplayer game to the fullest, and while synchronization of each computer can easily be executed when the player participates in the progress of the game. <P>SOLUTION: In the game program 10, a game device 1 is operated as a game control part 60a and a participation reception part 60b. When the participation reception means 60b accepts the participation of the new player (player participating in the middle) to the ongoing game, the game control means 60a makes a character operated by the player participating in the middle of the game come into a virtual game space of the game in the timing of not affecting the progress of the game. Furthermore, the game progresses while synchronizing with the other game device 1 operated by the player participating in the middle of the game. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for realizing mid-game participation of a new player in a multiplayer participation game, a recording medium storing the program, and a game apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a multiplayer online game has been provided in which characters of a plurality of players can be simultaneously activated in the same virtual game space via a network (see Patent Document 1). As such a game, for example, there are a type in which a plurality of participating players cooperate to advance the game, and a type in which characters operated by each player battle each other. In this type of game, the maximum number of players that can participate is preset (for example, a maximum of four players), and the player waits for the participation of other players in the lobby before the game starts. Here, if the game cannot be started unless the number of participating players is less than the maximum capacity, there is a possibility that the game cannot be started without finally satisfying the capacity. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a game can be started even if the number of participants is less than the maximum number of participants (for example, two or three).

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1, once the game is started, even if the number of participating players in the ongoing game does not satisfy the maximum capacity, other players cannot participate in the game halfway. Therefore, the opportunity for the player to play the game is limited to whether to participate as a guest when another player is waiting to participate, or to invite the other player to participate as a host. End up. In this way, in a configuration in which other players cannot participate in the game in progress, the number of lobbies that the player can participate in cannot be increased (that is, the number of lobbies that can participate is not sufficiently secured). Things will happen. Moreover, when the game is started in a state where the maximum capacity is not reached, it is not possible to sufficiently enjoy the real thrill of a multiplayer online game that can be played simultaneously by a plurality of players. In addition, it is difficult to collect participating players at an early stage in a time zone where the number of players playing a game is small, or when trying to select and play a less popular game stage. Therefore, even if the number of participating players is less than the maximum capacity, there is also a demand to start a game for the time being and to invite other players to participate while advancing the game.

  In view of such circumstances, a configuration has been proposed in which other players can participate in an ongoing game on the way (see Patent Document 2). In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, when there is a request for participation in the middle of the game, information about the character in progress of the game, information about the current virtual game space, and the like are transmitted to the computer of the player requesting participation. Based on the received information, the computer constructs a virtual game space for a player who intends to participate in the future. And if each computer synchronizes by building this space, the said player can participate in the game in progress on the way, and the character which concerns on the way can be made to appear in the same virtual game space. It has become.

Japanese Patent No. 3818775 Japanese Patent No. 3818768

  However, the amount of information such as objects that make up the virtual game space is increasing. For this reason, it is becoming difficult to synchronize the computers operated by the participating players in a short time, and it is no longer practical to realize halfway participation by the technique as described in Patent Document 2. In particular, in recent years, there are games in which settings such as the number of items and the number of enemies that can be acquired in the virtual game space are changed depending on the number of participants, and the appearance image of the character can be customized according to the preference of the player There is also a game. In such a game, there is a large amount of information that needs to be transmitted and received to synchronize, and the computer operated by the player in the game and the computer operated by the player trying to participate in the middle are synchronized during the game. It becomes increasingly difficult.

  Therefore, in view of the circumstances as described above, the present invention makes it easy to synchronize each computer when participating in the middle while increasing the chances of participating in the game and enjoying the best part of the multiplayer game. An object of the present invention is to provide a game program that can be recorded, a recording medium that records the game program, and a game apparatus.

  The game program according to the present invention generates a virtual game space for a game in which a plurality of players can participate in the computer, and at least inputs a character corresponding to the player who operates the computer to the computer. In response to the game, the game control means for causing the game to progress and the other computer operated by another player participating in the game to advance the game synchronously. It functions as a communication means for transmitting and receiving data and a participation reception means for receiving participation in the game by other players operating other computers, and the game control means Other players who operate the computer (hereinafter referred to as “participating players”) ) Is accepted by the participation acceptance means, the character corresponding to the midway participating player appears in the virtual game space at a timing that does not affect the progress of the game. The game is advanced in synchronization with the other computer operated by the participating player.

  The game program according to the present invention generates a virtual game space of a game in which a plurality of players can participate in the computer, and at least a character corresponding to the player who operates the computer is displayed on the computer by the player. The game progresses in synchronism with a game control means for causing the game to proceed in accordance with an operation input and to advance the game, and with another computer operated by another player participating in the game. A communication means for transmitting and receiving data and another computer accepting participation in the game, functioning as participation request means for requesting participation in the game in response to an operation of the player; The control means is the participation in the game in progress on another computer. When participation of the player (hereinafter referred to as “halfway participating player”) by the requesting unit is accepted, generation of the virtual game space of the ongoing game is started at a timing that does not affect the progress of the game. The character corresponding to the halfway participating player and the other character corresponding to the other computer are caused to act in the virtual game space, and the game is advanced in synchronization with the other computer.

  The game control means synchronizes with the other computers in progress of the game after the participation of the midway participation player by the participation request means in the game in progress is accepted. Until the game progresses, a standby screen may be displayed on a monitor connected to the computer for the halfway participating player.

  In addition, the standby screen may include information on the progress of the game received from another computer in progress of the game.

  Further, the computer is further caused to function as loading means for loading at least a part of at least one of programs and data stored in the storage unit and processed by the game control means in accordance with the progress of the game. The timing that does not affect the progress of the game may be the timing when the loading ends.

  In addition, when the game control means generates the virtual game space, the computer further sets the conditions of objects for constructing the virtual game space based on the number of characters corresponding to the players participating in the game. It may function as an object condition determining means for determining.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable medium on which any of the above-described game programs is recorded.

  The game device according to the present invention reads and executes any of the game programs described above.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a game program that can easily synchronize each computer when participating in the middle while increasing the chances of participating in the game and enjoying the real thrill of a multiplayer game. A recorded recording medium and a game device can be provided.

It is a circuit diagram showing composition of a game system provided with a game device concerning an embodiment of the invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the game program which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the game device shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the game stage which consists of virtual game space produced | generated by a game program. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the game device (host game device) which a host player operates. It is a schematic diagram which shows various lobby screens, (a) is a lobby screen for hosts, (b) is a lobby screen for initial participation guests, and (c) is a lobby screen for guest guests on the way. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a guest game device. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the guest game device following the operation | movement shown in FIG. An interrupt process for data sharing, which is executed by the already-entered game device when a newly joined guest game device establishes a session with the host game device and the already-joined guest game device; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for data sharing executed by a newly participating guest game device, where (a) is an interrupt process at the host game device, and (b) is a guest game device that has already participated. (C) shows an interrupt process in a newly participating guest game device.

  Hereinafter, a game program, a recording medium, and a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Game system configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game system including a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 1 includes a CPU 2 that controls its operation, and a disk drive 4, a memory card slot 5, an HDD 6, a ROM 7, and a RAM 8 are connected to the CPU 2 via a bus 3. .

  The disc drive 4 is loaded with a disc type recording medium 4a such as a DVD, CD-ROM, or Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark) in which the game program 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is recorded. ing. In addition to the game program 10, data such as textures for forming characters and game stages are also recorded on the disk-type recording medium 4a. When the disk type recording medium 4a is loaded into the disk drive 4, the game program 10 and the like are read out from the disk type recording medium 4a as appropriate in accordance with instructions from the CPU 2. The memory card slot 5 records data indicating the progress of the game in a non-volatile manner in the loaded card-type recording medium 5a in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 2.

  The HDD 6 is a disk-type large-capacity recording medium, and records data indicating the progress of the game. The ROM 7 is a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or a PROM, and stores a startup program for starting the game apparatus 1, a program for controlling an operation when the disk type recording medium 4a is loaded, and the like. The RAM 8 is composed of DRAM, SRAM, or the like, and temporarily reads a game program 10 to be executed by the CPU 2 and data such as a character and a game stage necessary for executing the game program 10 from the disk type recording medium 4a. To record. When all the data in the disc type recording medium 4a is recorded on the HDD 6 by the operation of the player, the game program 10 to be executed by the CPU 2 and the game program 10 to be executed among the data recorded on the HDD 6 are executed. Data such as a character and a game stage necessary for the recording are temporarily recorded in the RAM 8.

  Further, the graphic processing unit 11, the audio synthesis unit 14, the wireless communication control unit 17, and the network interface 19 are further connected to the CPU 2 via the bus 3.

  Among these, the graphic processing unit 11 draws a game image including a virtual game space and a character in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 2. An external monitor 13 is connected to the graphic processing unit 11 via a video conversion unit 12, and the game image drawn by the graphic processing unit 11 is converted into a moving image format and further displayed on the monitor 13. The

  The audio synthesizing unit 14 reproduces and synthesizes digital game sound in accordance with instructions from the CPU 2. The audio synthesis unit 14 is connected to an external speaker 16 via an audio conversion unit 15, and the game sound played back and synthesized by the audio synthesis unit 14 is decoded into an analog format by the audio conversion unit 15. Further, it is output from the speaker 16.

  The wireless communication control unit 17 includes a 2.4 GHz band wireless communication module and is wirelessly connected to the controller 18 attached to the game apparatus 1 so that data can be transmitted and received. The network interface 19 connects the game apparatus 1 to a communication network 20 such as the Internet or a LAN. Then, a peer-to-peer communication (hereinafter referred to as “P2P communication”) that does not pass through the server device 21 can be performed with another game device 1 having the same configuration connected to the communication network 20. The game system 100 according to the present invention is constructed.

  In this game system 100, a plurality of players can execute online games in the same virtual game space in synchronization by operating each game apparatus 1 having the same game program 10. That is, each game device 1 can perform data communication with each other via the communication network 20, and each game device 1 is based on the data transmitted / received to / from each other, the game program 10 and data recorded on the disk type recording medium 4a, and the like. 1, the same virtual game space is generated. The virtual game space is displayed on the monitor 13 connected to each game apparatus 1 from the viewpoint that the player character operated by each player is displayed at the center. For example, a part of the virtual game space centered on the player character operated by the player A is displayed on the monitor 13 connected to the game apparatus 1 operated by the player A, and connected to the game apparatus 1 operated by the player B. A part of the virtual game space centered on the player character operated by the player B is displayed on the monitor 13.

  On the other hand, each game device 1 can perform data communication with the server device 21 via the communication network 20. The server device 21 is a so-called matching server, and includes a CPU, an HDD, a ROM, a RAM, a network interface, and the like, as in a general server device. When the server device 21 receives a request to create a matching lobby when the host player plays a game from the game device 1 of the host player via the communication network 20, the CPU creates a matching list and records it in the HDD. On the other hand, the matching list is transmitted to the game device 1 of the guest player via the communication network 20 in response to a request from the guest player. When the guest player performs an operation to apply for the desired lobby in the matching list, the host player (game device 1) in the lobby accepts the application, and the guest player is allowed to enter the lobby. The In addition, the server device 21 updates the contents of the matching list in response to the guest player's permission to enter the lobby. Thereafter, the game device 1 of the host player and the game device 1 of the guest player permitted to enter the room will perform P2P communication without going through the server device 21. In addition, although it is supposed that P2P communication is performed between the game devices 1 operated by each player in the present embodiment as described above, it is configured to perform data communication by the client-server method via the server device. Also good.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the game program 10 described above, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the game program 10 includes a host program 10a and a guest program 10b. These programs 10a and 10b are created as a series of programs, and any one of the programs 10a and 10b is selectively executed according to the state of a flag that is appropriately set.

  2B, when viewed functionally, the game apparatus 1 includes a control unit 61 including a game control unit 62, a participation receiving unit 63, and a participation request unit 64, and the control unit Reference numeral 61 denotes hardware such as the CPU 2, HDD 6, ROM 7, RAM 8, graphic processor 11, video converter 12, audio synthesizer 14, and audio converter 15 shown in FIG. 1 and the game program 10 executed by the CPU 2. It has been realized. Furthermore, the game control unit 62 includes a game progress unit 62a, a loading unit 62b, an object condition determination unit 62c, a virtual game space generation unit 62d, and a character generation control unit 62e.

  Among these, the game progress part 62a which the game control part 62 has makes a character act in a virtual game space according to the operation input by a player, and advances a game according to the action of this character. When a plurality of players are participating via the communication network 20, each character is caused to act in the virtual game space based on the operation input information received by each player via the communication network 20. The game is advanced according to the character's action (in synchronization with other game devices). Instead of transmitting and receiving information on operation input, information specifying the character state such as the posture of the character operated by the player and the current position in the virtual game space is transmitted and received, and each character is caused to act based on this information. May be.

  The loading unit 62b loads data for constructing a virtual game space from the disk type recording medium 4a loaded in the disk drive 4 into the RAM 8, and also loads data appropriately recorded on the card type recording medium 5a into the RAM 8. . Depending on the number of characters participating in the virtual game space, the object condition determination unit 62c determines the conditions of the objects that construct the virtual game space (for example, the number of items that can be acquired in the game space, the number of enemy characters, and the strength) Etc.). The virtual game space generation unit 62d generates a virtual game space to be displayed on the monitor 13 that is visually recognized by the player, based on the determined object conditions and the like. The character generation control unit 62e generates characters (including characters by operations of other participating players) to appear in the virtual game space, and an appearance image including clothes and equipment is customized by the player. In this case, the customized appearance image is displayed on the monitor 13.

  Programs that cause the game apparatus 1 to function as the respective units 62a to 62e are included in the host program 10a and the guest program 10b, respectively. Therefore, when the CPU 2 executes the program 10 read by the disk drive 4, the game apparatus 1 can exhibit the functions as the above-described units 62a to 62e.

  Also, the participation receiving unit 63 provided in the control unit 61 is for a player playing as a host to receive the participation of another player, and a session creation request to the server device 21 (step S3 in FIG. 4) as will be described later. )). A program that causes the game apparatus 1 to function as the participation reception unit 63 is included in the host program 10a. When the CPU 2 executes the host program 10a, the game apparatus 1 exhibits the function as the participation reception unit 63. be able to.

  In contrast, the participation request unit 64 is for other players to request participation in a game that the host player is trying to play or a game that the host player has already played, as will be described later. A session establishment request (see step S38 in FIG. 6 and step S78 in FIG. 8) to the game apparatus 1 operated by the host player is executed. A program that causes the game apparatus 1 to function as the participation request unit 64 is included in the guest program 10b. When the CPU 2 executes the guest program 10b, the game apparatus 1 exhibits the function as the participation request unit 64. be able to.

  2B, the control unit 61 also controls the operations of the disk drive 4, the memory card slot 5, the monitor 13, the speaker 16, the wireless communication control unit 17, and the network interface 19 already described. .

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a game stage that is generated by the game program 10 and includes a virtual game space related to the game. This game is an action game that progresses along a game stage while a player (player) operates each character using the game device 1 and the controller 18 and defeats an enemy character. A plurality of players who operate each of the plurality of game apparatuses 1 connected via the network can advance the game (a game story advances) in cooperation with each other. As shown in FIG. 3, this game stage is composed of three levels of episode 21, chapter 22, and area 23. Specifically, the game stage is composed of a plurality of episodes 21 that are divided for each story and set in time series in the progress of the game (six episodes in the present embodiment). Each episode 21 includes a plurality of chapters 22 that divide each episode 21 for each of a plurality of missions set in time series. At the end of each chapter 22, a battle with a boss character or execution of a specific action is performed. Etc. are set.

  Furthermore, each chapter 22 is composed of a plurality of areas 23 similarly set in time series, and the character reaches a specific area (goal point) set in the area 23 or is set in the area 23. The area 23 is cleared by clearing a predetermined condition such as activating all specific gimmicks (devices) or defeating enemy boss characters placed in the area 23. In the game apparatus 1, when one area 23 is cleared, a game program and data for constructing a virtual game space for the next area 23 are loaded from the disk-type recording medium 4 a into the RAM 8. In some cases, the area 23 cannot be cleared and the game ends due to the game over. For example, the strength gauge set to only one for all the participating players decreases by a certain amount for each player's death, and this is zero. If it becomes, the game is over. When a plurality of players participate and cooperate and play, the game starts from the first area 23 of the chapter 22 selected by the host.

[Overview of player participation]
Here, the participation mode of each player when the game is executed on the game apparatus 1 will be outlined. First, the participation modes of the players are listed: (1) participation as a host player, (2) participation as a guest player before the start of the game progress, and (3) participation as a guest player during the progress of the game. There are three modes.

  More specifically, in this game, a certain player serves as a host player to open a matching lobby, and a character operated by the host player is a host character. The host player invites the participation of other players (guest players) in a state where the matching lobby is opened, and advances the game alone or together with other players at a timing determined by the host player. Such a participation mode of the host player in the game is “participation as a host player” in (1) above.

  On the other hand, when a session is established between the game device 1 operated by the guest player and the game device 1 operated by the host player, the character operated by the guest player enters the matching lobby as a guest character. Become. If the game has not yet started, the character operated by each player entering the same matching lobby at the timing determined by the host player is the same area 23 consisting of the same virtual game space. Appears in and will advance the game. The participation mode of the guest player at this time is “participation as a guest player before the start of the game progress” in (2) above. Hereinafter, such a participation mode is referred to as “initial participation”, and a guest player who initially participates is appropriately referred to as “initial participation player”.

  In this game, the maximum number of players (four in this embodiment) who can simultaneously progress the game is set, and the state is less than the maximum (in this embodiment, at least one person: host) Even the player only) can advance the game. On the other hand, even when the game is progressing without reaching the maximum capacity, it is possible to allow other guest players to participate in the game halfway. In other words, a guest character operated by a guest player is placed in a virtual game space in which a character that has already progressed the game is active, and a host character that appears (exists) in the virtual game space in a game that is already in progress. And a timing that does not affect the behavior of the guest character). The participation mode of such a player is “participation as a guest player during the progress of the game” in (3) above. Hereinafter, such a participation mode is referred to as “halfway participation”, and a guest player who participates in the middle is appropriately referred to as “halfway participation player”.

  In the following, the operation of the game apparatus 1 operated by the host player (hereinafter referred to as “host game apparatus 1A”) and the game apparatus 1 operated by the guest player (initial participation player or midway participation player) (hereinafter referred to as “guest game apparatus 1B”). )) Will be sequentially described. As for the operation of the guest game device 1B, an operation in the case where the game is progressed together with the host player from the beginning when operated by the initial participating player, and a case where the game is operated by the participating player in the middle and participates in the game from the progress of the game. The operation will be described separately.

[Operation of host game device]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host game apparatus 1A operated by the host player. The following operation of the host game device 1 is realized by the CPU 2 controlling the operation of each unit in accordance with the game program 10 recorded on the disc type recording medium 4a. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the host game device 1A performs a game mode selection process by the operation of the controller 18 by the host player (step S1).

  In this game, the player is staged with one player, the “Co-op mode” in which the game proceeds in cooperation with others over the Internet, and the “online battle mode” in which the game is played against others over the Internet. There is a “single mode” in which the game progresses with the aim of clearing. In addition, the online state can be selected via the LAN as well as via the Internet, and in the form via the LAN, the same “Co-op mode” and “online battle mode” as described above are also possible. The mode can be selected from among them. Furthermore, with regard to the “Co-op mode”, two choices (“Co-op mode” for the host and “Co-op mode” for the guest) are prepared depending on whether the player or the guest plays. However, here, in order to explain the operation of the host game apparatus 1A, the explanation will be continued on the assumption that the “Co-op mode” for the host is selected.

  When the mode is selected, the host game device 1A performs communication connection processing with the server device 21 (step S2), and requests the server device 21 to create a session (step S3). As a result, matches that use the host game device 1A as a host are registered (listed up) in the matching list created by the server device 21. Then, a matching lobby is established in the host game apparatus 1A, and a host lobby screen is displayed on the monitor 13 of the host game apparatus 1 (step S4). Such a session creation request (step S3) and host lobby screen display (step S4) are executed by the participation reception unit 63 of the host game apparatus 1A.

  When the session creation request in step 3 is made, the following various types of session information are also transmitted from the host game device 1A to the server device 21. That is, information such as the player name, player ID, and IP address is transmitted as information regarding the host player. Also, as game information, the play status such as whether in the lobby or playing, the number of episodes 21 to be played, chapters 22 and area 23, the number of participants (that is, the number of game devices), the difficulty level, the friendly fire setting Information about such as is sent. The friendly fire setting is for setting whether or not an attack by one character causes damage to other characters among characters operated by players participating in the match. Then, in the above-described match registration, the session information is also registered.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing various lobby screens. (A) is a host lobby screen, (b) is a lobby screen for initial participation guests to be described later, and (c) is a lobby screen for intermediate participation guests to be described later. Each shows. As shown in FIG. 5A, the host lobby screen 30 is provided with a participant display field 31 for the maximum number of participants that can participate in ascending order. The top participant display field 31 includes the player name of the host player. 32 etc. are displayed. In addition, when there is a player who participates in the match among the players who operate other game devices (guest game devices) 1 connected via the communication network 20, below the display column 31 of the host player, The player name 32 of each guest player is displayed in the order of participation. That is, on the lobby screen 30, the current matching lobby status (participation status) is displayed. Further, when the number of participants is less than the maximum capacity, the remaining participant display column 31 becomes a blank display 33, and the number of remaining players that can participate at that time can be known.

  Such information regarding the host player and the guest player is created based on the information recorded in the RAM 8 (see FIG. 1) of the host game apparatus 1A. More specifically, the information regarding the host player is created based on the information input in advance by the operation of the controller 18 by the host player and recorded in the RAM 8, and the information regarding the guest player is received from the guest game apparatus 1B. It is created based on information recorded in the RAM 8 (information transmitted in the process of FIG. 8C described later).

  In addition, a “game start” icon 34 is provided (displayed) on the host lobby screen 30. The icon 34 accepts the start of the game from the host player. Specifically, the start of the game is accepted when the host player selects the icon 34 by operating the controller 18 and clicking the icon 34. As a result, the host game device 1A determines that the game is started (step S5: YES), and proceeds to the processing after step S6. On the other hand, when the icon 34 is not selected, the host game apparatus 1A does not determine that the game is started (step S5: NO), and the lobby screen 30 is continuously displayed on the monitor 13 and the standby state in the lobby is maintained. . That is, the host game device 1A is in a state of waiting for the participation of another guest player without starting the game.

  Accordingly, when the host player desires to start the game from the first area together with other guest players (initial participating players), the host game device 1A requests the server device 21 to create a session (step S3). After that, the game is not started for a while (step S5: NO), the guest players are invited to participate, and the game is started when a desired number of guest players appear (step S5: YES).

  The participation of the guest player (guest game device 1B) (entering the matching lobby) is accepted when the host game device 1A establishes a session with the guest game device 1B. If the process proceeds from the loop process of steps S4 and S5 to the process of step S6, the lobby screen 30 is not displayed on the monitor 13 connected to the host game apparatus 1A, but the matching lobby is a session after the process of step S3. Until the end of the process (until step S21). Then, the host game device 1A accepts a session establishment request from the guest game device 1B while the matching lobby is established, as long as the maximum capacity is not reached.

  The host lobby screen 30 is further provided with a “game end” icon 35 and the like. When this icon 35 is selected, the host lobby screen 30 is closed, although not shown in FIG. The match is deleted from the matching list created by the device 21.

  Next, when the start of the game is selected (step S5: YES), information indicating the game play status (that is, being played) and the number of the area 23 to be played is included in the server device 21. Update information is transmitted (step S6). The host game device 1A stores its own play status as “in lobby” until step S6 is reached, but the game start is selected and update information is transmitted to the server device 21 in step S6. In this case, the play status stored in the host game device 1A is also updated from “in lobby” to “in play”. After step S6, “playing” is maintained until the session end process of step S19 is executed. The server device 21 updates the corresponding session information in the matching list according to the received update information. Note that while “playing” is set in “play situation”, this corresponds to “in progress” of the game according to the present invention.

  If there is no guest player (there is no guest game device 1B currently communicating (entering) P2P) (step S7: NO), the number of participating players (number of participating characters: here the host player) Object conditions are determined in accordance with (only one person) (step S9), and then data and a game program are loaded to construct a virtual game space and a host character in the area 23 to be played (step S10). . On the other hand, when there is a guest player who has already entered the room (step S7: YES), information indicating the start of the game is transmitted to the guest game device 1B (step S8), and the number of participating players (here) Then, object conditions are determined in accordance with a host player and a plurality of persons including at least one guest player (step S9), and then data is used to construct the virtual game space, the host character, and the guest character. The game program is loaded (step S10).

  The object condition determination process in step S9 will be described. In the present embodiment, an object (for example, an item, an object, etc.) that constructs the virtual game space of the area 23 to be played according to the number of participating players (number of characters). The condition (number, strength, etc.) of the enemy character is determined. For example, when the number of participating characters is relatively large, the number of items and the number of enemy characters are set to be relatively large, and the strength of the enemy character is set to be relatively strong. Such processing is executed by the object condition determination unit 62c (see FIG. 2B) included in the game control unit 62 of the host game apparatus 1A.

  In addition, at the time of loading described here (at the first loading after session establishment and at the start of the first game), the host game device 1A makes a session creation request to the server device 21 (step S3). Based on the area number information included in the session information at the time of matching lobby establishment (at the time of entering the lobby) and the above object condition, data and a program for constructing the virtual game space of the area 23 to be played are loaded.

  Further, the data for constructing the player character (host character) is loaded based on the player information of the player, and the data for constructing the guest character is the player information (FIG. 8) received from the guest game device 1B. Loading based on (information transmitted in the process of (c)).

  In the above-described loading process (step S10), a necessary program or the like may be loaded a plurality of times or may be loaded once.

  In this way, the process of progressing the game in units of one area from the beginning of the predetermined area 23 (that is, the area of the number included in the session information described above) until the area 23 is cleared or the game is over. It performs (step S11). When a guest character exists (that is, when there is a guest player), synchronization is performed by appropriately transmitting and receiving data between the host game apparatus 1A and the guest game apparatus 1B in which a session is established. However, the game progress process (step S11) is executed. The game progress process according to step S11 is executed by the game control unit 62 of the host game apparatus 1A.

  Note that the object condition may not be determined according to the number of participating players (number of participating characters). In other words, the object condition may be fixed regardless of the number of participating players. The loading process (step S10) may be executed by omitting the process of S9.

  Next, when the game in the area 23 is finished, the host game device 1A executes different operations depending on how to finish. That is, when the area 23 is finished (cleared) without the game being over during the progress (step S12: NO), information regarding the number of the next area 23 is transferred from the host game device 1A to all the guest game devices 1B. Then, an area result screen (not shown) is displayed on the monitor 13 (step S14). This area result screen is displayed on the monitor 13 connected to the game apparatus 1 of all the players who participated in the game of the area 23 executed in step S11. Personal results such as points are displayed. As for such information relating to individual results, each game device 1 calculates its own results, and the calculated information is transmitted to each other game device 1. Each game device 1 displays the personal results of all the game devices 1 on the monitor 13 based on the information indicating the results of the game device 1 and the information indicating the results of the other game devices 1 received from the other game devices 1. . In addition, a “confirm” icon is also provided on the area result screen. When each player selects this icon, information indicating that each player has confirmed the display content of the area result screen is received from each game device 1. It is transmitted to the host game apparatus 1A.

  There is a player who has not selected the “confirm” icon among the participating players, and there is a guest game device 1B that has not received information indicating that the host game device 1A has been confirmed. During the period, the area result screen continues to be displayed (step S15: NO). On the other hand, when all the members have been confirmed (step S15: YES), the area result screen is closed, and it is determined whether or not the finished area 23 is the final area 23 of the chapter 22 to which it belongs (step S15). S16). For example, when it is determined that the finished area 23 is not the final area 23 by comparing the number of the finished area 23 with the number of the last area 23 of the chapter to which the affiliated chapter belongs (step S16: NO), The operation after step S6 already described is executed again, and the game in the next area 23 is advanced (step S11).

  In the operation of step S6 in this case (transmission of update information to the server device 21), the information indicating the area 23 to be played includes the number of the area 23 to be performed next to the area 23 that has been completed as update information. It will be. Further, when a midway participating player who has joined midway at the timing during the execution of the game progress process of step S11 is waiting in the lobby (waiting for participation), the host game device 1A performs the process of step S6. At the stage of step S8 after the execution again, information indicating the start of the game is also transmitted to the guest game device (a guest game device that participates midway) 1B operated by the midway participating player. In the process of step S11, the midway participating character operated by the midway participating player appears in the virtual game space.

  Therefore, when there is no guest game device 1B that is in the middle of waiting (participation waiting state) waiting in the lobby, the information indicating the game start is the host game device 1A that has already participated (if it exists) The synchronization signal for starting the game progress in synchronization with the guest game device 1B. In addition, when there is a guest game device 1B participating in the middle waiting in the lobby, a character participating in the middle appears from the virtual game space of the next game (area 23), and the host game device 1A that has already participated and The guest game device 1B and the guest game device 1B participating in the midway are synchronized with each other to be a synchronization signal for starting the game progress (if any).

  The guest game device 1B that has already participated is a guest game device (an initial participation guest game device) 1B operated by the initial participating player, and a guest character has already appeared in the virtual game space (standby in the lobby). The guest game device 1B participating in the middle is also included.

  Also, when the operation from step S6 is executed again to start the game after the second area 23, and when the loading process at step 10 is performed (at the second and subsequent loading after session establishment) Since the host game apparatus 1A stores the number of the area 23 played last time, the area 23 to be played next is based on the number of the area 23 next to the area 23 and the object condition determined in step S9. The data and program for constructing the virtual game space are loaded. In step S9, when a midway participating player who has joined in the middle is waiting in the lobby, the object condition is determined by including this midway participating player in the number of participating players.

  Here, returning to the process of step S16 again and continuing the description, if it is determined that the area is the final area 23 (step S16: YES), the chapter 22 to which the area 23 belongs has ended. Therefore, a chapter result screen (not shown) is displayed on the monitor 13 (step S17). Similar to the area result screen, this chapter result screen is also displayed on each monitor 13 of the game participants in the area 23, and the personal results such as the number of enemies defeated by the chapter 22 and the acquired points are displayed.

  Subsequently, by comparing the number of this chapter 22 with the number of the last chapter 22 of the episode 21 to which the chapter 22 belongs, it is determined whether or not this chapter 22 is the last chapter 22 (step S18). . If it is determined that the chapter 22 is the last one (step S18: YES), an episode result screen relating to the episode 21 to which the chapter 22 belongs is displayed on the monitor 13 (step S19), and the session is terminated. Is performed (step S21). That is, the host game device 1A performs a process of disconnecting the P2P communication with the other guest game device 1B, and performs a process of transmitting information indicating that the session has ended to the server device 21. In addition, when the server apparatus 21 receives information indicating the end of the session, the server apparatus 21 deletes the information on the session from the matching list.

  As for the episode result screen described above, the personal results are displayed on the monitors 13 of the participants of the game executed in step S11, as in the area result screen and the chapter result screen. And as for the information regarding the individual results displayed on the chapter result screen and the episode result screen, each game device 1 calculates its own score, and the calculated information is transmitted to each other game device 1. Each game device 1 displays the personal results of all the game devices 1 on the monitor 13 based on the information indicating the results of the game device 1 and the information indicating the results of the other game devices 1 received from the other game devices 1. .

  The game in the next area 23 may be started immediately without displaying the result screen such as the area result screen.

  Further, when the session termination process (step S21) is performed, the other guest players are forcibly released from the match. Further, in the above, when it is determined that the last chapter 22 is determined, that is, when it is determined that one episode 21 is ended, the episode result screen is displayed (step S19), and the session is ended (step S19). S21) Instead of displaying the episode result screen (step S19), the host lobby screen 30 (see FIG. 5A) is displayed on the monitor 13 of the host game device 1A, and the session is maintained. The standby state for playing the next episode 21 may be set. In this case, it is possible to play together with the guest player who played the finished episode 21 together with the next episode 21 again.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that it is not the last chapter 22 (step S18: NO), the host player is requested to select whether or not to continue to play the next chapter 22 (step S20). That is, on the chapter result screen displayed in step S17, when it is not the final chapter 22 (step S18: NO), the icons “continue” and “end” are displayed, and the controller 18 is operated to By selecting the icon, the decision of the host player is notified to the host game apparatus 1A. When the “Continue” icon is selected, the operation from Step S6 already described is executed again, the game in the first area 23 belonging to the next chapter 22 is advanced, and the “End” icon is displayed. If selected, the session is terminated (step S21).

  Here, returning to the operation of step S12 again, the case where the game is over during the progress of the area 23 (step S12: YES) will be described. In this case, the information regarding the number of the next area 23 when playing continuously (in this case, information regarding the number of the area 23 where the game is over in order to replay the area 23 where the game is over) is the host game. A screen (not shown) including information indicating that the game is over is displayed on the monitor 13 connected to each game device 1 from the device 1A to all the guest game devices 1B (step S22). It is displayed (step S23). Then, the host player is requested to determine whether or not to replay the area 23 in which the game is over from the beginning (step S24). That is, on the screen including the game over information displayed on the monitor 13 connected to the host game apparatus 1A, the “Continue” and “End” icons are also displayed. By selecting the icon, the decision of the host player is notified to the host game apparatus 1A. When the “continue” icon is selected, the operation from step S6 is executed again to replay the area 23. When the “end” icon is selected, the session end processing is performed. Performed (step S21).

  Note that all the guest game devices 1B in steps S13 and S22 include a guest game device operated by a participating player who is waiting in the lobby.

[Guest Game Device Operation]
Next, the operation of the guest game apparatus 1B will be described. First, the operation of the guest game apparatus 1B operated by the player when the guest player participates as an initial participating player will be described. The operation of the guest game device 1B operated by the player when participating as a participating player will be described.

(I. About the operation of the guest game device operated by the initial participating player)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the guest game device 1B, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the guest game device 1B following the operation shown in FIG. The following operation of the guest game device 1B is realized by the CPU 2 controlling the operation of each unit in accordance with the game program 10 recorded on the disc type recording medium 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the guest game device 1B performs a game mode selection process by the operation of the controller 18 by the guest player (step S31). The modes that can be selected are basically the same as those described for the mode selection process in step S1 of FIG. 4, but in the following, the “Co-op mode for guests that can be selected as a guest” will be described. "Is selected. In the “Co-op mode” for the guest, either “quick match” or “custom match” can be selected. Here, “quick match” refers to a matching method in which there are relatively few choices for participation conditions of others in the participation play by others, and “custom match” means that there are relatively many choices for the participation conditions. This is a matching method that can set conditions in more detail.

  Subsequent to the mode selection, a setting process such as a game difficulty level is performed (step S32). In this process, in addition to the difficulty level of the game played in the match to be participated, various participation conditions such as selection of episodes and chapters to be played, availability of friendly fire, and the like can be set. However, when a quick match is selected, only whether or not a friendly fire is allowed can be selected as a participation condition, and other conditions cannot be selected (fixed). Therefore, when a quick match is selected, matching can be started at an early stage only by selecting whether or not a friendly fire is possible.

  Next, the guest game device 1B performs communication connection processing with the server device 21 (step S33), and makes a matching search request to the server device 21 (step S34). That is, the guest game device 1 </ b> B transmits the selection condition (participation condition) information performed in steps S <b> 31 and S <b> 32 to the server device 21 and makes the search request to the server device 21. The server device 21 filters the managed matching list based on the selection condition, and provides a matching list that satisfies the condition. Note that matches that have reached the maximum number of participants that can participate are also filtered from the matching list, and the matches are not included in the matching list information transmitted to the guest game device 1B. As a result, when matching list information is received from the server device 21 (step S35: YES), a screen including this is displayed on the monitor 13 (step S36).

  This screen includes player information (for example, player name) and game information regarding the host player as matching list information. Also, the game information includes play status (that is, information indicating whether it is in the lobby or playing), episodes to be played, chapters, and area numbers, information on the number of participants (number of participating game devices), difficulty Information about the settings of friendly fire. Therefore, the guest player can determine a match to be selected with reference to these pieces of information.

  When the guest player selects one match from the matching list displayed on the monitor 13 (step S37: YES), the guest game device 1B transmits a session establishment request to the host game device 1A of the match (step S38). ). Here, when the session is established (step S39: YES), it is determined whether or not the participation mode of the guest game device 1 is halfway participation (step S40). That is, if the session is established and the host game apparatus 1A has never executed the game process shown in step S11 of FIG. 4, it is not partway participation (that is, the player is the initial participating player). (Step S40: NO), and if the host game apparatus 1A has already started the game process shown in Step S11 of FIG. S40: YES). In the actual determination, the guest game device 1B makes a determination based on information relating to the play situation (information transmitted in FIG. 8A described later) included in the game information received from the host game device 1A when entering the lobby. If the information regarding the play status indicates “playing”, it is determined that the game is in the middle of the game.

  As described in step S6 of FIG. 4, the play status stored in the host game device 1A is changed from “in lobby” to “play” during the process of transmitting update information to the server device 21 in step S6. Updated to Medium. However, the timing of updating to “playing” in this way is not limited to the processing in step S6. For example, it is performed immediately after the loading process in step S10 is finished and the game progress process (step S11) is started. You may do it.

  If it is determined that the game is not midway participation (step S40: NO), the process proceeds to step S41 in FIG. It is displayed (step S41). On the other hand, if the session is not established due to being rejected by the host player (step S39: NO), the operations after step S36 for displaying the matching list information are re-executed.

  The session establishment request transmission process (step S38) described above is executed by the participation request unit 64 of the guest game device 1B. In addition, the establishment of a session between the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B (step S39: YES) means that the guest player has been accepted to participate in a game that the host player intends to play next. . Such a session establishment process is executed by the participation receiving unit 63 of the host game apparatus 1A, and a determination as to whether or not a session can be established is executed as an interrupt process for the main routine shown in FIG. When determining that the session establishment is permitted, the host game apparatus 1A transmits information to that effect to the guest game apparatus 1B. Receiving this information, the guest game device 1B determines that the session is established (step S39: YES), and executes the operation of step S40. Here, when a session between the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B is established, there is another guest game device 1B that has already established a session with the host game device 1A. The session establishment processing is also performed between the guest game device 1B in which a session is newly established with the host game device 1A and the other guest game device 1B.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the lobby screen 40 for the initial participation guest has almost the same content as the host lobby screen 30 shown in FIG. 5A, and the participant display column starts with the host player. The player names 41 of the participating players are listed in the order of participation, and the current matching lobby status (participation status) is displayed. Such information on each player is created based on information recorded in the RAM 8 of the guest game device 1B of the player, as in the case of the host lobby screen 30. More specifically, information relating to the guest player is created based on information input in advance by the operation of the controller 18 by the guest player and recorded in the RAM 8, and information relating to the host player and the other guest players is defined as the host player. It is created based on information received from the game apparatus 1A and other guest game apparatuses 1B and recorded in the RAM 8 (information transmitted in the processes of FIGS. 8A to 8C described later).

  On the other hand, in the lobby screen 40 for initial participation guests, there is no “game start” icon 34 on the host lobby screen 30, but a “custom” icon 42 and a “leaving” icon 43 are provided. Among these, the “custom” icon 42 is selected by the guest player by operating the controller 18 (step S42 in FIG. 7: YES), and the display on the monitor 13 is shifted to a custom screen (not shown). Can select various weapons to be equipped to the guest character (step S43). Further, the “exit” icon 43 is selected by the guest player (step S44: YES), so that the user can leave the lobby (that is, leave the match). In this case, session end processing is executed (step S45), specifically, processing for disconnecting communication with other game devices 1 including the host game device 1A is performed, and after the matching list information is displayed in step S36. Is re-executed.

  When the guest lobby screen 40 is displayed (step S41) and information (synchronization signal) indicating the start of the game is received from the host game device 1A (see step S8 in FIG. 4), the game in the match starts. Is determined (step S46: YES), object conditions are determined according to the number of participating players (number of participating characters) (step S47), and then a virtual game space for the area 23 to be played is constructed. Data and a program are loaded (step S48).

  Here, the object condition determination process in step S47 is the same as the process shown in step S9 in FIG. 4, and this process is performed by the object condition determination unit 62c included in the game control unit 62 of the guest game device 1B. Executed. In addition, at the time of loading in step S48 (at the first loading after session establishment and at the start of the first game), the game information received from the host game device 1A when entering the lobby (in FIG. 8A described later). Based on the information received by the processing) and the object condition, data and a program for constructing the virtual game space of the area 23 to be played are loaded. The data for constructing the player character (guest character) is loaded based on the player information of the player, and the data for constructing the host character and other guest characters is the host game device 1A and other data. Loading is performed on the basis of each player information received from the guest game device 1B (information transmitted in the processes of FIGS. 8A to 8C described later). As described above, the object condition may not be determined according to the number of participating players. In this case, the loading process (step S48) is executed with the process of step S47 omitted.

  And the process which advances a game from the predetermined area 23 is performed by cooperation of a host character and a guest character (step S49). This game progress process (step S49) is synchronized with the game progress process (step S10) in the host game apparatus 1A and the game progress process in the guest game apparatus 1B that participates in the other. Even during the progress, the game devices 1A and 1B are synchronized by appropriately transmitting and receiving data between the host game device 1A and the other guest game devices 1B.

  If no information indicating the start of the game is received from the host game apparatus 1A, it is determined that the game has not started yet (step S46: NO), and the operations of steps S41 to S46 are repeated until the game start time is awaited. To do.

  After the game progress process in step S49, the processes in steps S52 to S64 (see FIG. 7) similar to steps S12 to S24 in FIG. 4 are executed, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted here. However, due to the difference in positioning between the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B, in the operation of the guest game device 1B shown in FIG. 6, the operation in step S15 executed in the host game device 1A, that is, participation after the area result is displayed. Whether or not all the players are confirmed is not determined. Further, unlike the processes of steps S20 and S24 performed by the host game apparatus 1A, the processes of steps S60 and S64 performed by the guest game apparatus 1B do not request the selection of the guest player as to whether or not to continue the game. . Specifically, the guest game device 1B receives from the host game device 1A the contents of the decision made by the host player and notified to the host game device 1A in each processing of steps S20 and S24 of the host game device 1A. Whether or not to continue is determined by the received content. Also, the session end process in step S61 is slightly different from the session end process in step S21 executed by the host game apparatus 1A, and the communication between the host game apparatus 1A and the other guest game apparatus 1B is disconnected. Although processing is performed, information indicating the end of the session is not transmitted to the server device 21.

(Ii. About the operation of the guest game device operated by the player who participates halfway)
Next, when the session is established between the guest game device 1B and the host game device 1A (step S39: YES), the information regarding the play status received when entering the lobby is “playing”. The case where it is determined that “participation is halfway” in step S40 of No. 6 (step S40: YES) will be described. The following operation of the guest game apparatus 1B is realized by the CPU 2 controlling the operation of each unit in accordance with the game program 10 (particularly the guest program 10b) recorded on the disc type recording medium 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the guest game device 1B has a session established with the host game device 1A (step S39 in FIG. 6: YES), is allowed to enter the matching lobby opened by the host player, and If it is determined that it is a guest game device 1B that is going to participate on the way (step S40: YES), a guest participation device lobby screen 50 (see FIG. 5C) is displayed on the monitor 13 of the guest game device 1B. (Step S71). Thereby, the guest game device 1B participating in the middle enters a halfway participation standby state waiting for the timing to participate in the play of the match that is already in progress. In the present embodiment, the midway participating guest lobby screen 50 is displayed on the midway participating guest monitor 13 until the midway participating character appears in the virtual game space. Display of screen information is also allowed.

  First of all, it should be noted that the process from the mode selection process (step S31) to the session establishment with the host game apparatus 1A (step S39) is in the middle of the above-described process as shown in FIG. Similar to the guest game device 1B related to the initial participation that is not participating, it is also executed in the guest game device 1B that participates halfway described here. That is, the midway participating player can select a match being played as a target to participate even when the host character is playing a game in the predetermined area 23 (ie, playing). It is also possible to establish a session. In this way, not only matches in the lobby where play has not started, but also matches that are being played can be selected as participation targets, so the range of match selections that meet the conditions is widened for the guest player. In addition, there is an advantage for the host player and guest players who have already participated in that the game can be advanced with more players by participating in the middle of other players even during the play.

  In addition, the halfway guest lobby screen 50 displayed on the monitor 13 in step S71 is different from the host lobby screen 30 and guest lobby screen 40 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 5C, the participant display column of the guest-participation guest lobby screen 50 has each host member as the player information created in the same manner as in the guest lobby screen 40. In addition to listing the player names 51 and the like of the players in the order of participation, information indicating the playing status (ie, the progress status of the game) of the ongoing host player is displayed. As such information, for example, the elapsed time information 52 from the time when the area 23 is started is displayed in a clock, and the current position information 53 in the area 23 of the character proceeding at the head is displayed as an indicator. Thereby, the guest player who participates on the way can predict the approximate time until entering the play in the next area 23 after entering the lobby.

  Here, supplementing the elapsed time information 52, the host game apparatus 1A counts the elapsed time from the start of the game (at the start of the game progress process in step S11), and establishes a session with the participating player on the way ( When the guest game device 1B participating on the way enters the room), the information of the elapsed time until the time of entering the room is transmitted to all the guest game devices 1B having established sessions. Thereafter, the guest game device 1B participating midway starts counting from the elapsed time indicated by the received information, and displays the elapsed time information on the lobby screen 50 for the guest participating midway. The elapsed time information is transmitted from the host game device 1A to the guest game device 1B participating in the middle only at the time of entering the room, and the elapsed time information is not transmitted after the transmission process is completed. In addition, as described above, the host game device 1A does not distinguish between the guest game device 1B that participates initially and the guest game device 1B that participates in the middle, and for all the guest game devices 1B that have established sessions, Information on the elapsed time until the guest game device 1B entering the middle of the room enters is transmitted, but based on this information, the elapsed time information 52 is displayed on the monitor 13 only by the guest game device 1B participating in the middle. .

  Further, supplementing the current position information 53, the current position information 53 is transferred to all the guest game apparatuses 1B in which sessions are established by interruption processing during execution of the game progress processing in step S11. Sent from 1A. For example, an interruption process is executed every time a leading character among the characters being played exceeds a virtual line set in the virtual game space, and information regarding the position where the virtual line is provided is transmitted. A plurality of virtual lines are provided at different distances from the start point in the virtual game space, and how far this character has advanced in the playing area 23 depending on the position of the virtual line beyond the first character. Can be understood. Note that the position of the virtual line is specified by the coordinate system (world coordinate system) of the virtual game space. As for the current position information 53, as described above, the initial participation guest game device 1B and the intermediate participation guest game device 1B are not distinguished from each other, and for all the guest game devices 1B with established sessions. Although transmitted, the received current position information 53 is displayed on the monitor 13 only by the guest game apparatus 1B participating in the middle.

  By the way, the display of the current position information 53 as described above is performed when the area 23 where the host player is playing reaches the goal point set in the virtual game space and becomes clear, or by defeating the boss character. Applies to things that become clear. On the other hand, as already described, in addition to what is determined to be clear in the above case, the area 23 may be cleared by activating all of the plurality of gimmicks set in the virtual game space. . In the case of such an area 23, instead of displaying the current position information 53, the total number of gimmicks set in the area 23 and the number of gimmicks activated are displayed. Information regarding the number of gimmicks that has been activated is transmitted from the host game device 1A to all the guest game devices 1B with which sessions are established by interrupt processing during execution of the game progress processing in step S11. For example, whenever any of the characters being played activates a gimmick set in the virtual game space, an interrupt process is executed, and the host game apparatus 1A updates information on the number of gimmicks that have been activated, The updated information is transmitted to each guest game apparatus 1B.

  In the present embodiment, both the elapsed time information 52 and the current position information 53 are displayed on the lobby screen 40, but either one may be displayed. Alternatively, the progress of the game need not be displayed.

  In the case where the host game apparatus 1A is not executing the game progress process (step S11), such as clearing the area 23 and displaying the result screen while the game is in progress, for example, the area 23 Information that has been cleared or information indicating that the result screen is being displayed or that the game is over is sent as a game progress status to all the guest game devices 1B that have established a session from the host game device 1A. do it. Then, the guest game device 1B of the midway participating player may display the received information on the midway participating guest lobby screen 50 (monitor 13).

  In the present embodiment, the host game apparatus 1A transmits the play status such as elapsed time information, but the participating guest game apparatus 1B (except for the guest game apparatus 1B participating midway) may transmit it. Good.

  Note that the “custom” icon 54 and the “exit” icon 55 similar to the initial participation guest lobby screen 40 are also provided on the midway participation guest lobby screen 50. Accordingly, by selecting the “custom” icon 54 in the mid-participation standby state (step S42: YES), a weapon suitable for the area 23 scheduled to participate later is used using this standby state period. It is possible to customize its own guest character (step S43). In addition, if the user wants to leave the lobby for some reason, such as when the participation timing is expected to be considerably delayed based on the elapsed time information 52, the current position information 53, or the information related to the number of gimmicks that have been activated, the “leave” icon 55 is selected. By doing so (step S44), the user can leave the lobby (that is, exit from the match), in which case session termination processing is executed (step S45), and matching list information is displayed (step S36 in FIG. 6) and thereafter. Is re-executed.

  In the mid-participation waiting state, when the play of the host player or the like is once finished and then the play in the next area 23 is continued (step S20 in FIG. 4: YES), the game start is started from the host game device 1A. The information (synchronization signal) shown is also transmitted to the guest game device 1B in the participation waiting state in the middle of the session already established (see step S8 in FIG. 4). As a result, the guest game device 1B participating midway determines that it is ready to participate in the match, that is, the game can be started (step S46: YES), determines the object condition (step S47), and then plays. Data and a game program for building the virtual game space in the area 23 are loaded (step S48). Then, in order to perform the process of proceeding with the game from the predetermined area 23 in cooperation with the host character and the guest character (step S49), a halfway participating character appears in the area 23.

  In addition, the game progress process (step S49) executed by the guest game device 1B participating in the middle of the game is the game progress process (step S11) in the host game device 1A that has already participated (if present). It is synchronized with the game progress process (step S49) in the guest game device 1B that has already participated, and even if the game is in progress, data is appropriately transferred between the host game device 1A and other guest game devices 1B. The game apparatuses 1A and 1B are synchronized by performing transmission / reception. In the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B that have already progressed the game, in the game progress processing (steps S11 and S49) after the respective loading processing (steps S10 and S48), the halfway participating characters are It will appear in the virtual game space of the area 23 displayed on each monitor 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 7).

  As described above, the guest game device 1B participating in the middle is loaded between the areas 23 and 23 (steps S10 and S48) based on the information (synchronization signal) indicating the game start from the host game device 1A. At this timing, the player himself / herself loads the same data (step S48) and participates in the play, so that the progress of the game (for example, the play of the player who has already progressed the game) is not disturbed. The operation performed by the guest game device 1B participating in the middle after step S49 is the same as the operation of steps S52 to S64 (see FIG. 7) performed by the guest game device 1B participating in the initial participation that is not midway participation. A description of these operations is omitted.

  The operation of the host game device 1A when there is a guest game device 1B that participates halfway as described above is the presence or absence of the guest game device 1B that has already participated, and the number of guest game devices 1B that have already participated. Regardless of the execution. For example, even if the game is progressing only by the host player (host game device 1A), participation is accepted halfway, and the game is progressing by the host game device 1A and a plurality of guest game devices 1B. Even so, we accept participation on the way.

  Further, even when a plurality of halfway participating guest game apparatuses 1B are waiting in the lobby, the host game apparatus 1A, the initial participation guest game apparatus 1B, and the halfway participation guest game apparatus 1B are as described above. Perform the same operation. That is, when a plurality of guest game apparatuses 1B that are halfway participating are waiting in the lobby, the halfway participation characters of each of the halfway participation guest game apparatuses 1B are the areas 23 after the end of the next loading process (steps S10 and S48). Appears from the game space.

[Processing related to data sharing when there is a new participation]
When the guest game device 1B participates (initial participation) before the game starts, or when the guest game device 1B participates (participation) after the game is started, these guest game devices 1B and the guest game device 1B are already in the lobby. The player information and game information of each other are shared between the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B that have entered (already participated). The information to be shared by each game device 1 is the progress of the game, such as generating a character used by another player in its own game device 1 or displaying the name of another player on its own game screen. In addition to being used inside, it is also used to create lobby screens 30, 40, 50. By transmitting / receiving such information to / from each other in advance, the game apparatuses 1 can proceed with the game in synchronization with each other after the loading process in step S10 and step S48. Hereinafter, operations related to transmission / reception of such shared information will be described.

  FIG. 8 is executed by the game devices 1A and 1B that have already entered the room when the newly participating guest game device 1B establishes a session between the host game device 1A and the already-participated guest game device 1B. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing for data sharing and processing for data sharing executed by the newly participating guest game device 1B, (a) is an interrupt processing in the host game device 1A; b) shows an interrupt process in the guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated, and (c) shows an interrupt process in the guest game apparatus 1B that newly participates.

  First, with reference to FIG. 8A, interrupt processing in the host game apparatus 1A will be described. As shown in FIG. 8A, when a session is established between the newly participating guest game device 1B including the guest game device 1B participating midway and the host game device 1A (step S39 in FIG. 6: YES). ) With this session establishment as a trigger, the interrupt processing is executed in the host game apparatus 1A. Then, the host game apparatus 1A transmits connection information (such as an IP address) of the newly participating guest game apparatus 1B to another guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated (step S110). On the other hand, connection information (such as an IP address) of the guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated is also transmitted to the guest game apparatus 1B that newly participates (step S111). Based on the received connection information, a session is established between the newly participating guest game device 1B and the already participating guest game device 1B.

  Next, the player information and game information of itself (host player) are transmitted to the newly participating guest game device 1B (step S112). On the other hand, from the newly participating guest game apparatus 1B, player information of the guest player who operates the guest game apparatus 1B is transmitted (step S130 in FIG. 8C), and the host game apparatus 1A receives this (step S130). S113). Then, update information is transmitted to the server device 21 regarding the number of participants including the newly participating players (that is, the total number of participating game devices 1) (step S114).

  As described above, in step S112, the player information and game information regarding the host player are transmitted from the host game apparatus 1B to the newly participating guest game apparatus 1B. Of these, the player information includes the player name, the player ID, player nationality, character information to be used (for example, race, information on customized costume), etc. are included in the game information, information indicating play status (lobby or playing), play Episode number, chapter number, area number, information indicating the number of participants (number of participating game devices), difficulty level, information on friendly fire settings, and the like. In step S113, the player information regarding the guest player is received from the newly participating guest game apparatus 1B. This includes the player name, the player ID, the nationality of the player, and character information to be used (for example, race, customized costume). Information).

  The interrupt process shown in steps S110 to S114 in the host game apparatus 1A is performed at an appropriate timing after the session establishment with the new guest game apparatus 1B (step S39) during the operation of steps S3 to S21 shown in FIG. Interrupted by and executed.

  Note that the server device 21 updates the session information of the match based on the update information described above, determines whether the match has reached the maximum capacity, and determines that the match has reached the maximum capacity. The match is excluded from the target of the matching search (see step S34 in FIG. 6).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8B, interrupt processing in the guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated will be described. In addition, as the guest game device 1B that has already participated here, the guest game device 1B that participates (initial participation) before the start of the first game, as well as the guest game device 1B that newly participates this time are halfway In the case of participation, the guest game apparatus 1B that participates on the way before that is also included.

  When a session is established between the guest game device 1B that has already participated and the guest game device 1B that newly participates, the interrupt is performed in the guest game device 1B that has already participated, as shown in FIG. 8B. Processing is executed. Then, the guest game device 1B transmits its player information to the newly participating guest game device 1B (step S120). On the other hand, player information regarding the newly participating guest player is transmitted from the newly participating guest game device 1B (step S130 in FIG. 8C), and the already participating guest game device 1B receives this. (Step S121).

  Here, the player information transmitted in the process of step S120 includes the player name, the player ID, the nationality of the player, and character information to be used (for example, race, customized costume, etc.) relating to the guest game device 1B that has already participated. Information). Further, the player information received from the guest game device 1B that newly participates in step S121 is the same as that described in step S113 of FIG.

  Interrupt processing shown in steps S120 and S121 in the guest game device 1B is interrupted and executed during the operation from step S39 in FIG. 6 to step S61 in FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8C, interrupt processing in the newly participating guest game device 1B will be described. A session is established between the newly participating guest game device 1B and the host game device 1A (step S39 in FIG. 6: YES), and the newly participating guest game device 1B and the already participating guest game device 1B. As shown in FIG. 8 (c), all the game devices 1 (host game device 1A, and already participated) from the newly participating guest game device 1B The player information is transmitted to the existing guest game device 1B) (step S130). On the other hand, the player information and the game information are received from the host game apparatus 1A, and the player information is also received from the guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated (step S131).

  The player information transmitted in step S130 is the same as that described in step S113 in FIG. 8A and step S121 in FIG. 8B, and the player information received from the host game device 1A in step S131. The information and the game information are the same as the information transmitted in step S112 of FIG. 8A, and the player information received from the guest game device 1B that has already participated in step S131 is the step of FIG. 8B. It is the same as the information transmitted in S120.

  As described above, in the host game device 1A and the guest game device 1B that has already participated, the information of each character is interrupted during the period from when the session is established until the next area 23 starts playing after loading. Therefore, even if the data amount of the character information is large, it can be reliably transmitted / received.

  Note that player information and the like that should be transmitted and received by each game device 1 after establishing a session may be performed before each character appears in the virtual game space at the latest.

  In the above description, halfway participating characters are made to appear in the virtual game space of the area 23 at the start of the area 23 after loading. However, the present invention is not limited to the area 23. For example, it may be at the start of an episode. Alternatively, it may be at the start of generation of the virtual game space after loading, regardless of the episode 21, the area 23, and the like. For example, when the loading timing is set during the execution of the game in one area 23 (between the start and the clear), the halfway participating characters may appear in the virtual game space after the loading.

  Further, in the above description, the timing at which the halfway participating character appears in the virtual game space is after the loading between the area 23 and the area 23 is finished. However, the present invention is not limited to this. What is necessary is just to make a participating character appear on the way at the timing which does not affect action.

  For example, in the middle of the game in the area 23, instead of displaying the virtual game space on the monitor 13, playback of a moving image (effect) recorded on the recording medium 4a or display of the virtual game space on the monitor 13 is performed. The game is performed so that a predetermined event occurs such that the operation input to the controller 18 of the player is invalidated and an object such as a character in the virtual game space is forcibly acted to reproduce (realize) the production (real-time demo). The program 10 may be configured. In this case, for example, the host game device 1A transmits a predetermined synchronization signal to all the participating guest game devices 1B (including the guest game device 1B participating midway) at the start of the event as described above. This synchronization signal is a signal for causing the character operated by the halfway participating player to appear in the virtual game space after the above-described event ends, and to advance the game in synchronization with the halfway participating guest game device 1B. Then, the host game device 1A that has transmitted the synchronization signal and the received guest game device 1B load data such as characters operated by the players participating during the event generation, and enter the virtual game space after the event ends. What is necessary is just to make a participating character appear on the way.

  In the present embodiment, a cooperative play game that a plurality of players cooperate to advance is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a battle game. Further, although the stationary game apparatus 1 has been described, it can also be applied to a portable game machine, a computer such as a personal computer, and the virtual game space is not limited to the illustrated three-dimensional space, but is a two-dimensional space. There may be. Further, in each lobby screen 30, 40, 50 according to the present embodiment, characters are not displayed. However, by displaying each character on each lobby screen, each character is allowed to enter the lobby. May be.

  Further, the loading of the game program 10 and necessary data into the RAM 8 is not limited to the loading from the recording medium 4a as described above, and when all data is transferred from the recording medium 4a to the HDD 6 by the operation of the player. May be loaded from the HDD 6, or may be realized by loading from the ROM of the cartridge or loading from the game server device via the Internet. Also, what is downloaded from the game server device to the HDD 6 via the Internet may be loaded from the HDD 6 to the RAM 8.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a program for generating a virtual game space in the next area 23 or the like causes a participating character to appear in the virtual game space at the end of loading, but this is particularly limited to this. Instead, it may appear at the end of loading of some other data.

  In the present embodiment, the server device 21 is used for matching. However, when a plurality of game devices 1 play a game in a closed area such as a LAN, the server device for matching. 21 may be omitted. As described above, when a game is played between the game apparatuses 1 connected via the LAN, when the guest game apparatus 1B intends to newly participate, the guest game apparatus 1B conducts a session for all the game apparatuses 1 within the LAN. Data transmission is performed so that player information and game information are returned in the case of creation. On the other hand, when the host game apparatus 1A or the guest game apparatus 1B that has already participated receives the data, it transmits player information and game information to the newly participated game apparatus 1B. Then, the guest game device 1B that has received the information creates a matching list similar to that already described based on this information, and displays a screen including the contents on the monitor 13 connected to the guest game device 1B. The subsequent operation of the guest game device 1B may be the same as the operation after step S37 in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the guest game apparatus 1B displays the lobby screen 50 for the halfway guest (see FIG. 5C) when it is determined that the guest game machine 1B is halfway participating (step S40: YES in FIG. 6). Although it is supposed to be displayed on the monitor 13 (step S71 in FIG. 7), the guest game device 1B participating in the middle starts the game progress in the area 23 on the halfway participating guest lobby screen 50 (step S49 in FIG. 7). It is not always necessary to keep displaying while waiting. For example, instead of the midway participating guest lobby screen 50, only the progress of the game in progress such as the current position information 53 (see FIG. 5C) is displayed on the monitor 13 of the guest game device 1B participating midway. Or only the character string such as “Please wait because the area 23 is being played” may be displayed on the monitor 13 or nothing may be displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, when there is a guest player other than the host player, the host game apparatus 1A transmits “information indicating the start of the game” to the guest game apparatus 1B (step S8). However, instead of this, any participating guest game device 1B may transmit this information to the host game device 1A and the other guest game devices 1B. In addition, any of the participating guest game apparatuses 1B once transmits “information indicating the start of the game” to the host game apparatus 1A, and the host game apparatus 1A that has received the information transmits this information to the other guest game apparatuses 1B. May be transmitted.

  Moreover, the mode of halfway participation by midway participating players as described in the present embodiment does not limit the number of players in an ongoing game. In other words, even when only the host player is playing the game, the host player and other guest players (initial participating players) act by synchronizing the respective characters in the same virtual game space. Even when the game is in progress, if the game is to be participated in the game in progress, the mid-game participation is realized by the same processing as described above.

  The present invention records a game program that can easily synchronize each computer when participating in the middle while increasing the chances of participating in the game and enjoying the real thrill of a multiplayer game The present invention can be applied to a recording medium, a game device, and a game system.

1 Game device (computer)
4a Disc type recording medium (recording medium)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game program 30 Host lobby screen 40 Initial participation guest lobby screen 50 Midway participation guest lobby screen 52 Elapsed time information 53 Current position information 61 Control unit 62 Game control unit 63 Participation reception unit 64 Participation request unit 100 Game system

Claims (8)

Computer
A virtual game space for a game in which a plurality of players can participate is generated, and at least a character corresponding to the player who operates the computer is caused to act in the virtual game space in response to an operation input of the computer by the player. , Game control means for advancing the game,
Communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from another computer operated by another player participating in the game in synchronism, and the game of another player who operates the other computer Function as a participation acceptance means to accept participation in,
The game control means includes
While participation in the game by another player who operates another computer (hereinafter referred to as “halfway participating player”) is accepted by the participation acceptance means while the game is proceeding, the game progresses. A game program for causing a character corresponding to the midway participating player to appear in the virtual game space at a timing that does not affect the game, and further causing the game to proceed in synchronization with the other computer operated by the midway participating player. Computer
A virtual game space for a game in which a plurality of players can participate is generated, and at least a character corresponding to the player who operates the computer is caused to act in the virtual game space in response to an operation input of the computer by the player. , Game control means for advancing the game,
Communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the other computer operated by another player participating in the game in synchronism, and another computer accepting participation in the game In response to the operation of the player, it functions as a participation request means for requesting participation in the game,
The game control means includes
When participation of the player (hereinafter referred to as “halfway participating player”) by the participation request means to the game in progress on another computer is accepted, the game is in progress at a timing that does not affect the progress of the game. The generation of the virtual game space of the game is started, and a character corresponding to the midway participating player and another character corresponding to the other computer are caused to act in the virtual game space, and the other A game program for causing the game to proceed in synchronization with a computer.   The game control means starts the progress of the game in synchronization with another computer in progress of the game after the participation of the midway participation player by the participation request means for the game in progress is accepted. The game program according to claim 2, wherein a standby screen is displayed on a monitor connected to the computer for the halfway participating player.   The game program according to claim 3, wherein the standby screen includes information on a progress status of the game received from another computer in progress of the game. Said computer further
Of the programs and data stored in the storage unit and processed by the game control means, at least a part of at least one of them is functioned as a loading means for loading according to the progress of the game,
The game program according to claim 1, wherein the timing that does not affect the progress of the game is a timing at which the loading ends. Said computer further
When the game control means generates the virtual game space, as an object condition determination means for determining the conditions of the objects that construct the virtual game space based on the number of characters corresponding to the players participating in the game The game program according to claim 1, wherein the game program is made to function.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the game program according to claim 1 is recorded.   A game device that reads and executes the game program according to claim 1.