JP2012085834A - Game device and game program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game device that can perform an off-line game with the game device singly and that can perform an on-line game, with the game device connected to a server through a radio communication line.SOLUTION: The game device includes: an inputting means 4 capable of inputting a switching command FNC for switching a game from an off-line game to an on-line game; a means 11 which, when the switching command FNC is inputted, performs finish processing of the on-going off-line game and also performs start processing of the on-line game; a means 13 for carrying out the on-line game through a radio communication line 15; a means 10 that monitors a radiowave communication state of the radio communication line during the performance of the on-line game and that outputs a communication state deterioration signal SG1 when the radiowave communication state is determined to be deteriorated; and a means 11 that, when the communication state deterioration signal SG1 is outputted, carries out interruption processing of the on-line game and performs restart processing of the off-line game.

Description

    The present invention relates to a game device and a game program, and more particularly to a game device and a game program that can monitor a communication quality of a wireless communication line and can play a game by switching between online and offline according to the communication quality.

    An online game played by a game device is known. Recently, a portable game device (here, portable game device means a device that is portable and capable of playing games, and as long as it can play games, it is dedicated to game play) In addition to the devices, there are various portable game devices such as portable PCs, portable telephone devices, portable music players, etc.) that can enjoy online games by connecting to the server by wireless communication Has been developed.

    Further, as a game apparatus capable of playing an offline game and an online game, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2002-315967 A

    The game device of Patent Document 1 is a stationary game device. When a character enters an online transition area set in a virtual space during an offline game, the game device and the server are online via a communication line. Connected, the game is executed in the online mode, and the online connection is released when the character goes out of the online area, the connection with the server is released, and the game apparatus alone enters the offline mode. This is a method of providing a scenario part performed in the online mode and a scenario part performed in the offline mode in a single game scenario, and switching them according to the position of the character in the virtual space. Since such stationary game devices are usually connected to a server via a fixed communication line, the communication quality is guaranteed to be above a certain level, and the game progresses smoothly in the online mode. Can be done.

    On the other hand, recently, using a portable game device, the game device and the server are connected online via a wireless communication line and a game is played in an online mode. However, the communication quality of the wireless communication line is based on the premise that the operating location of the portable game device always moves, so the portable game device can be used in places with poor radio wave conditions such as underground malls, subways, and tunnels. There is a high possibility of moving. In such a case, the communication quality with the server may be greatly deteriorated, the interruption of the game due to the disconnection of the communication line frequently occurs, the interest of the game is greatly reduced, and the online game is popularized by the portable game device. (However, even in the case of a stationary game device, the communication quality may not be stable due to a line failure or maintenance.)

    The present invention monitors the radio wave communication state with the wireless communication line with the server, that is, the communication quality, and when the communication quality is equal to or higher than a certain value, the online game can be played, and the communication quality is equal to or smaller than the certain value. When it becomes, it aims at providing the game device and game program which control so that an offline game can be played.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an offline game based on an offline game program (FGPR) can be executed by the game device (1) alone, and an online game based on an online game program (NGPR) can be executed on the game device (1). In the game device (1), which can be executed in a state where it is connected to the server (17) via the wireless communication line (15),
An input means (4) capable of inputting a switching command (FNC) for switching the game currently played by the player from the offline game to the online game;
Online switching control means (11) for performing an online game start process and an end process for the currently executed offline game when the switch command (FNC) is input;
Online game progress control means (13) for executing the online game via the server (17) and the wireless communication line (15);
The radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line is monitored while the online game is being executed, and the communication state is determined when it is determined that the communication state has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue the online game. A communication state determination means (10) for outputting a deterioration signal (SG1);
Offline switching means (11) for executing interruption processing of the currently executed online game and executing restart processing of the offline game when the communication state deterioration signal is output (SG1);
It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the communication state determination means (10) monitors the radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line even after the offline game is resumed, and the radio wave communication state is recovered. When the online game can be resumed, a communication state improvement signal (SG2) can be output.
An online switching means (11) for executing an interruption process of the currently executed offline game and a restart process of the online game when the communication state improvement signal (SG2) is output;
It is characterized by having.

In a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, is the on-line switching means (11), when the communication state improvement signal (SG2) is output, whether a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game. An elapsed time determination means (11) for determining whether or not, when a predetermined time has not elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game, a process for postponing the online game restart process is performed;
It is characterized by that.

According to a forty-second aspect of the present invention, an offline game based on an offline game program (FGPR) constituting a part of the game program can be executed alone by the computer (1), and the server-side online game program (NGPR) In a computer (1) capable of executing an online game based on the computer (1) connected to a server via a wireless communication line,
The game program causes the computer (1) to
When a switching command (FNC) for switching the game currently being played by the player from the offline game to the online game is input from the input means (4), the offline game currently being executed is terminated, Online switching control means (11) for starting the game,
Online game progress control means (13) for executing the online game via the server (17) and the wireless communication line (15);
The radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line is monitored while the online game is being executed, and the communication state is determined when it is determined that the communication state has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue the online game. A communication state determination means (10) for outputting a deterioration signal (SG1);
An off-line switching means (11) for executing an on-line game interruption process and an off-line game restart process when the communication state deterioration signal (SG1) is output;
It is made to function as.

According to a 52nd aspect of the present invention, the communication status determining means (10) monitors the radio wave communication status of the radio communication line even after the offline game is resumed, and the radio wave communication status is recovered. When the online game can be resumed, a communication state improvement signal (SG2) can be output,
In addition, the game program causes the computer to
An online switching means (11) for executing an interruption process of the currently executed offline game and a restart process of the online game when the communication state improvement signal (SG2) is output;
It is made to function as.

According to a 62nd aspect of the present invention, when the communication state improvement signal (SG2) is output, the online game switching means (11) has passed a predetermined time since switching from the immediately preceding online game to the offline game. An elapsed time determining means (11) for determining whether or not there is a predetermined time has not elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game; ,
It is characterized by that.

According to the present invention, while the online game is being executed on the game apparatus 1, the communication state determination means (10) monitors the radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line, and it is difficult for the communication state to continue the online game. When it is determined that the communication status has deteriorated to some extent, the communication state deterioration signal (SG1) is output, and the offline switching means (11) executes the interruption processing of the currently executed online game and resumes the offline game. Since the processing is performed, the radio wave communication state with the server via the wireless communication line, that is, the communication quality is monitored, and if the communication quality is higher than a certain value, an online game can be played, and the communication quality is lower than the certain value In such a case, control is performed so that an offline game can be played. Therefore, even if the online game is interrupted due to the deterioration of the communication quality, the offline game is immediately resumed, so that it is possible to play the game without stress.

    The communication state determining means (10) also monitors the radio communication state of the wireless communication line (15) after the offline game is resumed, and resumes the online game after the radio communication state is recovered. When the communication status improvement signal (SG2) is output, the online switching means (11) can output the communication status improvement signal (SG2). Since the offline game is interrupted and the online game is resumed, the online game can be immediately played when the communication quality is improved.

    Further, the elapsed time determining means (11) determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game, and a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game. If not, the online game resumption process is postponed, so that the game executed on the game device (1) can be frequently switched between the online game and the offline game, thereby preventing the player from being confused. Is done.

    Note that the numbers in parentheses are for the sake of convenience indicating the corresponding elements in the drawings, and therefore the present description is not limited to the descriptions on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram illustrating an example of a portable game device and a server to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a switching control program.

    Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

    FIG. 1 shows a portable game apparatus 1 as a game apparatus constituting a computer. The portable game apparatus 1 has a main body 2 having a portable size, and a display 3 is disposed on the main body 2. On the display surface 3 a of the display 3, a known touch panel type input unit 4 is stacked on the display surface 3 a, and a user touches a graphic interface (not shown) such as buttons displayed on the display 3 with a fingertip. It is provided so that a predetermined command can be input by touching with a button. In the case of the portable game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, most of the input is performed by touching the display surface 3a of the display 3, and thus the input unit 4 with a finger.

    As shown in FIG. 1, a control system of the game apparatus 1 is stored inside the main body 2, and the control system has a main control unit 5. The main control unit 5 is connected to the program memory 7, the online game progress control unit 9, the communication control unit 10, the game switching control unit 11, the data memory 12, the online game progress control unit 13, and the above-described input via the bus line 6 Part 4, display 3, etc. are connected. These components are all installed in the main body 2, and the portable game device 1 is carried when the player carries the main body 2. Note that the block diagram shown in FIG. 2 exemplarily shows only the portion related to the present invention, and does not show the entire configuration of the actual portable game apparatus 1.

    In addition, in the portable game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the computer actually reads and executes a game program and other known control programs stored in a memory such as the program memory 7 so that a CPU (not shown) The memory operates in a time-sharing manner by multitasking, and executes the functions shown in each block shown in FIG. However, the portable game apparatus 1 can be configured with hardware corresponding to each block, and each block can be configured to be controlled by CPUs or MPUs provided in a distributed manner in each block. Is possible.

    The communication control unit 10 of the portable game apparatus 1 is connected to a public communication line 16 such as the Internet or a telephone network via a wireless communication line 15, and the communication control of the server 17 is connected to the public communication line 16. The part 19 is connected. The server 17 includes a main control unit 20, and a game control unit 22, the communication control unit 19, the data memory 23, an ID management unit 25, and the like are connected to the main control unit 20 via a bus line 21. ing.

    Since the portable game device 1 and the server 17 have the above-described configuration, when the user plays a game, the touch panel type input unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 is operated to instruct the start of the game. In response to this, the main control unit 5 reads the offline game program FGPR from the program memory 7, generates various game images based on the offline game program FGPR, displays them on the display 3, and corresponds to the user. The game is executed in such a manner that an appropriate control command is input via the input unit 4.

    This offline game program FGPR is a game that can be executed alone on the portable game apparatus 1 side in an offline state, that is, in a state where the portable game apparatus 1 is not connected to the server 17 via the wireless communication line 15. As such, it has an independent scenario, and it is possible to play the scenario only from the portable game device from the start to the ending. Note that the offline game program FGPR of the portable game apparatus 1 is a part of the game program GPRO stored in the program memory 7, and the game program GPRO includes an offline game for executing the offline game on the portable game apparatus 1. In addition to the game program FGPR, a program for performing necessary control on the terminal side in order to execute an online game described later on the portable game device 1 is included.

    Further, the offline game program FGPR reads out the character generation program CGP stored in the offline game program FGPR via the main control unit 5 at the time of starting the game or at an appropriate time after the game starts, and through the display 3 the player In response to this, an offline character FCR used in the currently executed offline game program FGPR and an online character NCR used in an online game program NGPR described later are urged to be generated.

    In response to this, the player operates the input unit 4 while looking at the display 3 in accordance with the character generation program CGP, and uses the offline character FCR used in the offline game program FGPR and the online game program NGPR described later. The online character NCR to be generated is generated. The data of the generated offline character FCR and online character NCR are stored in the data memory 12 by the main control unit 5 based on the character generation program CGP. The offline character FCR and the online character NCR have different appearances (the appearance and color of the character are different in the form displayed on the display 3, and the player has both the same appearance and different colors. As long as it can be identified on the display 3), the offline character FCR and the online character NCR have identification data indicating that they are the same individual as attribute data, and the server 17 side Thus, by referring to the attribute data of the online character NCR, it is possible to immediately determine which portable game device 1 the offline character FCR corresponds to the online character NCR.

    While the player operates the offline character FCR generated by himself / herself in a virtual space generated in an appropriate memory in the portable game apparatus 1 and executes the offline game program FGPR, the offline game program FGPR When the player reaches a predetermined step, or at an arbitrary time desired by the player, the player connects the game currently being played by the player from the input unit 4 to the server 17 from an offline game based on the offline game program FGPR. Then, an OFF-ON switching command FNC for switching to an online game based on the online game program NGPR stored in an appropriate memory of the server 17 can be input.

    When the OFF-ON switching command FCN is input from the input unit 4, the offline game program FGPR causes the game switching control unit 11 to store the game switching control program GSC stored in the offline game program FGPR via the main control unit 5. Based on the read-out game switching control program GSC, control is started to switch the game being executed on the portable game apparatus 1 from the offline game so far to the online game by the online game program NGPR.

    As shown in FIG. 2, when the input of the OFF-ON switching command FNC is confirmed by the player in step S1, the switching control program GSC enters step S2 and finishes the offline game that has been executed up to now. Specifically, save data is saved. Next, the switching control program GSC enters step S3, and performs processing for connecting to the communication control unit 10 via the main control unit 5 and the server 17 via the radio communication line 15 and the public communication line 16.

    Next, the switching control program GSC enters step S4, and the data of the online character NCR already generated by the character generation program CGP and stored in the data memory 12 via the main control unit 5 (if necessary, The offline character FCR data) is also sent to the server 17. The server 17 sends the data of the online character NCR sent from the portable game device 1 to the game control unit 22 via the communication control unit 19 and sends it to the online game program NGPR stored in the memory in the server (not shown). Based on this, the portable game apparatus 1 generates an online character NCR used in the online game.

    The switching control program GSC enters step S5, and instructs the main control unit 5 to start an online game. The main control unit 5 instructs the online game progress control 13 to the online game program NGPR on the server 17 side. Based on this, the online game progress control 13 instructs to start a game with the online character NCR, and starts control of the online game based on the online game program NGPR by a known method. Thereby, the player can play an online game based on the online game program NGPR on the portable game apparatus 1.

    Since the offline character FCR and the online character NCR are generated so that their appearances are different, the player can now play an online game just by looking at the appearance of the character FCR or NCR displayed on the display 3. You can easily determine whether you are playing or playing an offline game.

    While the portable game apparatus 1 is executing an online game, the portable game apparatus 1 and the server 17 are connected via the communication control unit 10, the wireless communication line 15, the public communication line 16, and the like. The control unit 10 constantly monitors the communication quality of the wireless communication line 15, and periodically checks whether the communication state with the server 17 of the portable game device 1 has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue the online game. Judgment. This is because the portable game device 1 is used by being carried by a player, so that the ambient environment of the player, that is, the radio wave communication state of the place where the player is currently playing, varies greatly with time. This is because there is always a possibility that a situation where the online state cannot be continued due to the deterioration of the communication state occurs. When the communication state becomes impossible to continue the online game, it goes without saying that the online game using the portable game device 1 is suddenly interrupted in the middle of the play, and various experience values acquired by the player in the online game until then, There is a risk that game data such as items will be lost.

    Therefore, the communication control unit 10 always maintains the radio wave communication state while the portable game device 1 communicates with the server 17 using the wireless communication line 15 and the public communication line 16 to play the online game. If it is determined that the radio wave communication status is below a predetermined threshold and the online game has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue (including the possibility of deterioration), the game immediately A communication state deterioration signal SG1 is output to the switching control unit 11. In response to this, the game switching control unit 11 immediately instructs the online game progress control unit 13 to interrupt the execution of the online game program NGPR that is currently in progress, and the online game that the player is currently playing. A data storage signal S1 that requests the server 17 to store game data relating to the game is output to the server 17. Receiving this, the server 17 specifies the portable game apparatus 1 that has output the data storage signal S1 by the ID management unit 25 from the unique identification code of the portable game apparatus 1 included in the data storage signal S1, and further controls the game. Game data related to the online game program NGPR executed by the portable game apparatus 1 that has output the data storage signal S1 via the unit 22 (the player has executed the online game program NGPR through the current server connection until then) (Experience values and data necessary for game execution such as items) are stored in the data memory 23, and the connection state with the portable game apparatus 1 is released and executed by the portable game apparatus 1. The process that interrupts the execution of the online game.

    On the other hand, on the portable game device 1 side, the game switching control unit 11 performs a process of switching the game program executed on the portable game device 1 from the online game program NGPR so far to the offline game program FGPR, and the data memory 12 Is read out, and the offline game progress control unit 9 is instructed to resume the offline game program FGPR. In response to this, the offline game progress control unit 9 reads the offline game program FGPR stored in the program memory 7 and performs a process of restarting the offline game from the previous end point based on the save data.

    Thereby, even if the online game is interrupted, the offline game is immediately executed on the portable game device 1, so that the entire game executed on the portable game device 1 is interrupted, and the online game is interrupted. You can continue playing the game without wasting achievements such as experience points and items. As described above, the offline game based on the offline game program FGPR itself has an independent scenario, and is configured so that it can be played only from the portable game device from the start to the ending. Therefore, the player can resume the offline game without feeling uncomfortable.

    As described above, the switching process from the online game to the offline game is performed automatically by the game switching control unit 11 and the game switching control unit 11 temporarily changes the display screen of the display 3 to the initial stage of the offline game. Of course, it is also possible to switch to an appropriate notification screen such as a screen (such as a start screen), notify the player that the online game is interrupted, and ask the player whether or not to resume the offline game. Thereby, the game which the player is playing is suddenly switched from the online game to the offline game, and the player can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.

    Even when the offline game is resumed, the communication control unit 10 can always monitor the radio communication state of the wireless communication line 15, recover the radio communication state to a predetermined threshold or more, and resume the online game. When the state is reached, a communication state improvement signal SG2 is output to the game switching control unit 11. In response to this, the game switching control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the immediately preceding online game to the offline game. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, switching to the online game is performed. The process (resume process) is not performed immediately, but the process is postponed until the predetermined time has elapsed (can be set arbitrarily). This prevents a situation in which the game executed on the portable game device 1 side is frequently switched between the online game and the offline game, and the player is confused. If a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous online game was switched to the offline game, the game switching control unit 11 generates an OFF-ON switching command FNC, and the online game based on the game switching control program GSC. The switching process is executed, and the process (termination process) for interrupting the offline game currently being executed by the portable game apparatus 1 is executed according to the procedure described above, and the online game program NGPR is used as the online game program NGPR. Online game restart processing for switching to a game is performed. When the online game is resumed, since the data of the online character NCR in step S4 of the switching control program GSC has already been sent, this step is not executed.

    Note that the present invention can be applied not only to a portable game device but also to an ordinary stationary game device using a home television receiver or the like as a display.

1 …… Portable game device 4 …… Input means (input unit)
10 …… Communication state determination means (communication control unit)
11: Online switching means, offline switching means, elapsed time determining means (game switching control unit)
13. Online game progress control means (online game progress control unit)
15 …… Wireless communication line 17 …… Server FNC …… Switch command SG1 …… Communication state deterioration signal SG2 …… Communication state improvement signal NGPR …… Online game program FGPR …… Offline game program

Claims (6)

An off-line game based on an off-line game program can be executed by the game apparatus alone, and an on-line game based on the on-line game program can be executed with the game apparatus connected to a server via a wireless communication line. In
An input means for inputting a switching command for switching the game that the player is currently playing from the offline game to the online game;
An online switching control means for performing an online game start process and an end process of the currently executed offline game when the switching command is input;
Online game progress control means for executing the online game via the server and the wireless communication line;
The radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line is monitored while the online game is being executed, and the communication state is determined when it is determined that the communication state has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue the online game. A communication state determination means for outputting a deterioration signal;
Offline switching means for executing an interruption process of the currently executed online game and performing a restart process of the offline game when the communication state deterioration signal is output;
A game apparatus comprising: The communication state determination means monitors the radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line even after the offline game is resumed, so that the radio game state is recovered and the online game can be resumed. If it becomes, it can output a communication status improvement signal,
An online switching means for executing an interruption process of the currently executed offline game and performing a restart process of the online game when the communication state improvement signal is output;
The game apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The online game switching means includes elapsed time determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game when the communication state improvement signal is output. If a predetermined time has not elapsed since switching from the online game to the offline game, a process for postponing the restart process of the online game is performed.
The game device according to claim 2. An offline game based on an offline game program constituting a part of the game program can be executed by a computer alone, and the online game based on an online game program on the server side is connected to the server via a wireless communication line In a computer that can run in state
The game program causes the computer to
When a switching command for switching the game currently played by the player from the offline game to the online game is input from the input means, the offline game currently being executed is terminated and the online game is started. Online switching control means,
Online game progress control means for executing the online game via the server and the wireless communication line;
The radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line is monitored while the online game is being executed, and the communication state is determined when it is determined that the communication state has deteriorated to the extent that it is difficult to continue the online game. A communication state determination means for outputting a deterioration signal;
Offline switching means for executing an interruption process of the currently executed online game and performing a restart process of the offline game when the communication state deterioration signal is output;
Game program to function as. The communication state determination means monitors the radio wave communication state of the wireless communication line even after the offline game is resumed, so that the radio game state is recovered and the online game can be resumed. When it becomes, it can output a communication status improvement signal,
In addition, the game program causes the computer to
An online switching means for executing an interruption process of the currently executed offline game and performing a restart process of the online game when the communication state improvement signal is output;
The game program of Claim 4 for functioning as. The online game switching means includes elapsed time determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since switching from the previous online game to the offline game when the communication state improvement signal is output. If a predetermined time has not elapsed since switching from the online game to the offline game, a process for postponing the restart process of the online game is performed.
The game program according to claim 5.

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