JP2014208224A - Information processing system, information processing program, information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system, an information processing program, an information processor and an information processing method capable of connecting to other information processor and shifting to communication processing during the execution of an application.SOLUTION: An information processor obtains user's operation information, and processes an application on the basis of the operation information. While the application is being processed, the information processor uses a radio communication function to repeatedly retrieve other unspecified information processors, and further connects to the thus retrieved other information processor. The information processor executes a communication application with the connected other information processor on the basis of the operation information and other information processor's operation information.

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system including a plurality of information processing devices having a wireless communication function, an information processing device having a wireless communication function, an information processing program executed by a computer of such a device, and an information processing method. Specifically, the present invention relates to processing when performing wireless connection with another information processing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, devices that communicate with other terminals that exist in a communicable range using wireless communication are known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a list of parent devices existing in the communicable range of the own device is displayed,
A technique for entering an arbitrary master unit is disclosed. Specifically, before starting the game,
Receiving a parent device packet from a parent device within the communicable range, creating a parent device list
Display above. The user or player selects one desired parent machine by looking at the parent machine list and operating the operation keys. Then, a connection request is transmitted to the parent device, and when the connection is successful, a communication game process is started with the parent device.

JP 2004-136209 A

However, in Patent Document 1, players who want to start a communication game perform a predetermined start procedure with each other, search for other game devices and establish a connection before starting the game, and then start the communication game. It was not possible to connect to another game device during the game. Moreover, since it started after having the intention to play a communication, there was no surprise.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing system capable of connecting to another information processing apparatus and shifting to communication processing while executing an application.
An information processing apparatus and an information processing method are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.

A first invention is an information processing system including a plurality of information processing devices having a wireless communication function, and each information processing device includes operation information acquisition means, application processing means, search means,
A connection means and a communication application execution means are provided. The operation information acquisition means acquires user operation information. The application processing means processes the application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means. When the application processing unit is processing the application, the searching unit repeatedly searches with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function. Here, searching with other unspecified information processing devices means, for example, searching between game devices of the same type, searching for other game devices of the same type (access points etc. are searched) No). The connection means connects to another information processing apparatus searched by the search means. The communication application execution means executes a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with another information processing apparatus connected by the connection means.

According to the first aspect, since the connection with another information processing apparatus is performed and communication is started while the application is being executed, expectation and surprise can be given to the player. In addition, opportunities for communication with other players can be increased.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the information processing apparatus further includes first condition determination means for determining whether or not an application processed by the application processing means satisfies a first condition. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the search unit performs a search when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied.

According to the second invention, when the application process satisfies the predetermined condition, the connection with another information processing apparatus is performed and the communication is started. Therefore, the communication can be started according to the progress of the application. I can do it.

In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the information processing system includes at least a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. The search means of the first information processing device transmits a connection request to another unspecified information processing device. Further, the search means of the second information processing apparatus tries to receive a connection request transmitted from another information processing apparatus. Furthermore, when the connection means of the second information processing apparatus receives the connection request, it connects to another information processing apparatus without the user's permission.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the connection with another information processing apparatus is performed without the user's permission, there is an unexpectedness and the player can be expected and surprised. Further, since no complicated operation is required, it can be easily connected to another information processing apparatus.

In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the search means searches regardless of the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means. Then, the connection unit automatically connects to another information processing apparatus searched by the search unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the connection with another information processing apparatus is performed without the user's permission, there is an unexpectedness and the player can be expected and surprised. In addition, since an operation for connection is not required, it can be easily connected to another information processing apparatus.

In a fifth aspect based on the first aspect, after the communication application is executed by the communication application execution means, the information processing apparatus disconnects from the other information processing apparatus at a predetermined timing regardless of the user's intention. Cutting means is further provided.

According to the fifth aspect, since the connection state can be prevented from continuing for a long time, communication with another information processing apparatus can be performed comfortably. In addition, since communication is automatically disconnected regardless of the user's intention, communication can be easily terminated.

In a sixth aspect based on the first aspect, the information processing apparatus further includes a second condition determining unit and a cutting unit. The second condition determining means determines whether or not the communication application executed by the communication application executing means satisfies the second condition. The cutting means is the second
When it is determined that the condition is satisfied, the connection with another information processing apparatus is disconnected.

According to the sixth aspect, since it is possible to prevent an unnecessary connection state from continuing, communication with other information processing apparatuses can be performed comfortably.

In a seventh aspect based on the second aspect, the information processing apparatus further includes transmission means for repeatedly transmitting data using the wireless communication function while the application is being processed by the application processing means. The transmitting unit transmits first data when the first condition is not satisfied, and transmits second data different from the first data when the first condition is satisfied. The searching means performs the search by transmitting the second data or receiving the second data from another unspecified information processing device.

According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to change the content of data to be transmitted depending on whether or not it is necessary to connect to another information processing apparatus.

In an eighth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the first data includes information indicating contents of the application processed by the application processing means, and the second data is connection information for connecting to another information processing apparatus. including. The second information processing apparatus further includes output means for outputting information indicating the contents of the application when the first data is received.

According to the eighth invention, when the first condition is not satisfied, it is possible to sequentially know the contents of the application processed by the other information processing apparatus, and when the first condition is satisfied, Connect to perform communication applications.

In a ninth aspect based on the first aspect, the transmission means stops transmission of data after being connected to another information processing apparatus by the connection means.

According to the ninth aspect, after connecting to another information processing apparatus and starting a communication application, transmission of a beacon is stopped, so that a communication processing load can be reduced.

In a tenth aspect based on the first aspect, the application processing means changes the position of the first object in the virtual space based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means. Further, the communication application processing means changes the position of the first object in the virtual space based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means, and the other information based on the operation information of another information processing apparatus. The position of the second object corresponding to the processing device is changed.

According to the tenth invention, by connecting to another information processing apparatus and executing a communication application, the object corresponding to the self object and the other information processing apparatus can appear and be operated in the same virtual space. So you can improve your interest.

In an eleventh aspect based on the first aspect, the information processing apparatus is a portable terminal. The wireless communication function functions as short-range wireless.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide usage such as carrying around outdoors and communicating with a passing person.

In a twelfth aspect based on the third aspect, in the connection request transmitted by the first information processing apparatus, purpose specifying information which is information for specifying the purpose of communication established based on the connection request It is included. Then, the second information processing apparatus connects to the first information processing apparatus without the user's permission only when the purpose specifying information included in the received connection request is a specific value.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, only when the information included in the connection request sent from the first information device and the state of the own device satisfy the predetermined condition, the second without the user's permission. The information processing apparatus can go to connect to the first information processing apparatus. Thereby, it is possible to easily connect to another information processing apparatus without requiring a complicated operation for the user. Also,
For example, such a connection is performed only under a specific situation such as a specific scene in the game process, so that it is possible to limit the situation of the connection without the user's permission.

In a thirteenth aspect based on the third aspect, the first information processing apparatus continues to transmit the connection request to an unspecified other information processing apparatus even when the connection with the second information processing apparatus is established. To do. Then, in a state where the first information processing apparatus is connected to at least one other information processing apparatus, a connection transmitted from the first information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus other than the connected apparatus When the request is received, the first information processing is connected without the user's permission.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the first information processing apparatus and the plurality of second information processing apparatuses can be easily connected without requiring a complicated operation.

A fourteenth invention is an information processing program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, and causes the computer to function as operation information acquisition means, application processing means, search means, connection means, and communication application execution means. . The operation information acquisition means acquires user operation information. The application processing means processes the application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means. When the application processing unit is processing the application, the searching unit repeatedly searches with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function. The connection means connects to another information processing apparatus searched by the search means. The communication application execution means executes a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with another information processing apparatus connected by the connection means.

A fifteenth aspect of the invention is an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, comprising operation information acquisition means, application processing means, search means, connection means, and communication application execution means. The operation information acquisition means acquires user operation information. Application processing means
The application is processed based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means.
When the application processing unit is processing the application, the searching unit repeatedly searches with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function.
The connection means connects to another information processing apparatus searched by the search means. The communication application execution means executes a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with another information processing apparatus connected by the connection means.

A sixteenth invention is an information processing method for controlling an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, and includes an operation information acquisition step, an application processing step, a search step, a connection step, and a communication application execution step. The operation information acquisition step acquires user operation information. The application processing step processes the application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition step. In the search step, when an application process is performed in the application process step, a search is repeatedly performed with an unspecified other information processing apparatus using a wireless communication function. The connection step connects to another information processing device searched for by the search step. The communication application execution step executes a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition step and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with another information processing apparatus connected by the connection step.

  According to the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects, the same effect as in the first aspect can be obtained.

According to the present invention, expectation and surprise can be given to the player, and the fun of the game can be enhanced. In addition, opportunities for communication with other players can be increased.

1 is an external view of a game apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the game device 1 concerning embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the some game device operated by each player Example of image displayed on upper LCD and lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD Example of status icon and message An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD Example of image displayed on upper LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of special power An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD The figure which shows the server apparatus and the some game device operated by each player An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD An example of an image displayed on the lower LCD Schematic diagram showing the concept of the portal area An example of a game screen assumed in the present embodiment An example of a game screen assumed in the present embodiment An example of a game screen assumed in the present embodiment An example of a game screen assumed in the present embodiment The figure which shows the memory map of the main memory 32 of the game device 1 Details of beacon data Details of data for single play processing Details of passing log data The figure which showed an example of the data structure of the data 310 for multiplayer processing The flowchart which shows the flow of the game process performed in the game device 1 The flowchart which shows the detail of the single play process shown by step S4 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the main | base station side connection process shown by step S5 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the main | base station side connection process shown by step S5 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the multiplayer process shown by step S8 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the spontaneous disconnection determination process shown by step S655 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the forced cutting | disconnection determination process shown by step S656 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the subunit | mobile_unit side connection process shown by step S8 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the subunit | mobile_unit side connection process shown by step S8 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the participation notification reception process shown by step S652 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the detail of the start notification transmission process shown by step S654 of FIG. Flow chart showing the flow of beacon discard processing Flow chart showing the flow of investigation mission processing Flow chart showing the flow of beacon transmission / reception processing

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this Example.

<Hardware configuration>
In FIG. 1, a game apparatus 1 is a foldable portable game apparatus, and shows the game apparatus 1 in an open state (open state). The game apparatus 1 is configured in such a size that the user can hold it with both hands or one hand even in an open state.

The game apparatus 1 includes a lower housing 11 and an upper housing 21. The lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are connected so as to be openable and closable (foldable). FIG.
In this example, the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are each formed in a horizontally-long rectangular plate shape, and are connected to each other so as to be rotatable at their long sides. Normally, the user uses the game apparatus 1 in the open state. Further, when the user does not use the game apparatus 1, the user stores the game apparatus 1 in a closed state. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 1 is not limited to the closed state and the open state, and the angle formed by the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 is an arbitrary angle between the closed state and the open state. The opening / closing angle can be maintained by a frictional force generated in the connecting portion. That is, the upper housing 21 can be made stationary with respect to the lower housing 11 at an arbitrary angle.

The lower housing 11 has a lower LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
y: liquid crystal display device) 12 is provided. The lower LCD 12 has a horizontally long shape, and is arranged such that the long side direction coincides with the long side direction of the lower housing 11. In the present embodiment, an LCD is used as a display device built in the game apparatus 1, but for example, EL (Elect
Any other display device such as a display device using tro luminescence (electroluminescence) may be used. The game apparatus 1 can use a display device having an arbitrary resolution. Although details will be described later, the lower LCD 12 is mainly used to display an image taken by the inner camera 23 or the outer camera 25 in real time.

The lower housing 11 is provided with operation buttons 14A to 14K and a touch panel 13 as input devices. As shown in FIG. 1, among the operation buttons 14A to 14K,
Direction input button 14A, operation button 14B, operation button 14C, operation button 14D, operation button 14E, power button 14F, start button 14G, and select button 14H
Is provided on the inner main surface of the lower housing 11 which is the inner side when the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 11 are folded. The direction input button 14A is used for, for example, a selection operation. The operation buttons 14B to 14E are used for, for example, a determination operation or a cancel operation. The power button 14F is used for turning on / off the power of the game apparatus 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the direction input button 14 </ b> A and the power button 14 </ b> F are on the left and right sides (left side in FIG. 1) of the main surface with respect to the lower LCD 12 provided near the center of the inner main surface of the lower housing 11. Provided on top. In addition, the operation buttons 14B to 14E and the start button 14
G and the select button 14 </ b> H are provided on the inner main surface of the lower housing 11 that is on the left and right other side (right side in FIG. 1) with respect to the lower LCD 12. The direction input button 14A, the operation buttons 14B to 14E, the start button 14G, and the select button 14H are used for performing various operations on the game apparatus 1.

In FIG. 1, the operation buttons 14I to 14K are not shown. For example, L
The button 14I is provided at the left end portion of the upper side surface of the lower housing 11, and the R button 14J is
Provided at the right end of the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. L button 14I and R button 14
J is used for performing, for example, a shooting instruction operation (shutter operation) on the game apparatus 1. Furthermore, the volume button 14K is provided on the left side surface of the lower housing 11. The volume button 14K is used to adjust the volume of the speaker provided in the game apparatus 1.

Further, the game apparatus 1 further includes a touch panel 13 as an input device different from the operation buttons 14A to 14K. The touch panel 13 is mounted so as to cover the screen of the lower LCD 12. In the present embodiment, for example, a resistive film type touch panel is used as the touch panel 13. However, the touch panel 13 is not limited to the resistive film type, and any pressing type touch panel can be used. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 13
For example, the same resolution (detection accuracy) as that of the lower LCD 12 is used. However, the resolution of the touch panel 13 and the resolution of the lower LCD 12 are not necessarily matched. Further, an insertion port (broken line shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the right side surface of the lower housing 11. The insertion port is a touch pen 2 used for performing an operation on the touch panel 13.
7 can be stored. Note that the input to the touch panel 13 is the normal touch pen 2.
However, the touch panel 13 is not limited to the touch pen 27, and the touch panel 13 can be operated with a user's finger.

In addition, the right side surface of the lower housing 11 has an insertion slot for storing the memory card 28 (
In FIG. 1, it is indicated by a two-dot chain line). A connector (not shown) for electrically connecting the game apparatus 1 and the memory card 28 is provided inside the insertion slot. The memory card 28 is, for example, an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, and is detachably attached to the connector. The memory card 28 is used, for example, for storing (saving) an image photographed by the game apparatus 1 or reading an image generated by another apparatus into the game apparatus 1.

Further, an insertion port (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1) for housing the cartridge 29 is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. A connector (not shown) for electrically connecting the game apparatus 1 and the cartridge 29 is also provided inside the insertion slot. The cartridge 29 is a recording medium that records a game program and the like, and is detachably attached to an insertion port provided in the lower housing 11.

There are three LEDs 1 on the left side of the connecting portion between the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21.
5A to 15C are attached. Here, the game apparatus 1 can perform wireless communication with other devices, and the first LED 15A is lit when the power of the game apparatus 1 is on. The second LED 15B is lit while the game apparatus 1 is being charged. The third LED 15C is
Lights when wireless communication is established. Therefore, the three LEDs 15A to 15C can notify the user of the power on / off status of the game apparatus 1, the charging status, and the communication establishment status.

On the other hand, the upper housing 21 is provided with an upper LCD 22. The upper LCD 22 has a horizontally long shape and is arranged such that the long side direction coincides with the long side direction of the upper housing 21. As in the case of the lower LCD 12, instead of the upper LCD 22, a display device having any other method and any resolution may be used. A touch panel may be provided so as to cover the upper LCD 22. For example, the upper LCD 22 allows the user to operate the operation buttons 14A to 14A-14.
An operation explanation screen for teaching the role of K and the touch panel 13 is displayed.

The upper housing 21 includes two cameras (an inner camera 23 and an outer camera 25).
) Is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner camera 23 is attached to the inner main surface near the connecting portion of the upper housing 21. On the other hand, the outer camera 25 is a surface on the opposite side of the inner main surface to which the inner camera 23 is attached, that is, the outer main surface of the upper housing 21 (the outer surface when the game apparatus 1 is in a closed state, (Back side of upper housing 21 shown in FIG. 1)
Attached to. In FIG. 1, the outer camera 25 is indicated by a broken line. As a result, the inner camera 23 can shoot in the direction in which the inner main surface of the upper housing 21 faces, and the outer camera 25 can capture the direction opposite to the shooting direction of the inner camera 23, that is, the outer main surface of the upper housing 21. It is possible to photograph the direction in which the surface faces. As described above, in the present embodiment, the two inner cameras 23 and the outer cameras 25 are provided so that the shooting directions are opposite to each other. For example, the user can shoot a scene viewed from the game apparatus 1 with the inner camera 23 and shoot a scene viewed from the game apparatus 1 in the direction opposite to the user with the outer camera 25. Can do.

Note that a microphone (a microphone 42 shown in FIG. 2) is housed as an audio input device on the inner main surface in the vicinity of the connecting portion. A microphone hole 16 is formed on the inner main surface near the connecting portion so that the microphone 42 can detect the sound outside the game apparatus 1. Microphone 42
The position of the microphone housing 16 and the position of the microphone hole 16 do not necessarily need to be the connecting portion. For example, the microphone 42 is stored in the lower housing 11, and the microphone 42 is used for the microphone in the lower housing 11 corresponding to the storage position. A hole 16 may be provided.

A fourth LED 26 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) is provided on the outer main surface of the upper housing 21.
Is attached. The fourth LED 26 is lit when the outer camera 25 has taken a picture (the shutter button has been pressed). Further, it is lit while a moving image is shot by the outer camera 25. The fourth LED 26 can notify the subject to be photographed and the surroundings that photographing by the game apparatus 1 has been performed (performed).

Further, with respect to the upper LCD 22 provided near the center of the inner main surface of the upper housing 21,
Sound release holes 24 are respectively formed in the main surfaces on the left and right sides. A speaker is housed in the upper housing 21 behind the sound release hole 24. The sound release hole 24 is a hole for releasing sound from the speaker to the outside of the game apparatus 1.

As described above, the upper housing 21 includes the inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25 that are configured to capture an image, and the upper LCD 22 that is a display unit that displays an operation explanation screen at the time of shooting, for example. Provided. On the other hand, the lower housing 11 has a game device 1.
Input device (touch panel 13 and buttons 14A-14)
K) and a lower LCD 12 which is a display means for displaying a game screen. Therefore, when using the game apparatus 1, the user grasps the lower housing 11 and performs input to the input device while viewing a captured image (image captured by the camera) displayed on the lower LCD 12. be able to.

Next, the internal configuration of the game apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the game apparatus 1.

In FIG. 2, the game apparatus 1 includes a CPU 31, a main memory 32, and a memory control circuit 33.
, Storage data memory 34, preset data memory 35, memory card interface (memory card I / F) 36 and cartridge I / F 44, wireless communication module 3
7, local communication module 38, real time clock (RTC) 39, power supply circuit 40
, And an electronic component such as an interface circuit (I / F circuit) 41. These electronic components are mounted on an electronic circuit board and housed in the lower housing 11 (or the upper housing 21).

The CPU 31 is information processing means for executing a predetermined program. In the present embodiment, a predetermined program is stored in a memory (for example, the storage data memory 34) or the memory card 28 and / or 29 in the game apparatus 1, and the CPU 31 executes the predetermined program, thereby A game process to be described later is executed. Note that the program executed by the CPU 31 may be stored in advance in the memory in the game apparatus 1, may be acquired from the memory card 28 and / or the cartridge 29, or may be obtained by communication with other devices. May be obtained from other devices. For example, it may be obtained by downloading from a predetermined server via the Internet, or by downloading a predetermined program stored in the stationary game device by communicating with the stationary game device. You may get at.

A main memory 32, a memory control circuit 33, and a preset data memory 35 are connected to the CPU 31. In addition, a storage data memory 34 is connected to the memory control circuit 33. The main memory 32 is a storage means used as a work area or buffer area for the CPU 31. That is, the main memory 32 stores various data used for the game processing, and stores programs acquired from the outside (memory cards 28 and 29, other devices, etc.). In the present embodiment, the main memory 32 is, for example, PSRA.
M (Pseudo-SRAM) is used. The storage data memory 34 is a storage unit for storing a program executed by the CPU 31, data of images taken by the inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25, and the like. The storage data memory 34 is configured by a nonvolatile storage medium, and is configured by, for example, a NAND flash memory in this embodiment. The memory control circuit 33 is a circuit that controls reading and writing of data with respect to the storage data memory 34 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 31. The preset data memory 35 is storage means for storing data (preset data) such as various parameters set in advance in the game apparatus 1. As the preset data memory 35, S
CPU by PI (Serial Peripheral Interface) bus
A flash memory connected to 31 can be used.

The memory card I / F 36 is connected to the CPU 31. The memory card I / F 36 reads and writes data to and from the memory card 28 attached to the connector.
This is performed according to the instruction of U31. In the present embodiment, image data captured by the outer camera 25 is written to the memory card 28, or image data stored in the memory card 28 is read from the memory card 28 and stored in the storage data memory 34. To do.

The cartridge I / F 44 is connected to the CPU 31. The cartridge I / F 44 reads and writes data to and from the cartridge 29 attached to the connector.
Follow the instructions in 1. In the present embodiment, an application program that can be executed by the information processing apparatus 10 is read from the cartridge 29 and executed by the CPU 31, or data related to the application program (for example, game save data) is written to the cartridge 29. Or

Note that the game program of the present invention may be supplied not only to the computer system through an external storage medium such as the cartridge 29 but also to the computer system through a wired or wireless communication line. The game program may be recorded in advance in a non-volatile storage device inside the computer system. The information storage medium for storing the color conversion program is not limited to the nonvolatile storage device, but may be a CD-ROM, a DVD, or an optical disk storage medium similar to them.

The wireless communication module 37 is, for example, IEEE 802.11. It has a function of connecting to a wireless LAN by a method compliant with the b / g standard. In addition, the local communication module 38
It has a function of performing wireless communication with the same type of game apparatus by a predetermined communication method. The wireless communication module 37 and the local communication module 38 are connected to the CPU 31. CPU
31 transmits / receives data to / from other devices via the Internet using the wireless communication module 37, and transmits / receives data to / from other game devices of the same type using the local communication module 38. be able to.

Further, the RTC 39 and the power supply circuit 40 are connected to the CPU 31. RTC39 is
The time is counted and output to the CPU 31. For example, the CPU 31 can calculate the current time (date) based on the time counted by the RTC 39. Power circuit 40
Controls the power supplied from the power supply (typically a battery, which is housed in the lower housing 11) of the game apparatus 1, and supplies the power to each component of the game apparatus 1.

In addition, the game apparatus 1 includes a microphone 42 and an amplifier 43. The microphone 42 and the amplifier 43 are each connected to the I / F circuit 41. The microphone 42 detects the voice of the user uttered toward the game apparatus 1 and outputs a voice signal indicating the voice to the I / F circuit 41. The amplifier 43 amplifies the audio signal from the I / F circuit 41 and a speaker (not shown).
Output from. The I / F circuit 41 is connected to the CPU 31.

The touch panel 13 is connected to the I / F circuit 41. The I / F circuit 41 includes a voice control circuit that controls the microphone 42 and the amplifier 43 (speaker), and a touch panel control circuit that controls the touch panel 13. The voice control circuit performs A / D conversion and D / A conversion on the voice signal, or converts the voice signal into voice data of a predetermined format. The touch panel control circuit generates touch position data in a predetermined format based on a signal from the touch panel 13 and outputs it to the CPU 31. For example, the touch position data is the touch panel 1
3 is data indicating coordinates of a position where an input is performed on the input surface 3. The touch panel control circuit reads signals from the touch panel 13 and generates touch position data at a rate of once per predetermined time. The CPU 31 can know the position where the input is performed on the touch panel 13 by acquiring the touch position data via the I / F circuit 41.

The operation button 14 includes the operation buttons 14A to 14K and is connected to the CPU 31. From the operation button 14 to the CPU 31, operation data indicating an input status (whether or not the button is pressed) for each of the operation buttons 14A to 14K is output. The CPU 31 operates the operation button 1
By acquiring the operation data from 4, the process corresponding to the input to the operation button 14 is executed.

The inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25 are each connected to the CPU 31. The inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25 capture an image in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 31 and output the captured image data to the CPU 31. In the present embodiment, the CPU 31 issues a shooting instruction to one of the inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25, and the camera that has received the shooting instruction takes an image and sends the image data to the CPU 31.

Further, the lower LCD 12 and the upper LCD 22 are each connected to the CPU 31. The lower LCD 12 and the upper LCD 22 display images according to instructions from the CPU 31, respectively.

<Outline of operation of game device>
Hereinafter, an outline of the operation of the game apparatus 1 will be described.

In the present embodiment, basically, one player operates one game device (the game device 1). In the following description, for convenience, a game device operated by the player A is referred to as a game device A, a game device operated by the player B is referred to as a game device B, and a game device operated by the player C is referred to as a game device. Sometimes referred to as C.

When the player activates the game device with the memory card 28 storing the game program attached to the game device, the game program is executed and game processing is started. In the game processing, the game world is displayed on the upper LCD 22 or the lower LCD 12, and the player can operate the player character existing in the game world using the operation button 14 or the touch panel 13. In the following description, for convenience, a player character operated by the player A is referred to as a player character A, a player character operated by the player B is referred to as a player character B, and a player character operated by the player C is referred to as a player character. Sometimes referred to as C.

Immediately after the player starts the game, game processing in the single play mode basically proceeds. In the single play mode, only one player character exists in the game world of a game being executed on a certain game device (for example, a player character operated by the player A in the game world of a game being executed on the game device A). (A state where only A exists). If a predetermined condition is satisfied during the game process in the single play mode, the game process in the multi play mode is started. In the multi-play mode, a plurality of player characters exist in the game world of a game being executed on a certain game device (for example, the player character A operated by the player A in the game world of a game being executed on the game device A). And a player character B operated by the player B). In the multi-play mode, such a game process is realized by a plurality of game apparatuses 1 communicating with each other via the local communication module 38.

<Single play mode>
Hereinafter, an outline of game processing in the single play mode will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the game apparatus 1 is basically always in the middle of executing the game process (in both the single play mode and the multi play mode). Send to device. This transmission method may be a passive scan method or an active scan method. That is, each game device may transmit (broadcast) a beacon to an unspecified address at a predetermined cycle, or each probe device transmits a probe request to an unspecified address at a specified cycle and receives this packet A beacon may be transmitted from the game device. That is, in the present invention, the search may be an active scan method or a passive scan method. As will be described later, the beacon may include various information such as information related to the player, information indicating the game situation, and a message. In the single play mode, the following functions are realized by using a beacon that is constantly transmitted during game play.
・ Profile display function ・ Game support function ・ Communication function ・ Survey mission function

The profile display function is a function for displaying a profile of another player playing a game in a peripheral area of the game device (for example, a range in which a beacon from another game device can be received) on the screen of the game device. It is. For example, the player A is playing a game using the game device A, and the player B is playing the game device B in the peripheral area of the game device A.
When playing a game using the game device A screen (for example, the upper LCD 22)
It is possible to display the profile of the player B.

The game support function is a function that supports other players playing in the peripheral area of the game device. For example, when the player A is playing a game using the game apparatus A and the player B is playing a game using the game apparatus B in the peripheral area of the game apparatus A, the player A plays The player A consumes certain parameters (for example, special items available in the game world) in the game world of the game (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “game world of the player A” or “game world A”). When a specific effect is activated, the same effect can be exhibited in the game world of the player B without the player B consuming the specific item or parameter. For example, when the player A consumes specific parameters and recovers the physical strength of the monster that the player character A is taking as a friend, the same applies to the game world of the player B who is playing the game in the peripheral area of the player A. (That is, the physical strength of the monster that the player character B is taking as a companion is recovered). Further, for example, when the player A consumes a specific parameter and halves the sales price of an item sold in a store in the game world A for a certain time, the game is played in the peripheral area of the player A. A similar effect appears in the game world of the player B (that is, the selling price of the item sold at the store in the game world B is also halved for a certain period of time).

The communication function is a function for displaying a message from another player playing in the peripheral area of the game device on the screen of the game device or transmitting a message to the other player. For example, when the player A is playing a game using the game apparatus A, and the player B is playing a game using the game apparatus B in the peripheral area of the game apparatus A, the player B becomes the player A. A message addressed to the game apparatus A is displayed on the screen of the game apparatus A, or a message addressed to the player B by the player A is displayed on the game apparatus B.
Can be displayed on the screen.

With the survey mission function, the player character becomes an investigator in the game world,
In response to a survey request from a survey company in the game world, various surveys are conducted. In the survey, a beacon (game device 1) is carried out from a game device carried by another player by the game device 1 when the player carries the game device 1 in the real world and travels to a place with many people such as a station or a store.
As will be described later, this beacon is received by receiving information on the characteristics and preferences of the other players. By reporting the survey results to the survey company, the rank of the player character as the surveyor increases, and the game development changes or items that are advantageous to the progress of the game are acquired.

Hereinafter, an outline of the game process in the single play mode will be described with reference to a game image example.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image displayed on the upper LCD 22 and the lower LCD 12 immediately after the start of the game. On the upper LCD 22, the state of the game world including the player character is displayed. The player character is accompanied by a monster as a friend, and can command the fellow monster to fight against a wild monster or the like by instructing the fellow monster. The player can play the game by operating the player character, for example, by operating the operation button 14. Lower LCD 22
Includes a list of other players playing in the peripheral area of the game device.
The “other player list” button image P1 and the “survey mission” button image P2 for conducting the above-described survey are displayed. By touching these button images P1 and P2 with the touch pen 27, the player can Functions corresponding to the button images P1 and P2 can be called. Instead of touching the “survey mission” button image P2, the survey mission function may be called by the player character speaking to a specific person (for example, the president of the survey company) in the game world.

FIG. 5 shows the lower LCD 1 when the “other player list” button image P 1 in FIG. 4 is touched.
2 is an example of the other player list image displayed in FIG. Even when the other player list image is displayed on the lower LCD 12, the player continues to play the game, for example, by operating the operation button 14 while viewing the game image displayed on the upper LCD 22. Can do.

The game apparatus 1 can basically always receive a beacon from another game apparatus during the single play mode. When the beacon from another game apparatus is received by the local communication module 38, the information included in the beacon is received. Is analyzed. The beacon includes a player name, a message such as a greeting, profile information, information indicating a game situation, and the like.

When the game apparatus 1 receives a beacon from another game apparatus, the game apparatus 1 accumulates information related to the player of the other game apparatus, for example, in the storage data memory 34 based on the beacon. In the other player information window P3 of the other player list image, the player of the game apparatus that has received the beacon in the past (hereinafter referred to as “player passed in the past”).
Information) is displayed. The maximum number of other player information windows P3 that can be displayed on the lower LCD 12 at a time is four. However, the player can scroll the other player information window P3 by touching the scroll icon P7, and the maximum number of the other player information windows P3 is 30. The other player information window P3 for the person can be seen. Other player information window P3
Includes a player icon display area P3a, a situation icon display area P3b, and a player name display area P3c.

When the game apparatus 1 receives a beacon from another game apparatus, the game apparatus 1 automatically displays information included in the beacon on the screen. Thereby, during game play, information from other unspecified other game devices around the game device 1 is automatically displayed on the screen one after another. This information is displayed at the same time as your game screen, so you can learn about other players at the same time while playing the game, even if you are playing alone,
It can give you the experience of playing games with someone (and an unspecified person). Further, information from a plurality of game devices around the game device 1 is automatically displayed one after another. As a result, it is possible to provide an experience as if playing a game with a larger number of people.

The reception status icon P6 indicates the reception status measured based on the beacon that has been received best among beacons from one or more game devices.

The information display area P8 shows the number of other player information windows P3 that can be currently viewed on the other player list main screen.

Various information is displayed in the information display area P9 depending on the situation. In the example of FIG. 6, the total number of players who have passed in the past is displayed. The total number of players who have passed in the past is calculated by the game device 1 obtaining the identifier of the player of the other game device from the beacon from the other game device and storing it in the storage data memory 34, for example. be able to.

The special power icon P10 is an icon that is touched to activate special power.

The word message icon P11 is an icon that is touched to transmit a word message to another player.

The gratitude icon P12 is an icon that is touched to convey gratitude to other players.

  The return icon P13 is an icon that is touched to return to the previous screen.

For example, in the state in which the other player list image as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the lower LCD 12 of the Nana (player name) game apparatus 1, the Nana game apparatus 1 is also played in the single play mode in the peripheral area. When Ken's game device 1 enters, Nana's game device 1 can receive a beacon from Ken's game device 1 (similarly,
Ken's game device 1 will be able to receive beacons from Nana's game device 1). Since the beacon from Ken's game device 1 includes Ken's player name, greeting message, and the like, Nana's game device 1 displays the other player list displayed on the lower LCD 12 as shown in FIG. Add Ken information to the image. In Ken's situation icon display area P3b, a situation icon corresponding to this situation is displayed, and Ken's player name display area P3.
In c, Ken's name and a greeting message are displayed. Message window P14
Appears and a message corresponding to this situation is displayed in the message window P14. In the example of FIG. 6, Ken's name and greeting message are simultaneously displayed in Ken's player name display area P3c. However, in another embodiment, Ken's name and the greeting message are displayed in Ken's player name display area P3c. Greeting messages may be displayed alternately.

FIG. 7 shows an example of status icons displayed in the status icon display area P3b, messages displayed in the message window P14, and display timings thereof. In addition, information indicated by brackets in the message ([player name], [monster name], [
Special power name], [play time], [single message], etc.) are information acquired from the beacon.

As shown in FIG. 7, various messages about the game situation are automatically displayed on the screen based on data transmitted from unspecified game devices in the vicinity. Thereby, during game play, the game situation of other unspecified players around the game apparatus 1 is automatically displayed on the screen one after another, as if playing with someone (and with an unspecified person). Can give you an experience. Also, as will be described later, since it has a game support function, it is possible to see and help the game situation of unspecified players around it, as if playing with a lot of unspecified players. A unique experience.

Among the other player information windows P3 included in the other player list image, the other player information window P3 corresponding to the game device that cannot receive the beacon for a predetermined time or longer (for example, 180 seconds or longer) is shown in FIG. Thus, the player is notified that the other player has moved away.

<Profile display function>
When the player touches one of the other player information windows P3 included in the other player list image, the profile of the other player corresponding to the touched other player information window P3 can be viewed. For example, when Ken's other player information window P3 is touched, Ken's profile is displayed on the upper LCD 22 as shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower LCD 12 displays a map indicating the current position of the player character operated by Ken and a window indicating the game situation in the game that Ken is playing. The time displayed in the game status window indicates the time when the beacon was last received from Ken's game device 1. In other words, the game situation displayed in the game situation window is the game situation at the time when the beacon is last received from Ken's game apparatus 1. Information necessary to generate the images shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (for example, Ken's profile, play time, self-introduction, number of thanks, number of people passing by, Ken's player character's current position, Ken's game (Situation) is acquired from the beacon transmitted from Ken's game device 1.

As described above, the player who is playing the game in the single play mode similarly shows the profiles of the other players who are playing the game in the single play mode in the surrounding area.
It is possible to see in real time.

<Game support function>
FIG. 11 shows the lower side L of Nana's game device 1 when the physical strength of an electric mouse (monster name) carried by Ken (a player character operated by Ken) has been reduced to half or less from the maximum.
The other player list image displayed on CD12 is shown. At this time, Nana touches the special power icon P10 and uses the special power named “Health Recovery Power” to recover the physical strength of the monster that Nana is taking, as well as the physical strength of Ken's electric rat. It is possible to recover. FIG. 12 shows another player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 of Nana's game apparatus 1 immediately after Nana touches the special power icon P10. The other player list image includes button images P15a and P15b for confirmation.
Is displayed. As shown in FIG. 13, there are a plurality of types of special power that can be used by the player in the game world, and the effect and effective time differ for each special power. For example, using “Health Recovery Power” will instantly restore the health of fellow monsters. Also, if you use “Selling Power”, the product in the store will be half price for only 3 minutes after using it. In this embodiment, the player designates the special power to be used in advance,
When the special power icon P10 is touched, the designated special power can be used immediately.

In FIG. 12, when Nana touches the “Yes” button image P15a, the physical strength of the monster that Nana is taking (for example, see FIG. 4) is recovered, and Nana has used “Health Recovery Power”. Information is transmitted from Nana's game device 1 through a beacon to other game devices that are playing the game in the single play mode in the peripheral area of Nana's game device 1.

FIG. 14 shows Ken's game device 1 immediately after receiving a beacon from Nana's game device 1.
The other player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 is shown. In the other player list image of FIG. 14, the other player information window P3 regarding NANA is displayed, and in the situation icon display area P3b, a situation icon indicating that NANA has used the special power is displayed, and a message window is displayed. In P14, a message asking whether or not to use “physical energy recovery power” activated by Nana is displayed.

In FIG. 14, when the button image P15a where Ken is “Yes” is touched, the physical strength of the electric mouse carried by Ken is recovered.

Thus, the player can support other players who are playing the game in the vicinity by using the special power. In the above description, when the player himself / herself uses special power, an example has been described in which other players playing a game in the vicinity can also use special power. However, the player himself / herself uses special power. Instead, support may be provided so that the special power can be used only for other players.

Instead of supporting each other as described above, as shown in FIG. 15, a server device 100 for supporting a player playing a game in the vicinity is installed in, for example, a store or an event venue. Then, a beacon indicating that the server apparatus 100 has activated special power (for example, “experience value up power”) is automatically transmitted from the server apparatus 100 at a predetermined timing (for example, at a predetermined cycle). It may be. In the game device 1 of a player who is playing a game in the peripheral area of the server device 100, the server device 1
When the beacon is received from 00, a message asking whether to use the special power activated by the server device 100 is displayed. When the player agrees to use the special power, the effect of the special power is obtained. By installing such a server device 100 in a store or an event venue, a high effect of attracting customers can be expected.

<Communication function>
If Ken wants to express his gratitude to Nana for activating “health recovery power”, Ken is thankful that is displayed on the lower LCD 12 of Ken's game device 1 By touching the other player information window P3 regarding Nana after touching the icon P12, it is possible to convey gratitude to Nana. FIG. 16 shows another player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 of Ken's game apparatus 1 immediately after Ken touches the thanks icon P12. In the information display area P9, a message that prompts the player (in this case, Ken) to select a partner who wants to express gratitude is displayed. Here, when Ken touches another player information window P3 regarding Nana, information indicating that he is thankful to Nana is transmitted from Ken's game device 1 to Nana's game device 1 through a beacon. Since this beacon is broadcast, it is also received by the game device 1 other than NANA. However, since this beacon includes information indicating that the user is thankful to NANA, the game device other than NANA is included. 1 can ignore this information.

FIG. 17 shows an other player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 of the Nana game apparatus 1 immediately after receiving the beacon. A status icon indicating appreciation from Ken is displayed in the status icon display region P3b in the other player information window P3 regarding Ken, and a Ken name and a thank-you message are displayed in Ken's player name display region P3c. . In addition, a message indicating that Ken has been thankful is displayed in the message window P14. For example, the storage data memory 34 of the game apparatus 1 stores “
The “number of times thanked by other players” is stored, and when the player is thanked as described above, the stored “number of times thanked by other players” is updated (incremented). The The “number of times thanked by other players” may be notified to other players through a beacon as part of the player's profile, or the game development may change according to the value.

Note that the greeting message (see FIG. 6) and the thanks message (see FIG. 17) as described above are sentences previously registered in the game apparatus 1 by the player, but are not limited to such fixed messages. It is also possible to freely edit the sentence each time and send it to other players. For example, in the other player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 of Nana's game device 1 shown in FIG. 17, after Nana touches the single message icon P11,
When Ken is selected as the destination of the short message (that is, when the other player information window P3 related to Ken is touched), the lower LCD 12 of Nana's game apparatus 1 displays FIG.
A message input image as shown in FIG. The message input image includes an input text display area P16 in which a sentence being input is displayed, a software keyboard image P17 for inputting characters, and a send button for completing the message input and transmitting the message An image P18 is included. Nana completes the message input and send button image P
When 18 is touched, information indicating a single message to Ken is transmitted from Nana's game device 1 to Ken's game device 1 through a beacon. Since this beacon is broadcast, it is also received by the game apparatus 1 other than Ken. However, since this beacon includes information indicating a single message to Ken, the game apparatus 1 other than Ken. Can ignore this information.

FIG. 19 shows another player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 of Ken's game apparatus 1 immediately after receiving the beacon. A status icon indicating that a single message has been received from NANA is displayed in the status icon display region P3b in the other player information window P3 regarding NANA, and the NANA name and single message are displayed in the NANA player name display region P3c. Is displayed. In addition, a message indicating that a single message has been received from NANA is displayed in the message window P14.

In this way, the player can communicate with other players playing the game in the vicinity in real time as necessary.

<Investigation mission function>
20 shows the lower LCD 1 when the “investigation mission” button image P2 in FIG. 4 is touched.
2 is an example of the main image of the survey mission displayed in FIG. In the main image of the survey mission, the current surveyor rank of the player and three button images P20 to P22 are displayed. The surveyor rank indicates the skill level of the surveyor. The more survey requests are received and the more survey results are reported, the higher the rank C rank → B rank → A rank → S rank. The button image P20 is a button image to be touched by the player when he / she wants to receive a survey request. The button image P21 is a button image to be touched by the player when reporting the survey result. The button image P22 is a button image to be touched by the player when it is desired to check the progress of the survey.

In FIG. 20, when the player touches the button image P20, as shown in FIG.
The image on the lower LCD 12 changes to the survey method selection screen. In this embodiment, the player can arbitrarily select a desired survey method from two types of survey methods, “time survey” and “number survey”. The “time survey” is a survey method in which a survey over a specified time (the specified time becomes longer as the surveyor rank becomes higher) needs to be performed. “Number of people survey” is a survey method that requires more than a specified number of people (the higher the number of surveyors, the greater the number of people specified). As described above, in the survey, the player carries the game device 1 in the real world, goes to a place with many people such as a station or a store, and the game device 1 uses the game device carried by another player. This is done by receiving an outgoing beacon. Therefore, for a player who has many opportunities to approach other players carrying the game device, it is likely that the survey can be completed earlier by selecting “Number of people survey”. For a player who has few opportunities to approach other players, there is a high possibility that the survey is not completed at all in the “number survey”. Therefore, in this embodiment, not only the “number survey” but also the “time survey” is performed so that even the latter player does not have a large disadvantage.
Can be selected, and even if the number of people surveyed is small, the survey can be completed after a specified time.

In FIG. 21, when the player touches the “Time Survey” button image P23 or the “People Survey” button image P24, as shown in FIG.
The image of CD12 changes. On the survey content selection screen, a plurality of button images P25 indicating the survey content are displayed. By touching the scroll icon P26 as necessary, all the survey contents that can be requested at the present time are displayed. It is possible to confirm.
The player can receive a survey request for the survey content by selecting a desired survey content from these survey content and touching the button image P25 corresponding to the selected survey content.

When the player receives a survey request for any of the survey contents, the game apparatus 1 starts from the beacon transmitted from another game apparatus from that time until the survey is completed.
The information collection process that collects information related to the survey content is continuously performed. This information collection process may be executed while the game apparatus 1 is in the sleep state. The collected information is accumulated in the storage data memory 34 of the game apparatus 1, for example.

In FIG. 20, when the player touches the button image P21, the storage data memory 3
On the basis of the player's survey results stored in 4, the graph is displayed or the surveyor rank is increased.

In this way, the player can collect information as if he / she actually conducts a questionnaire survey in the real world in response to a survey request received in the game world.

<Multiplayer mode>
Next, the outline of the game process in the multiplayer mode described above will be further described. In this multi-play mode, the player enters the game world of a player who is playing nearby, or enters the game world of the game being executed so that a plurality of player characters exist simultaneously.

In the present embodiment, some predetermined areas in the game world are set as portal areas (hereinafter referred to as portal areas) for entering the game world of other players. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of the portal area. In FIG. 23, a normal field that is a stage for basic game progress and the portal area are shown in the game world. A “bridge” is connected to the portal area (note that the bridge is also a part of the portal area). In this embodiment, the game world of another game device is connected to the end of this bridge. In this embodiment, the player character is given a sense of play that allows the player character to enter the world of other game devices by passing through the bridge.

An outline of the operation when connecting to another game device will be described. In the present embodiment, for example, when the player A of the game apparatus A moves the player character operated by himself / herself into the portal area and further moves on the bridge during the game, the communicable range of the game apparatus A It searches for other game devices existing inside. As a result, for example, it is assumed that the game apparatus B is found. In this case, a connection request is made from game device A to game device B, and game device B
If the current game situation is not a situation where communication is not possible, game device A and game device B
Is established via the local communication module 38. If the connection is established, position information and the like of each operation character in the game world are transmitted and received, and the contents are reflected in each game device, so that the operation of the player A in each of the game device A and the game device B is performed. A state in which the character and the operation character of the player B are present exists, and the multi-play mode described above is realized. Hereinafter, a connection form in which such game devices are directly connected using short-range communication is referred to as “local connection” or “local communication”. In this embodiment, a unique protocol is used for the local connection.

Here, in the present embodiment, when establishing the connection of the local connection, the connection is established without obtaining the connection approval or connection permission of the player B (for example, display of a connection confirmation message). That is, when a connection request is received from the game device of the player A, the game device B connects to the game device A without asking the player B for any input. Therefore, the player B does not need to perform a separate operation for establishing a connection. That is, on the game apparatus B side, a predetermined operation procedure for starting connection with the game apparatus A is not necessary. In other words, from the viewpoint of the player B, the player A is connected to the game device B of the player A and is invaded into the game world of the player A without being aware of the player. That is, each player plays while always feeling the possibility of a communication game being played with an unspecified player who is playing around himself / herself even when playing alone. Also,
In this embodiment, since the communication game is started without being noticed, it is possible to obtain a feeling as if the communication game is always being performed. In this embodiment, the player A is searched for another game device when the player A operates in a specific procedure (specifically, when the player character moves to the portal area). Even if the operation of a specific procedure is not performed, another game device may be searched for and connected automatically during the game play. For example, when a predetermined time elapses after the game is started, a communication game is started by searching for another game device and automatically connecting regardless of the operation of the player (without requesting the player's permission). You may do it.

In the following description, a position like the player A is called an intrusion side, and a position like the player B is called an intrusion side. In addition, processing for establishing a local connection at the intrusion side is referred to as intrusion side connection processing, and processing for establishing a local connection at the intrusion side is referred to as non-intrusion side connection processing.

Next, a specific game screen transition associated with the processing will be described with reference to an example of the game screen when establishing the local connection. The following screen example shows the player A on the intrusion side.
6 is an example of a screen on the game apparatus A according to FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a place where the player character operated by the player A has moved on the bridge in the portal area. In FIG.
A screen overlooking the game world is displayed on the upper LCD 22, and various information screens including a message window are displayed on the lower LCD 12. On the game screen of the upper LCD 22, a bridge and a wall are shown. Since there is the wall, in this state, the player character cannot move forward (rightward in FIG. 24) (that is, it cannot yet enter the game world of another game device).

In this embodiment, the bridge plays a role of entry into the world of other game devices (
Hereinafter, it may be referred to as an entrance area). Therefore, when the player character gets on the bridge, a process for searching for another game device (a process related to the intrusion side connection) is executed. At this time,
In the message window, a message indicating that another game device is being searched is displayed. If another game device such as game device B is found as a result of the search, a message indicating that another game device has been found is displayed as shown in FIG. This message is a character string including the name of player B, for example, a character string “Player B's portal area is nearby”.

Thereafter, the local connection establishment process is executed between the game apparatus A and the game apparatus B (from the game apparatus A, the intrusion side connection process is executed, and from the game apparatus B side,
Intruder side connection processing is executed). When the local connection is established, a message indicating that the connection is established is displayed in the message window as shown in FIG. Further, the wall is deleted from the game screen of the upper LCD 22. As a result, the player character can be advanced to the tip of the bridge (rightward in FIG. 24). In terms of game settings, there is a world of other game devices ahead of this bridge, and multiplayer as described below is executed.

In actual processing, a game screen is displayed on the game device A using the map data of the game contained in a memory card or the like, and information (character position is received) from the game device B on the screen. Display and operation of the player character operated by the player B on the game device B, and display and operation of the player character operated by the player A based on the information shown in FIG. The process is performed as if it had entered the game world. Similarly, on the game device B side, the game device A
Based on the position information and the like of the player character transmitted from, a process for displaying and operating the player character operated by the player A on the game apparatus B is executed.

Also, as shown in FIG. 27, if the player character is moved out of the bridge, the process of searching for another game device is stopped. For example, if you do not want to connect to the partner displayed in the message window on the screen as shown in FIG. 25, if you immediately move out of the bridge, the connection establishment process with the partner will be canceled. Is also possible.

Here, the screen in the multi play mode will be described. In the intruder-side game apparatus A, the game world is displayed on a monochrome screen, and the character operated by the player B as described above is also appropriately displayed on the game screen. On the other hand, in the game apparatus B of the intruder player B, a normal game screen is displayed, and a player character operated by the player A is appropriately displayed therein.

In the present embodiment, a problem called “intrusion mission” is given to the invading player A in the game, and the main purpose of the invading player A is to achieve this intrusion mission. Become. Examples of the intrusion mission include the following contents. First, there is an intrusion mission in which the intruder player A is “talked” from the intruder player B. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that it is possible to talk because the operation characters of the player A and the operation character of the player B are adjacent to each other. In this case, in this embodiment, the appearance of the player A on the intrusion side changes to a monster. If player B speaks to this monster, the intrusion mission given to player A will be accomplished. If the intrusion mission is achieved, a predetermined privilege is given to the player A in the game.

Further, as another example of the intrusion mission, there is an intrusion mission for the purpose of hiding a predetermined item in the game world of the player B while preventing the player B who is the intruder from talking. Also in this case, the appearance of the player A who is the intruder changes to a monster, and the player B acts in the game world in that state. Then, if the predetermined item can be hidden in the designated place so that the player B cannot be talked to, the intrusion mission is achieved. The item hidden in this way can then be acquired by the player B (after the end of the multiplayer mode, etc.). At this time, a message from the player A can be set for the item.

Another example is an intrusion mission for the purpose of the player A talking to the player B. In addition, there is an intrusion mission for the purpose of the player A challenging the player B to fight and actually fighting.

As another example, there is also an intrusion mission aimed at talking to the player B in battle. Here, when the player B is in a battle, the game apparatus B displays a screen dedicated to the battle mode. On the other hand, in the game apparatus A, an icon indicating that the player B is in a battle is displayed in the vicinity of the character operated by the player B or over the character. By displaying this icon, the invading player A can know that the invading player B is currently fighting. For this reason, in this intrusion mission, if the player B speaks adjacent to the character of the player B in a state where the icon is displayed, the intrusion mission is achieved. In the game apparatus B, a predetermined process (for example, a character indicating the player A is displayed on the battle mode screen so that the game development is advantageous at the timing when the player B is spoken,
(Recover hit points) is executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for a game device of a player who is within the communicable range of the game device (local connection is short-range communication, inevitably a player who is close to some extent is a target) The approval operation of the player who is the owner of the game device (intrusion side)
It is possible to semi-forcibly connect to the intruder-side game device for local communication without causing the intruder-side player to perform an operation for connection or the like. In this way, for example, from the intruder side, the player is given a sense of expectation that someone may invade without being aware of it. It becomes possible to provide. In addition, from the intruder side, in a game that is based on stand-alone play, such as interfering with the game world of other players so as not to be noticed by other players and surprise other players, a new play sensation that has never been seen before. It becomes possible to provide.

In the present embodiment, the local connection is disconnected after a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) after the establishment of the communication. In other words, the player A is required to achieve the intrusion mission within the predetermined time. Also,
Even before the predetermined time elapses, for example, the player B moves and the game device B moves to the game device A.
The local connection is disconnected when the user goes out of the local communicable range, and as a result, the intrusion mission may fail.

In the present embodiment, the local connection is up to 3 at the same time including the own device.
It is assumed that it is possible to connect to a stand. Hereinafter, in addition to the players A and B, a connection mode and game progress when the player C is connected will be described. As an example, first, as described above, the player A (game device A) and the player B (game device B) are locally connected, and the player A has not yet started the intrusion mission. Is assumed. In such a state, it is assumed that the player C (game device C) comes within a range where communication with the player A (game device A) is possible. At this time, a local connection is established between the game apparatus A and the game apparatus C (when viewed from the game apparatus A, a local connection with the game apparatus B and a local connection with the game apparatus C coexist. State). As a result, the player A can enter the world of the player B and the player C. In this state, it is assumed that the players B and C cannot enter other game devices. For example, it is assumed that the game processing is appropriately performed so that the players B and C cannot go to the portal area described above or the bridge does not appear.

Here, in the following description, the player A (game device A in the above situation)
) Is called the parent device side, and the positions of the player B (game device B) and the player C (game device C) are called the child device side.

As described above, a local connection is established between the game device A and the game device B,
Furthermore, it is assumed that the player A enters the game world of the player B and accepts the intrusion mission in a state where the local connection is established between the game device A and the game device C. That is, it is assumed that an intrusion mission can be started. At this time, the player C is notified that the player A starts an intrusion mission in the game world of the player B. Furthermore, an inquiry is made as to whether or not to participate in this mission.
If the player C chooses to participate in this intrusion mission, an effect that the character operated by the player C warps into the world of the player B is displayed on the game screen of the game apparatus C. Then, as a game screen in the game apparatus C, a screen as if entering the world of the player B is displayed, and a character operated by the player A is displayed together with a character operated by the player A (in some cases, the player B The character operated by is also displayed.) At this time, the player B does not notice that the player A and the player C have been invaded.

Thereafter, an intrusion mission by player A and player C is started. In this case, if either one achieves the intrusion mission, the other is treated as an intrusion mission failure. Hereinafter, such an intrusion mission performed by a plurality of players may be referred to as a multi-person intrusion mission. Further, an intrusion mission performed only by the player A may be referred to as a single intrusion mission.

Here, when such a multi-person intrusion mission is performed, various data is transmitted / received via the game device A for the communication between the game device B and the game device C. That is, in this case, the game apparatus A also serves as a relay machine. For example, the operation data indicating the operation contents performed by the player C using the game apparatus C is first sent to the game apparatus A, and the game apparatus A (the operation data indicating the operation contents of the player A is further added) It is sent to the device B, and this is appropriately processed on the game device B. In this case, when any one communication is disconnected (for example, communication between the players A and B is disconnected), other communication is also disconnected (communication between the players A and C is also disconnected).

Next, details of the game process executed by the game apparatus 1 will be described. First, data stored in the main memory 32 during the game process will be described. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a memory map of the main memory 32 of the game apparatus 1. In FIG. 28, the main memory 3
2 includes a program storage area 301 and a data storage area 306. The data in the program storage area 301 and the data storage area 306 is stored in the memory card 28 and transferred to the main memory 32 and stored when the game program is executed.

The program storage area 301 stores various game programs executed by the CPU 31. The game program includes a main processing program 302, a single play processing program 303, a multi play processing program 304, and a connection related processing program 3.
05 or the like.

The main processing program 302 is a program corresponding to the processing of the flowchart of FIG. The single play processing program 303 is a program for causing the CPU 31 to execute the process in the single play mode described above, and the multi play processing program 304 is a program for causing the CPU 31 to execute the process in the multi play mode. The connection-related processing program 305 is a program for executing communication-related processing performed in the present embodiment, such as processing related to local communication with the other game devices.

In the data storage area 306, data such as beacon data 307, operation data 308, single play processing data 309, multi play processing data 310, character data 311 and map data 312 are stored.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing details of the beacon data 307. The beacon data 307 includes common transmission data that is transmitted in common regardless of the type of game (game program), and individual transmission data that differs depending on the type of game. In this embodiment, common transmission data and individual transmission data as shown in FIG. 29 are broadcast as beacons.

Here, the content of the common transmission data used in connection with the multi-play mode processing described later will be particularly described. First, the “game service ID” contains the content of the beacon.
A value indicating what kind of game processing is used (purpose of use) is set. In the example of the present embodiment, a value indicating whether the content is used in the “single play mode” process or the “multi play mode” process is set. It should be noted that a value obtained by further subdividing the contents indicating the contents of the beacon is set in an item “beacon type” described later.
That is, the “game service ID” is a major classification of the purpose of use of the beacon, and the “beacon type” is a minor classification of the purpose of use of the beacon.

“Current number of participants” is data indicating the current number of participants when multiplayer play is performed using local communication. In the present embodiment, the number of participants in the “multiplayer mode” is mainly shown. For example, if player A has entered the world of player B, “2
If the player C participates in the intrusion mission as described above, “3”
It becomes.

“Maximum number of people” is data indicating the maximum number of people who can participate in the multiplayer play. In the present embodiment, the number of units that can be connected simultaneously in the “multiplayer mode” is three.
Therefore, the “maximum number of people” is “3 people”.

“Error situation” is data indicating the error content when a communication error occurs.

As described above, the “beacon type” is data that further subdivides the purpose of use of the beacon that is largely classified by the “game service ID”. For example, when the “game service ID” indicates that it is used in the “multiplayer mode” process,
“Beacon type” includes “desired connection with other game machine”, “connection establishment request”, “connection disconnection request”, “notification data about game contents”, “operation data (in other game machine or own game machine)” ”Or the like is appropriately set.

“Game device type” is data indicating the type of the game device that is the source of the beacon. For example, data indicating whether it is “master device side” or “slave device side” as described above is set.

Returning to FIG. 28, the operation data 308 is data indicating the content of the operation performed on the game apparatus 1 by the player. The operation data 308 includes touch coordinate data indicating touch coordinates detected by the touch panel 13 and operation button data indicating the pressed state of various operation buttons 14.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing details of the single play processing data 309. The single play processing data 309 includes player data, passing log data, display icon data,
Display message data, survey result data, etc. are included.

“Player name”, “Gender”, “Self introduction”, “Greeting message”,
“Thank you message”, “hobby”, “favorite sport”, etc. are the initial stage of the game, or when the game progresses to some extent and meets a certain condition (for example, a specific non-player in the game world) When speaking to the character), the player may input through the touch panel 13 or the like.

The passing log data is data for displaying the other player list image as shown in FIG. 5, and is data in which information related to other players acquired from beacons from other game apparatuses 1 is accumulated. FIG. 31 shows details of the passing log data. The passing log data includes information on up to 30 players. When new player information is obtained, the oldest player information is deleted, and the new player information is added to the passing log data. “Player ID” is an identifier for identifying a player. “Profile information” is information necessary to generate an image as shown in FIG. “Latest game situation” and “the last beacon reception time” are information necessary for generating an image as shown in FIG.

The display icon data and the display message data are data corresponding to icons and messages as shown in FIG.

The survey result data is obtained by accumulating data collected by the time survey and the number survey shown in FIG. 21 (that is, data related to preferences of other players acquired from beacons from other game devices 1).

Returning to FIG. 28, the multiplay processing data 310 is data used in the processing related to the multiplay mode described above. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the multiplay processing data 310. The multiplay processing data 310 includes multiplay reception data 351, a local communication flag 352, an intrusion flag 353, a connection establishment processing flag 354, and the like.

The multiplayer reception data 351 is data that stores data received from other game devices in the multiplay mode.

The local communication flag 352 is a flag indicating whether or not the game apparatus 1 is performing local communication as will be described later. In the present embodiment, the fact that local communication is being performed means that it is the multi-play mode. If the flag is set to ON, it indicates that local communication is being performed, and if it is set to OFF, it indicates that local communication is not being performed.

The intrusion flag 353 is a flag for indicating whether or not the player is currently invading the game world of another player. If the flag is set on, the intrusion flag 353 enters the game world of the other player. It shows that it is in a state.

The connection establishment process flag 354 is a flag indicating whether or not a process for establishing a connection is currently being performed. That is, it is a flag for determining whether or not the local communication connection is actually established after the connection request is issued.

Returning to FIG. 28, the character data 311 is data of various characters used in the game processing according to the present embodiment. The map data 312 is data for building the game world of the game according to the present embodiment.

  In addition, data necessary for game processing, such as sound data, is also stored in the main memory 32.

Next, the flow of game processing executed in the game apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a flow of game processing executed in the game apparatus 1.

First, in step S1, the CPU 31 executes an initialization process for data used in the subsequent processes. Further, the CPU 31 constructs a game world, a game image representing the game world is generated, and appropriately displayed on the upper LCD 22 and the lower LCD 12. Thereafter, the game progresses by repeating the processing loop of steps S2 to S10 at predetermined intervals (for example, 1/30 seconds or 1/60 seconds which are frame drawing intervals).

Next, in step S <b> 2, the CPU 31 reads the operation data 308 stored in the main memory 32.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the current game processing mode is the multi-play mode. This is determined by whether or not the local communication flag 352 is on. If the local communication flag 352 is on, the CPU 31 determines that it is currently in the multi-play mode. As a result of the determination, if the current mode is the multi-play mode (YES in step S3), the CPU 31 executes multi-play processing in step S7. On the other hand, when the current mode is not the multi-play mode (YES in step S3), in step S4, the CPU 31 executes a single play process.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing details of the single play process shown in step S4. First, in step S201, the CPU 31 acquires operation data based on signals from the operation buttons 14 and the touch panel 13, and performs game control processing based on the operation data. The game control process includes, for example, moving the player character in response to an operation on the operation button 14 or causing a monster carried by the player character to fight a wild monster.

In step S203, the CPU 31 stores a game image (to be displayed on the upper LCD 22) stored in a frame buffer (not shown) according to the result of the game control process.
(Hereinafter referred to as the upper image).

In step S205, the CPU 31 stores an image to be displayed on the lower LCD 12 (hereinafter referred to as a lower image) stored in a frame buffer (not shown) based on the operation data.
Update. This is, for example, a change from the lower image shown in FIG. 4 to the lower image shown in FIG.

In step S207, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a specific event has occurred. If a specific event has occurred, the process proceeds to step S211; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S209. The specific event is an event to be notified to other players playing the game in the vicinity, and includes the following events, for example.
・ Started fighting with wild monsters ・ Winned battle with wild monsters ・ Captured wild monsters ・ The level of fellow monsters increased ・ Players activated special power ・ Playing time was stipulated time (10 hours, 30 hours, 50 hours, 100 hours) exceeded ・ The player instructed to send a thank you message ・ The physical strength of the fellow monster has dropped to less than half from the maximum time ・ The player sent a message Directed

In step S209, the CPU 31 generates basic beacon data. Basic beacon data is data that is constantly output through a beacon during the single play mode, and includes information such as a player ID, a player name, and a greeting message, for example.

In step S211, the CPU 31 generates beacon data corresponding to the event that has occurred. For example, if the generated event is “beginning a battle with a wild monster”, beacon data to which an identifier of the event, the name of the wild monster, and the like are added is generated.

In this embodiment, according to the type of event that has occurred, the beacon data corresponding to the event is transmitted during a transmission time (transmission life) that is preset according to the type of event.
It is sent repeatedly. For example, if the generated event is “beginning a battle with a wild monster”, beacon data corresponding to the event is repeatedly transmitted for 10 seconds after the event occurs, If the special power is activated, beacon data corresponding to the event is repeatedly transmitted for 20 seconds after the event occurs. In this way, since a beacon for notifying the occurrence of a certain event is transmitted a plurality of times, the possibility that another game device fails to receive the beacon is reduced, and an event occurring in a certain game device is The player of the game device can be notified more reliably.

Note that a series of beacon data repeatedly transmitted for a predetermined time according to the occurrence of each event includes common identification information (“transmission number” in FIG. 19). The transmission number is
It is incremented each time a new event to be notified to another player occurs.
As a result, each game device has a plurality of beacon signals received from other game devices being part of a series of beacon data for notifying the occurrence of the same event, or a plurality of events occurring at different times Can be determined.
Therefore, when a series of beacons for notifying the occurrence of the same event (for example, an event “the level of a fellow monster has increased”) is received, a plurality of message windows P14 are displayed as if the event occurred multiple times. It is possible to avoid displaying it twice. Such processing (beacon discarding processing) will be described in detail later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, a priority is set in advance for each event type.
The priority of the event “beginning a battle with a wild monster” is “low”, and the priority of the event “the player has activated special power” is “high”. When a beacon data corresponding to a certain event is repeatedly transmitted for a predetermined time and an event having the same priority or a higher priority occurs, a beacon corresponding to the former event at that time Data transmission is stopped, and beacon data corresponding to the latter event is preferentially transmitted. Conversely, if a lower priority event occurs while beacon data corresponding to a certain event is repeatedly transmitted for a predetermined time, the beacon data corresponding to the former event is still preferentially transmitted. The As a result, information of higher importance (or more interesting) for other players is preferentially notified to other players.

In step S213, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a beacon has been received from another game device. If a beacon has been received, the process proceeds to step S215, and if not, the single play process ends.

In step S215, CPU31 updates passing log data and investigation result data (refer FIG. 30) based on the beacon data contained in the received beacon.

In step S217, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the other player list image is being displayed on the lower LCD 12. If the other player list image is being displayed, the process proceeds to step S219. The process ends.

In step S219, the CPU 31 updates the other player list image displayed on the lower LCD 12 based on the passing log data updated in step S215. This is, for example, a change from the lower image shown in FIG. 5 to the lower image shown in FIG. Step S2
When the process 19 is completed, the single play process is terminated.

Returning to FIG. 33, after step S <b> 4, in step S <b> 5, the CPU 31 executes parent device side connection processing. This process is a process when the own device is on the parent device side (intrusion side). In the above example, this process is mainly executed when the game apparatus A is in the position. That is,
As shown in FIG. 24, the process is executed when the player character comes to the bridge (entrance area), and a process for attempting a local connection with another game device is executed.

FIG. 35 to FIG. 36 are flowcharts showing details of the base unit side connection process shown in step S5. In FIG. 35, first, in step S602, the CPU 31 next determines whether or not a player character exists in the portal area. As a result, when it is determined that no player character exists in the portal area (NO in step S602).
), The CPU 31 ends the base unit side connection process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that a player character exists in the portal area (step S
Next, in step S603, the CPU 31 determines in the entrance area (FIG. 2 above).
It is determined whether or not a player character exists on the bridge 4. As a result, when it is determined that it does not exist (NO in step S603), the CPU 31 ends the parent device side connection process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the player character exists in the entrance area (step S6)
Next, in step S604, the CPU 31 determines that the content of the beacon data 307 is a beacon including information indicating that a connection from another game device is desired from the content of the beacon as shown in FIG. Change to contents (illustration omitted). Hereinafter, the changed beacon is referred to as a connection request beacon. The connection beacon changed in this way is broadcasted in a beacon output process in step S6 described later.
As specific contents of the connection request beacon, the following data is set for the common transmission data shown in FIG. First, a value indicating “being data used in multiplayer” is set in “game service ID”. In addition, a value indicating “intrusion into another game device” is set in “type of beacon”. In addition, although illustration is omitted, information necessary for establishing a local connection such as information (address information) for specifying the own device is also included. The game apparatus 1 that has received the connection request beacon returns a connection request signal for establishing a local connection if the own apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition (a condition that can be connected) (child machine described later) Side connection processing).

Next, in step S606, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a connection request signal for local connection, which is a response to the connection request beacon as described above, has been detected within a predetermined time. As a result, when a connection request signal from another game apparatus 1 is not detected within a predetermined time (NO in step S606), the CPU 31 ends the intrusion side connection process. At this time, a message indicating that there is no other game device that can be connected near the player's device may be displayed in the message window.

On the other hand, if the connection request signal is detected within a predetermined time as a result of the determination in step S606 (
In step S606, YES), in step S607, the CPU 31 displays a message indicating that there is another game device nearby. In subsequent step S608, CPU 31 starts processing for establishing a local connection. Next, in step S609, the CPU 31 determines whether a local connection has been established within a predetermined time. As a result, when the local connection cannot be established within the predetermined time (NO in step S609), the CPU 31 ends the intrusion side connection process. At this time, a message indicating that the connection could not be made may be displayed in the message window.

On the other hand, when a local connection can be established within a predetermined time (YES in step S609),
Next, in step S610, the CPU 31 displays a message indicating that the connection has been established in the message window. Further, in step S611, the CPU 31 sets the local communication flag 352 to ON. After the local connection is established in this way, the position information of the character operated by each player in the game world and the situation of each character (whether it is in battle, etc.) are shown between the game apparatuses 1. Information is transmitted and received as appropriate. Next, in step S612, the CPU 31 sets the intrusion flag 353 to ON. This completes the base unit side connection process.

Returning to FIG. 33, after step S <b> 5, in step S <b> 6, the CPU 31 executes beacon output processing. The process is a process of outputting a beacon including the beacon data 307 through the local communication module based on the beacon data 307 generated in step S4 or changed in step S5.

Next, the multiplayer process according to step S7 will be described. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing details of the multiplayer process shown in step S7. In this process, mainly based on the position information of each character and the data indicating the status of each character transmitted from other game devices that have established a local connection, the actions of the characters operated by other players, etc. The processing to be reflected in the own machine is executed.

In FIG. 37, first, in step S651, the CPU 31 receives data transmitted from another game device, and stores it in the reception data 351 for multiplayer. As described above, this data is data indicating the position information of the player character or the like operated by another player in another game device and the status of each character.

Next, in step S652, the CPU 31 executes a participation notification reception process. This process is the position of the game apparatus C in the multi-play mode in which the three game apparatuses A, B, and C are locally connected as described above, and receives a mission participation notification from the game apparatus A. It is processing of.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing details of the participation notification receiving process shown in step S652. 42, first, in step S701, the CPU 31 refers to the beacon received most recently, and determines whether or not a mission start notification (described later) transmitted from the parent device side (game device A in the above example) has been received. judge. As a result, when the mission start notification is not received (NO in step S701), the participation notification reception process ends.

On the other hand, when the mission start notification is received (YES in step S701), the CPU 3
In step S702, 1 displays a message on the screen indicating that an intrusion mission is started on the base unit side and a message inquiring whether or not to participate in the intrusion mission.

Next, in step S703, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the player's answer to the inquiry is an answer to participate in the intrusion mission. As a result, if it is an answer to participate (YES in step S703), in step S704, the CPU
31 transmits a notification to participate in the intrusion mission to the parent machine (game device A in this case). Next, in step S706, the CPU 31 performs an intrusion mission preparation process by appropriately communicating with the parent device side. For example, a process such as an effect of warping the game world of the player B is executed, and a process of synchronizing with the game apparatus A is also performed, so that a preparation for starting an intrusion mission with a large number of players with the player A is performed. Is arranged. At this time,
The CPU 31 sets the intrusion flag 353 to ON. This is because the game apparatus C enters the game world of the game apparatus B.

Subsequently, in step S707, the CPU 31 starts an intrusion mission. Thereafter, by appropriately transmitting / receiving operation data to / from the parent device side (game device A), processing related to the intrusion mission is appropriately processed.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S703 is that it is a non-participation reply (NO in step S703), in step S705, the CPU 31 transmits a notification that it does not participate in the intrusion mission to the parent device. Thus, the participation notification receiving process ends.

Returning to FIG. 37, next, in step S <b> 653, the CPU 31 performs various game processes in the multiplay mode such as movement of various characters and battle processes based on the reception data 351 for multiplayer and the operation data 308 in its own machine ( If it is the parent device side or the child device side participating in the intrusion mission, the processing related to the intrusion mission, etc., and the invading child device side reflects the operation data transmitted from other game devices, etc.) Is executed as appropriate. In this game process, the position information of the player character that has moved based on the player's operation and the data indicating the situation are appropriately transmitted to other game devices using local communication.

Next, in step S654, the CPU 31 executes a start notification transmission process. This process is the position of the game device A in the multi-play mode in which the three game devices A, B, and C are locally connected as described above, from the game device A to the game device C.
Is a process for notifying the start of an intrusion mission and inquiring whether or not to participate.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing details of the start notification transmission processing shown in step S654. First, in step S721, the CPU 31 determines whether a condition for starting an intrusion mission is satisfied. For example, a player contacts a predetermined character,
It is determined whether the intrusion mission has been accepted. As a result of the determination, when the intrusion mission start condition is not satisfied (NO in step S721), the start notification transmission process ends. On the other hand, when the conditions for intrusion mission start are satisfied (YE in step S721).
S) Next, in step S722, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a local communication connection has been established with a plurality of slave units. In the above example, the game apparatus A determines whether local communication is established not only with the game apparatus B but also with the game apparatus C. As a result, when a local connection is established with a plurality of slave devices (YES in step S722), in step S723, the CPU 31 determines whether the slave device other than the intrusion destination (game device C in the above example) is connected. Then, the start notification of the intrusion mission is transmitted (this notification becomes the determination target in step S701).

Next, in step S724, whether or not the CPU 31 has received a notification to participate in the intrusion mission from the transmission destination (game device C in this embodiment) within a predetermined time after transmitting the intrusion mission start notification. Determine. As a result, notification of participation (step S above)
(Sent at 704) within a predetermined time (YES in step S724),
In step S725, the CPU 31 executes a preparation process for an intrusion mission with a large number of people while appropriately communicating with the slave unit that desires to participate. For example, a process of displaying a message such as “Please wait for a while until the slave unit is ready” is executed, or a process of synchronizing with the slave unit is performed.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S724, when notification of participation is not received within a predetermined time, or even within the predetermined time, the notification of non-participation transmitted in step S705 is received. If so (NO in step S724), in step S726, CPU 31 executes a preparation process for an intrusion mission by the master player alone.

If preparation for an intrusion mission is completed in the process of step S725 or S726, in step S727, the CPU 31 executes a process for starting an intrusion mission by a large number of people or by itself. Thus, the start notification transmission process ends.

Returning to FIG. 37, next, in step S <b> 655, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined condition relating to the game progress is satisfied. Specifically, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the achievement conditions of the intrusion mission as described above are satisfied (in the case of the parent device side and the child device side participating in the intrusion mission). As a result, the predetermined conditions were met (that is, the intrusion mission was achieved)
When (YES in step S655), in step S656, the CPU executes a game process corresponding to the predetermined condition. Specifically, a process of giving a privilege as a successful reward for achieving the intrusion mission to the player character is executed. For example, processing such as adding a predetermined item as a possession of the player character is executed. On the other hand, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied (NO in step S655), it is considered that the intrusion mission is still being performed, and thus the CPU 31 skips the process of step S656.

Next, in step S657, the CPU 31 executes a spontaneous disconnection determination process. This process is a process for voluntarily disconnecting local communication from the invading game device (in this example, game devices A and C). In the present embodiment, for example, the player can perform a predetermined process in the game world. When the player comes to this area (exit area, expressed as a warp point in the game, for example), he / she asks the player whether he / she will return to his / her game world, and then executes the process of disconnecting the local communication. To do. Also, when 3 minutes have elapsed since the start of local communication, processing for disconnecting local communication is executed.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing details of the spontaneous disconnection determination process shown in step S657. In FIG. 38, first, in step S671, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a player character exists in the exit area. As a result, when the player character does not exist in the exit area (NO in step S671), in step S680, the CPU 31 indicates whether or not 3 minutes have passed since the start of local communication, or in step S653. It is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied (whether or not the mission has been achieved). As a result, when none of the conditions is satisfied (3 minutes have not elapsed and the mission has not yet been achieved) (NO in step S680), the CPU 31 ends the spontaneous disconnection determination process. On the other hand, when 3 minutes have elapsed or when a predetermined condition has been achieved (YES in step S680), CPU 31 advances the process to step S674 described later, and executes a process for disconnecting local communication.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S671 is that there is a player character in the exit area (YES in step S671), in step S672, the CPU 31 displays a confirmation message for disconnecting the local communication and inputs a response to it. Wait for. This message is, for example, a content for inquiring whether or not to return to the game world from another game apparatus 1 that is currently invading.

Next, in step S673, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the response content to the message is selected to indicate content for instructing disconnection of local communication, for example, “return to own game world”. As a result, when “return to own world” is not selected (NO in step S673), the CPU 31 ends the spontaneous disconnection determination process. on the other hand,
If “return to your world” is selected (YES in step S673), CP
In step S674, U31 displays a message indicating that communication is to be disconnected.
Next, in step S675, the CPU 31 executes a process for disconnecting the local communication. In subsequent step S676, CPU 31 sets local communication flag 352 to OFF. Next, in step S677, the CPU 31 sets the intrusion flag 353 to OFF.
Further, in step S678, the CPU 31 moves the player character to a predetermined position in the game world (for example, the position where the player character was before entering the other game world).

Next, in step S679, the CPU 31 displays a predetermined message corresponding to the communication disconnection status. This is a process for displaying different messages depending on whether the connection is disconnected by returning from the exit area or the connection is disconnected after 3 minutes have passed since the start of local communication. For example, if local communication is disconnected due to return from the exit area,
If the message “Returned” is displayed and communication is cut off after 3 minutes have elapsed, a message such as “Mission failed due to time out” is displayed and communication is achieved by completing the intrusion mission. When disconnecting, the message “Mission completed” is displayed. This is the end of the spontaneous disconnection determination process.

Returning to FIG. 37, after the processing of step S657, the CPU 31 performs step S658.
Performs forced disconnection determination processing. This process is a process that assumes a case where communication is disconnected without the intention of the player, such as when communication is disconnected from another game device.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing details of the forced disconnection determination process shown in step S658. In FIG. 39, first, in step S691, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a communication disconnection has occurred. Specifically, when the player is on the parent device side, it is determined whether local communication is disconnected from any other game device on the child device side. Further, when the user is on the child device side, it is determined whether or not the game device on the parent device side connected to the own device has disconnected the local communication. If the result of this determination is that local communication has not been disconnected (step S
691: NO), CPU31 complete | finishes a forced disconnection determination process. On the other hand, when communication disconnection occurs (YES in step S691), next, in step S692, the CPU 31 moves the player character to a predetermined position in the game world. This process is the same as that in step S677.

Next, in step S693, the CPU 31 sets the local communication flag 352 to OFF. Further, in step S694, the CPU 31 sets the intrusion flag 353 to OFF.
In step S695, the CPU 31 displays a predetermined message corresponding to the disconnection status. For example, if you are intruding into another game device (in the above example, you are in the position of game device A or game device C), a message such as “You have been disconnected from another game device” indicate. Note that if the player is intruded from another game device, the message regarding the disconnection is not displayed even if communication is disconnected from the other game device. This is to prevent the intruder from noticing that someone has intruded. Thus, the forced disconnection determination process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 37, when the process of step S658 ends, the multi-play process also ends.

Returning to FIG. 33, after the process of step S6 or S7, in step S8, the CPU 31
Executes the slave unit side connection process. This processing is processing when the own device is on the slave device side. In the above example, the process is mainly executed when the game apparatus B or the game apparatus C is in the position. In this process, when the connection desired beacon is detected and the game progress status of the own device is a status where connection with another game device is possible, a local connection with another game device is requested and the connection is made. The process for establishing is executed.

40 to 41 are flowcharts showing details of the slave unit side connection process shown in step S8. In FIG. 40, first, in step S631, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the intrusion flag 353 is on. As a result, when the intrusion flag 353 is on (YES in step S631), the CPU 31 ends the slave unit side connection process. In other words, if the player has already entered another game world (a state in which the player is on the parent machine side), the intrusion from another player is not accepted. In other words, a connection that allows you to be on the handset side is not accepted.

On the other hand, when the intrusion flag 353 is off (NO in step S631), the CPU
31 determines whether the connection establishment processing flag 354 is set to ON. That is, it is determined whether or not a process for establishing a connection is currently being executed. As a result, when it is on (YES in step S632), the process for establishing the connection is continued, and the process proceeds to step S640 described later.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S632, if the connection establishment processing flag 354 is not on (NO in step S632), next, whether or not the game progress condition satisfies a condition for connecting to another game device. Various determinations on are performed. Specifically, first, in step S633, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the position of the player character in the game world is within the normal field or the portal area. In other words, in the game device on the child device side, for example, when the player character is in a “shop” in the game world or in a “dungeon”, intrusion from other game devices is not accepted. become. In addition, in this step, whether the game apparatus 1 main body is in an open state (whether it is not closed) or whether a setting for prohibiting connection with other devices is made as a game setting. Is also determined.

As a result of the determination in step S633, when the player character is not in a state where it can be connected to another game device such as when the player character is not in the normal field or portal area (NO in step S633), the CPU 31 The machine side connection process is terminated. On the other hand, when the position of the player character is in the normal field or in the portal area or the like and is connectable to another game device (YES in step S633), next, in step S634, the CPU 31 It is determined whether or not there is an important event in the game at the time. This is because, for example, even when the player character is in the normal field, an event scene in which it is not preferable to perform multi-play with another game device for the progress of the game seems to be progressing on the own machine. It is determined whether or not the timing is correct. As a result of the determination, when it is determined that an important event is in progress (NO in step S634), the CPU 31 ends the slave unit side connection process. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not an important event (YES in step S634), the CPU 31 proceeds to step S635.
The beacon is detected and received. In the following step S636, the CPU 31
It is determined whether or not the connection request beacon transmitted from another game device is received. Specifically, the CPU 31 has a value indicating that the “game service ID” included in the received beacon is “data used in multiplayer”, and the “beacon type” is “entry into another game device”. ”Is determined (this value is determined in step S6).
This is the value set in 04).
As a result, when the connection request beacon is not received (NO in step S636), the CP
U31 ends the slave unit side connection process.

On the other hand, when the connection desired beacon is received (YES in step S636), in step S637, the CPU 31 determines whether the maximum number of connections has been reached for the connection related to the received beacon. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the “current number of participants” included in the received beacon is smaller than the “maximum number of people” included in the beacon. In this embodiment, up to three units can be connected at the same time, including the device as described above.
If the “current number of participants” is equal to or greater than the “maximum number of people”, it is determined that the maximum number of connections has been reached. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the maximum number of connections has been reached (YES in step S637), the CPU 31 does not respond to the connection request beacon and ends the slave unit side connection process. .

On the other hand, when it is determined that the maximum number of connections has not yet been reached (NO in step S637).
In step S638, the CPU 31 generates and transmits a connection request signal for establishing a local connection as a response to the connection request beacon. And the local communication establishment process with the game device of the transmission origin of the said connection wish beacon is started.

Next, in step S639, the CPU 31 sets the connection establishment processing flag 354 to ON. In subsequent step S640 (FIG. 41), CPU 31 determines whether or not a local connection has been established. As a result, when the local connection is not yet established (when the connection establishment process is in progress) (NO in step S640), in step S641, the CPU 3
1 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the connection establishment process. That is, a timeout is determined. As a result, if the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S641)
), The CPU 31 ends the slave unit side connection process for the current frame. On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S641), in step S642, CP
U31 terminates the connection establishment process due to a timeout, and the connection establishment process flag 354
Set to off. And the subunit | mobile_unit side connection process is complete | finished.

On the other hand, if the connection is established as a result of the determination in step S640 (Y in step S640).
ES), in step S643, the CPU 31 sets the connection establishment processing flag 354 to OFF.

Next, in step S644, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the local communication flag 352 is set to OFF. As a result, if it is set to off (Y in step S644)
ES), in step S645, the CPU 31 sets the local communication flag 352 to ON. On the other hand, when it is set to ON (NO in step S644), the above step S64.
Process 5 is skipped. The slave unit side connection process is thus completed.

Returning to FIG. 33, next, in step S9, the CPU 31 executes display processing. That is,
The CPU 31 displays an image showing the game world reflecting the results of the above processes on the upper LCD 22, and appropriately generates an image to be displayed on the lower LCD 12, and executes a process of displaying the image on the lower LCD 12. After step S9, it is determined in step S10 whether or not the game is over. If YES, the game process is terminated. If NO, the process returns to step S2 to repeat the game process.

Next, the details of the beacon discarding process described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The beacon discarding process is a process for preventing duplicate processing of a series of beacon information when receiving a series of beacons notifying the occurrence of the same event from the same game device. is there.

In step S301 in FIG. 44, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a new beacon has been received. If a beacon has been received, the process proceeds to step S302.

In step S <b> 302, the CPU 31 temporarily holds an unprocessed beacon (that is, a beacon that has been received but has not yet been processed (e.g., a passing log data update process based on a beacon)). It is determined whether or not a beacon including the same player ID as the newly received beacon exists in the buffer. If a beacon including the same player ID as the newly received beacon exists in the buffer, the process proceeds to step S303, and if not, the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S303, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the transmission number of the newly received beacon is the same as the transmission number of the unprocessed beacon including the same player ID as the beacon. The process proceeds to step S304, otherwise the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S304, the CPU 31 discards the newly received beacon. Then, the process returns to step S301.

In step S305, the CPU 31 stores the newly received beacon in the buffer. Specifically, if there is no unprocessed beacon including the same player ID in the buffer, a newly received beacon is added to the buffer, and there is an unprocessed beacon already including the same player ID in the buffer. In this case, the newly received beacon is overwritten on the unprocessed beacon.
Even after an unprocessed beacon is processed, the player ID and transmission number of the beacon are not deleted. As a result, even if a new beacon including the same player ID and transmission number as the processed beacon is received, the newly received beacon is discarded, so the occurrence of the same event is notified from the same game device. A series of beacons are not processed repeatedly.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 45, the details of the aforementioned investigation mission process will be described. The investigation mission process is a process for realizing the aforementioned investigation mission function.

In step S401 in FIG. 45, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the player has accepted the survey request (that is, whether or not the player has touched the button image P20 in FIG. 20).
If the survey request is accepted, the process proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the player has selected time survey (
That is, it is determined whether or not the player touches the button image P23 in FIG. 21, and if the player selects the time survey, the process proceeds to step S403; otherwise (that is, the player selects the number survey). In the case), the process proceeds to step S409.

In step S403, the CPU 31 selects a survey content based on an instruction from the player (a touch operation on the button image P25 in FIG. 22), and the selected survey content is stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like). ).

In step S404, the CPU 31 starts a time survey relating to the survey content selected in step S403. Specifically, a flag indicating that the time investigation has started is stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like), and the current time acquired from the RTC 39 is used as the time investigation start time in the main memory 32 ( Alternatively, the data is stored in the storage data memory 34 or the like.

In step S405, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a progress confirmation instruction has been input (that is, whether or not the player has touched the button image P22 in FIG. 20).
If a progress confirmation instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S406; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S407.

In step S406, the CPU 31 displays an intermediate result of the investigation content currently being investigated on the upper LCD 22, for example, based on the investigation result data stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like).

In step S407, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a result report instruction is input (that is, whether or not the player touches the button image P21 in FIG. 20).
If a result report instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S408; otherwise, the process returns to step S405.

In step S408, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the start time of the time survey. If the predetermined time has already elapsed, the process proceeds to step S41.
Proceed to 5, otherwise, the process returns to step S405. The elapsed time from the start time of the time survey can be calculated based on the current time acquired from the RTC 39 and the start time of the time survey stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like). .

In step S409, the CPU 31 selects a survey content based on an instruction from the player (touch operation on the button image P25 in FIG. 22), and the selected survey content is stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like). ).

In step S410, the CPU 31 starts a number of people survey relating to the survey content selected in step S409. Specifically, a flag indicating that the number of people survey has been started is stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like).

In step S411, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a progress confirmation instruction has been input (that is, whether or not the player has touched the button image P22 in FIG. 20).
If a progress confirmation instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S412; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S413.

In step S412, the CPU 31 displays an intermediate result of the investigation content currently being investigated on the upper LCD 22, for example, based on the investigation result data stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like).

In step S413, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a result report instruction is input (that is, whether or not the player touches the button image P21 in FIG. 20).
If a result report instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S414; otherwise, the process returns to step S411.

In step S414, the CPU 31 starts information on the number of people based on the survey result data stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like) and receives information for a predetermined number of people (received from other game devices). (Information such as “profile information” and “questionnaire answer” included in the beacon) has been collected. If information for a predetermined number of people has already been collected, the process proceeds to step S415; In that case, the process returns to step S411.

In step S415, the CPU 31 displays the survey result of the time survey or the number survey on the upper LCD 22, for example, based on the survey result data stored in the main memory 32 (or the storage data memory 34 or the like).

In step S416, the CPU 31 performs a game process according to the survey result. For example, the rank of the player character as an investigator increases, the game development changes,
Acquire items that are advantageous to the progress of the game. Then, the process returns to step S401.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the CPU 31 executes each process illustrated in FIGS. 33 to 45 has been described. However, in another embodiment, a part or all of these processes are performed by a processor different from the CPU 31. Alternatively, it may be executed by a dedicated circuit.

  Above, description of the game process concerning this embodiment is complete | finished.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the game as in the above-described multi-play mode, another game device is automatically searched for, and if found, the opponent player establishes a connection. A process for establishing a connection as it is without performing such an operation or the like is performed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a sense of play that allows other players to enter the game world so as not to be noticed by the players of other game devices, and to provide a new way of enjoying that has never existed before.

In connection with the processing related to the multiplayer mode described above, when establishing a connection for local communication, the invasion-side game device transmits (searches) the connection request beacon and receives the received beacon for local communication. A connection request was sent to the intruder. In addition, the invading game device may receive (search) a beacon of another game device and transmit a connection request for local communication to any of the other game devices found.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the series of processes about a game process were demonstrated in the single apparatus (game device 1), in said other embodiment, the said series of processes were several information. You may perform in the information processing system which consists of processing apparatuses. For example, in an information processing system including a terminal-side device and a server-side device that can communicate with the terminal-side device via a network, a part of the series of processes may be executed by the server-side device. Good. Furthermore, in an information processing system including a terminal-side device and a server-side device that can communicate with the terminal-side device via a network, main processing of the series of processes is executed by the server-side device, Some processing may be executed in the terminal-side device. In the information processing system, the server-side system may be configured by a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and the plurality of information processing apparatuses may share and execute processing to be executed on the server side.

In the above embodiment, the beacon output process is performed in step S6 of FIG. 33 and the beacon reception process is performed in step S213 of FIG. 34, but the beacon transmission timing and reception timing are not limited to this. Hereinafter, a modified example of the beacon transmission / reception process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 46 shows a process of repeating beacon transmission a predetermined number of times and reception of beacons (reception trial).
An example is shown in which the process of repeating a predetermined number of times is alternately repeated in a time division manner. In the modification, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 46 is executed in parallel with the process of the flowchart of FIG. 33. Therefore, when the modification is employed, step S6 of FIG. 33 and FIG. Steps S213 and S215 are not necessary.

In step S901 in FIG. 46, the CPU 31 resets “transmission count”, which is one of various variables stored in the main memory 32, to zero.

In step S902, the CPU 31 starts beacon output processing. here,
The beacon generated in step S209 or step S211 in FIG. 34 is transmitted.

  In step S903, the CPU 31 increments the transmission count.

In step S904, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the transmission count has reached a predetermined value (first predetermined value). If the transmission count has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S90.
Proceed to 5, otherwise, the process returns to step S902.

In step S <b> 905, the CPU 31 resets “reception count”, which is one of various variables stored in the main memory 32, to zero.

In step S906, the CPU 31 attempts to receive a beacon from another game device.

In step S907, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a beacon is received from another game device. If a beacon is received from another game device, the process proceeds to step S90.
If not, the process proceeds to step S909.

In step S908, the CPU 31 updates the passing log data and the survey result data based on the beacon data included in the received beacon.

  In step S909, the CPU 31 increments the reception count.

In step S910, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the reception count has reached a predetermined value (second predetermined value). If the reception count has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S90.
Returning to 1, otherwise, the process returns to step S906. The second predetermined value is
It may be the same as or different from the first predetermined value.

In addition, although the example which CPU31 performs the said beacon transmission / reception process was demonstrated here, in another embodiment, you may perform by a processor different from CPU31, or a dedicated circuit.

1 ... Game device 11 ... Lower housing 12 ... Lower LCD
13 ... Touch panel 14 ... Operation buttons 15, 26 ... LED
16 ... Microphone hole 21 ... Upper housing 22 ... Upper LCD
23 ... Inner camera 24 ... Sound release hole 25 ... Outer camera 27 ... Touch pens 28, 29 ... Memory card 31 ... CPU
32 ... Main memory 33 ... Memory control circuit 34 ... Storage data memory 35 ... Preset data memory 36 ... Memory card I / F
37 ... Wireless communication module 38 ... Local communication module 39 ... RTC
40 ... power supply circuit 41 ... I / F circuit 42 ... microphone 43 ... amplifier

The CPU 31 is information processing means for executing a predetermined program. In the present embodiment, a predetermined program is stored in a memory (for example, the storage data memory 34), the memory card 28, and / or the cartridge 29 in the game apparatus 1, and the CPU 31 executes the predetermined program by executing the predetermined program. A game process to be described later is executed. Note that the program executed by the CPU 31 may be stored in advance in the memory in the game apparatus 1, may be acquired from the memory card 28 and / or the cartridge 29, or may be obtained by communication with other devices. May be obtained from other devices. For example, it may be obtained by downloading from a predetermined server via the Internet, or by downloading a predetermined program stored in the stationary game device by communicating with the stationary game device. You may get at.

A main memory 32, a memory control circuit 33, and a preset data memory 35 are connected to the CPU 31. In addition, a storage data memory 34 is connected to the memory control circuit 33. The main memory 32 is a storage means used as a work area or buffer area for the CPU 31. That is, the main memory 32 stores various data used for the game processing, and stores programs acquired from the outside (such as the memory card 28 and the cartridge 29 and other devices). In the present embodiment, for example, a PSRAM (Pseudo-SRAM) is used as the main memory 32. The storage data memory 34 is a storage unit for storing a program executed by the CPU 31, data of images taken by the inner camera 23 and the outer camera 25, and the like. The storage data memory 34 is configured by a nonvolatile storage medium, and is configured by, for example, a NAND flash memory in this embodiment. The memory control circuit 33 is a circuit that controls reading and writing of data with respect to the storage data memory 34 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 31. The preset data memory 35 is storage means for storing data (preset data) such as various parameters set in advance in the game apparatus 1. As the preset data memory 35, a flash memory connected to the CPU 31 via an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) bus can be used.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image displayed on the upper LCD 22 and the lower LCD 12 of the game apparatus 1 immediately after the game is started. On the upper LCD 22, the state of the game world including the player character is displayed. The player character is accompanied by a monster as a friend, and can command the fellow monster to fight against a wild monster or the like by instructing the fellow monster. The player can play the game by operating the player character, for example, by operating the operation button 14. On the lower LCD 12 , an “other player list” button image P1 for displaying a list of other players playing in the peripheral area of the game apparatus, and an “investigation mission” button image for performing the above-described investigation. P2 is displayed. By touching these button images P1 and P2 with the touch pen 27, the player can call a function corresponding to these button images P1 and P2. Instead of touching the “survey mission” button image P2, the survey mission function may be called by the player character speaking to a specific person (for example, the president of the survey company) in the game world.

In the present embodiment, a problem called “intrusion mission” is given to the invading player A in the game, and the main purpose of the invading player A is to achieve this intrusion mission. Become. Examples of the intrusion mission include the following contents. First, there is an intrusion mission in which the character of the invading player A is “talked” from the character of the invading player B. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that it is possible to talk because the operation characters of the player A and the operation character of the player B are adjacent to each other. In this case, in this embodiment, the appearance of the player A on the intrusion side changes to a monster. If player B speaks to this monster, the intrusion mission given to player A will be accomplished. If the intrusion mission is achieved, a predetermined privilege is given to the player A in the game.

Further, as another example of the intrusion mission, there is an intrusion mission for the purpose of hiding a predetermined item in the game world of the player B while preventing the player B who is the intruder from talking. Also in this case, the appearance of the character of the player A on the intrusion side changes to a monster, and in that state, the player B acts in the game world. Then, if the predetermined item can be hidden in the designated place so that the player B cannot be talked to, the intrusion mission is achieved. The item hidden in this way can then be acquired by the player B (after the end of the multiplayer mode, etc.). At this time, a message from the player A can be set for the item.

As described above, in the state where the local connection is established between the game apparatus A and the game apparatus B, and the local connection is established between the game apparatus A and the game apparatus C, the player A It is assumed that the player B has entered the game world and has accepted the intrusion mission. That is, it is assumed that an intrusion mission can be started. At this time, the player C is notified that the player A starts an intrusion mission in the game world of the player B. Furthermore, an inquiry is made as to whether or not to participate in this mission . If you select that up layer C is to participate in the invasion mission, in the game screen of the game apparatus C, the character that the player C is operated by directing such as warp in the world of the player B is displayed. Then, as a game screen in the game apparatus C, a screen as if entering the world of the player B is displayed, and a character operated by the player A is displayed together with a character operated by the player A (in some cases, the player B The character operated by is also displayed.) At this time, the player B does not notice that the player A and the player C have been invaded.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the current game processing mode is the multi-play mode. This is determined by whether or not the local communication flag 352 is on. If the local communication flag 352 is on, the CPU 31 determines that it is currently in the multi-play mode. As a result of the determination, if the current mode is the multi-play mode (YES in step S3), the CPU 31 executes multi-play processing in step S7. On the other hand, when the current mode is not the multi-play mode ( NO in step S3), the CPU 31 executes a single play process in step S4.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a player character in the entrance area (YES in step S603), the CPU 31 then changes the contents of the beacon data 307 from the beacon contents shown in FIG. 29 in step S604. The content is changed to beacon content (not shown) including information indicating that connection with another game device is desired. Hereinafter, the changed beacon is referred to as a connection request beacon. The connection beacon changed in this way is broadcasted in a beacon output process in step S6 described later. Specific contents of the connection request beacon, the common transmission data shown in FIG 29, in which data is set as follows. First, a value indicating “being data used in multiplayer” is set in “game service ID”. In addition, a value indicating “intrusion into another game device” is set in “type of beacon”. In addition, although illustration is omitted, information necessary for establishing a local connection such as information (address information) for specifying the own device is also included. The game apparatus 1 that has received the connection request beacon returns a connection request signal for establishing a local connection if the own apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition (a condition that can be connected) (child machine described later) Side connection processing).

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing details of the start notification transmission processing shown in step S654. First, in step S721, the CPU 31 determines whether a condition for starting an intrusion mission is satisfied. For example, it is determined whether or not the character of the player A touches a predetermined character and accepts the intrusion mission. As a result of the determination, when the intrusion mission start condition is not satisfied (NO in step S721), the start notification transmission process ends. On the other hand, when the conditions for intrusion mission start are satisfied (YES in step S721), next, in step S722, CPU 31 determines whether or not local communication connections are established with a plurality of slave units. judge. In the above example, the CPU 31 of the game apparatus A determines whether or not local communication is established not only with the game apparatus B but also with the game apparatus C. As a result, when a local connection is established with a plurality of slave devices (YES in step S722), in step S723, the CPU 31 determines whether the slave device other than the intrusion destination (game device C in the above example) is connected. Then, the start notification of the intrusion mission is transmitted (this notification becomes the determination target in step S701).

Returning to FIG. 37, next, in step S <b> 655, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined condition relating to the game progress is satisfied. Specifically, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the achievement conditions of the intrusion mission as described above are satisfied (in the case of the parent device side and the child device side participating in the intrusion mission). As a result, when the predetermined condition is satisfied (that is, the intrusion mission is achieved) (YES in step S655), in step S656, the CPU 31 executes a game process according to the predetermined condition. Specifically, a process of giving a privilege as a successful reward for achieving the intrusion mission to the player character is executed. For example, processing such as adding a predetermined item as a possession of the player character is executed. On the other hand, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied (NO in step S655), it is considered that the intrusion mission is still being performed, and thus the CPU 31 skips the process of step S656.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing details of the spontaneous disconnection determination process shown in step S657. In FIG. 38, first, in step S671, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a player character exists in the exit area. As a result, when the player character is not present in the outlet region (NO in step S671), in step S680, CPU 31 determines whether or not three minutes from the local communication start has elapsed, or, in step S65 5 It is determined whether or not a predetermined condition as shown is satisfied (whether or not the mission has been achieved). As a result, when none of the conditions is satisfied (3 minutes have not elapsed and the mission has not yet been achieved) (NO in step S680), the CPU 31 ends the spontaneous disconnection determination process. On the other hand, when 3 minutes have elapsed or when a predetermined condition has been achieved (YES in step S680), CPU 31 advances the process to step S674 described later, and executes a process for disconnecting local communication.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing details of the forced disconnection determination process shown in step S658. In FIG. 39, first, in step S691, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a communication disconnection has occurred. Specifically, when the player is on the parent device side, it is determined whether local communication is disconnected from any other game device on the child device side. Further, when the user is on the child device side, it is determined whether or not the game device on the parent device side connected to the own device has disconnected the local communication. As a result of the determination, when disconnection of local communication has not occurred (NO in step S691), the CPU 31 ends the forced disconnection determination process. On the other hand, when communication disconnection occurs (YES in step S691), next, in step S692, the CPU 31 moves the player character to a predetermined position in the game world. This process is similar to that in step S67 8.

As a result of the determination in step S633, when the player character is not in a state where it can be connected to another game device such as when the player character is not in the normal field or portal area (NO in step S633), the CPU 31 The machine side connection process is terminated. On the other hand, when the position of the player character is in the normal field or in the portal area or the like and is connectable to another game device (YES in step S633), next, in step S634, the CPU 31 It is determined whether or not there is an important event in the game at the time. This is because, for example, even when the player character is in the normal field, an event scene in which it is not preferable to perform multi-play with another game device for the progress of the game seems to be progressing on the own machine. It is determined whether or not the timing is correct. As a result of the determination, when it is determined that an important event is in progress ( YES in step S634), the CPU 31 ends the slave unit side connection process. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not an important event ( NO in step S634), the CPU 31 detects and receives a beacon in step S635. In subsequent step S636, CPU 31 determines whether or not the connection request beacon transmitted from another game device has been received. Specifically, the CPU 31 has a value indicating that the “game service ID” included in the received beacon is “data used in multiplayer”, and the “beacon type” is “entry into another game device”. It is determined whether or not the value indicates “” (these values are the values set in step S604). As a result, when the connection request beacon is not received (NO in step S636), the CPU 31 ends the slave unit side connection process.

Claims (16)

An information processing system comprising a plurality of information processing devices having a wireless communication function,
Each of the information processing devices
Operation information acquisition means for acquiring user operation information;
Application processing means for processing an application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means;
Search means for repeatedly searching with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function when processing of the application is performed by the application processing means,
Connection means for connecting to another information processing device searched by the search means;
Communication application execution means for executing a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with the other information processing apparatus connected by the connection means An information processing system comprising: The information processing apparatus further includes first condition determining means for determining whether or not an application processed by the application processing means satisfies a first condition,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the search unit performs a search when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied. The information processing system includes at least a first information processing device and a second information processing device,
The search means of the first information processing device transmits connection information to another unspecified information processing device,
The search means of the second information processing apparatus attempts to receive connection information transmitted from another information processing apparatus,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the connection information is received, the connection unit of the second information processing apparatus connects to the other information processing apparatus without a user's permission. The search means performs a search regardless of the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit automatically connects to another information processing apparatus searched by the search unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a disconnecting unit that disconnects the connection with the other information processing apparatus at a predetermined timing regardless of a user's intention after the communication application is executed by the communication application executing unit. 1. An information processing system according to 1. The information processing apparatus includes:
Second condition determining means for determining whether or not the communication application executed by the communication application executing means satisfies the second condition, and when it is determined that the second condition is satisfied, The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a disconnecting unit that disconnects the connection. The information processing apparatus further includes a transmission unit that repeatedly transmits data using the wireless communication function while an application is being processed by the application processing unit,
The transmission means transmits first data when the first condition is not satisfied, and transmits second data different from the first data when the first condition is satisfied;
The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the search means performs a search by transmitting the second data or receiving second data from another unspecified information processing device. The first data includes information indicating contents of an application processed by the application processing unit, and the second data includes connection information for connecting to another information processing apparatus,
The information processing system according to claim 5, further comprising: an output unit that outputs information indicating the content of the application when the second information processing apparatus receives the first data. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit stops transmission of the data after being connected to the other information processing apparatus by the connection unit. The application processing means changes the position of the first object in the virtual space based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means,
The communication application processing means changes the position of the first object in the virtual space based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means, and the other application information based on the operation information of the other information processing apparatus. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the second object corresponding to the information processing apparatus is changed. The information processing apparatus is a mobile terminal,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication function functions as short-range wireless. The connection request transmitted by the first information processing apparatus includes purpose specifying information that is information for specifying the purpose of communication established based on the connection request.
The second information processing apparatus is configured to perform the first information only when the purpose specifying information included in the received connection request is a specific value and the state of the own apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information processing system is connected to the processing device without permission of the user. The first information processing apparatus continues to transmit the connection request to an unspecified other information processing apparatus even in a state where the connection with the second information processing apparatus is established,
A connection request transmitted from the first information processing apparatus by another information processing apparatus other than the connected apparatus in a state where the first information processing apparatus is connected to at least one other information processing apparatus. 4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the first information processing is connected to the first information processing without user permission. An information processing program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function,
Operation information acquisition means for acquiring user operation information;
Application processing means for processing an application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means;
Search means for repeatedly searching with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function when processing of the application is performed by the application processing means,
Connection means for connecting to another information processing device searched by the search means;
Communication application execution means for executing a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with the other information processing apparatus connected by the connection means An information processing program for causing the computer to function as: An information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function,
Operation information acquisition means for acquiring user operation information;
Application processing means for processing an application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means;
Search means for repeatedly searching with another unspecified information processing apparatus using the wireless communication function when processing of the application is performed by the application processing means,
Connection means for connecting to another information processing device searched by the search means;
Communication application execution means for executing a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means and the operation information of the other information processing apparatus with the other information processing apparatus connected by the connection means An information processing apparatus comprising: An information processing method for controlling an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function,
Operation information acquisition step for acquiring user operation information,
An application step for processing an application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition step;
A search step of repeatedly performing a search with another unspecified information processing device using the wireless communication function when processing of the application is performed by the application processing step;
A connection step of connecting to another information processing device searched by the search step;
A communication application execution step for executing a communication application based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition step and the operation information of the other information processing device with the other information processing device connected by the connection step An information processing method comprising:

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