JP2015073746A - Video game processing server and video game processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a video game that can avoid a monotonous battle content and realizes a new shooting function rich in taste. A video game processing server includes a virtual area information storage unit that stores virtual area information, receives a control signal from a user terminal, updates virtual area information, and associates the virtual area information with a virtual camera. A first image in which avatars other than the avatar are hidden is generated, a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars is generated, and the state of the first avatar and the second It is determined whether or not the relationship with the state of the avatar satisfies a predetermined condition, and in response to determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second image of the second avatar and the first of the first avatar A composite image combined with the image is generated, and the generated composite image is transmitted to the user terminal 20 corresponding to the first avatar. [Selection] Figure 10

Description

  At least one of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a video game processing server or a video game processing system.

  Conventionally, various video games are known in which various processes are executed between a user terminal and a server device via a communication network.

  In such a video game, for example, a virtual space managed by a server device is shared between user terminals via a communication network, and an avatar operated by another user in the shared virtual space is attacked by shooting. Some functions have been adopted.

  As one of the problems of conventional systems, these shooting games attack an avatar operated by another user in response to the appearance of the avatar operated by the other user on the display screen of the user terminal. There is a thing that the content of the battle tends to be monotonous. Therefore, there is a need for a new shooting function that is rich in taste and avoids the monotony of battle content.

  An object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a video game that solves the above-described problems, can avoid the monotonous content of battle, and realizes a new shooting function that is rich in taste. It is.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, the video game processing server according to the present invention is a server that controls the progress of a video game, and is a virtual area that indicates information related to a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users, respectively. A virtual area information storage unit for storing information; a receiving unit for receiving a control signal from a user terminal; a virtual area information updating unit for updating the virtual area information based on the received control signal; A first image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each avatar, and that avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera among the plurality of avatars displayed in the image are hidden. A first image generation unit that generates an image, and a second image generation that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars A determination unit that determines whether a relationship between a state of the first avatar and a state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition; and And a composite image that generates a composite image that is an image obtained by combining the second image associated with the second avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar. A generation unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit composite image information, which is information indicating the composite image, to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar in response to the generation of the composite image. And

  According to a non-limiting aspect, the video game processing system according to the present invention is a video game processing system for controlling the progress of a video game, and relates to a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users, respectively. A virtual area information storage unit for storing virtual area information indicating information, a receiving unit for receiving a control signal from a user terminal, and a virtual area information updating unit for updating the virtual area information based on the received control signal And an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and non-avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera among the plurality of avatars displayed in the image are not displayed. A first image generation unit configured to generate the displayed first image and an image in a field of view of a virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars; A second image generation unit that generates an image; a determination unit that determines whether a relationship between a state of the first avatar and the state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition; An image obtained by combining the second image associated with the second avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar when it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied. A composite image generation unit that generates a composite image, and, in response to the generation of the composite image, transmits composite image information that is information indicating the composite image to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar. And a transmission unit.

  Further, according to a non-limiting viewpoint, the video game processing system according to the present invention includes a plurality of user terminals each of which includes a plurality of users, and a server connected to the plurality of terminals via a network, A video game processing system for controlling the progress of a video game, wherein the server stores virtual area information indicating information regarding a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to the plurality of users, A receiving unit that receives a control signal from the user terminal, a virtual area information updating unit that updates the virtual area information based on the received control signal, and a virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars Of the plurality of avatars displayed in the image and the avatar associated with the virtual camera. A first image generation unit that generates a first image in which avatars other than the non-display are displayed, and a second image generation that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of a virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars And a transmission unit that transmits the first image and the second image to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar, and each of the user terminals receives the first received from the server A composite image generation unit that generates a composite image that is an image obtained by combining an image and the second image, and a display unit that displays the composite image.

  Each embodiment of the present application solves one or more deficiencies.

It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of video game processing system 100 corresponding to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the example of the video game processing server corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example of the information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example of the information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the concept of the game performed by the video game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the concept of the game performed by the video game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the game process corresponding to at least 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the game screen corresponding to at least one of embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Various constituent elements in the embodiments described below can be appropriately combined within a range in which no contradiction occurs. Moreover, the content described as an example of a certain embodiment may be omitted in other embodiments. The contents of operations and processes not related to the characteristic part of each embodiment may be omitted. Furthermore, the order of the various processes constituting the various flows described below is in no particular order as long as no contradiction occurs in the processing contents.

  Further, the type of system in which the video game processing server according to the present invention is used is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a video game processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the video game processing system 100 includes a video game processing server 10 and user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N (N is an arbitrary integer) used by a plurality of users. Note that the configuration of the video game processing system 100 is not limited thereto, and a single user terminal may be used by a plurality of users, or a configuration including a plurality of servers.

  The video game processing server 10 and the plurality of user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N are connected to a communication network 30 such as the Internet. Although not shown, the plurality of user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N are connected to the communication network 30 by performing data communication with a base station managed by a communication provider through a wireless communication line.

  The plurality of user terminals 20, 201 to 20N are operated by predetermined users, respectively.

  Here, the predetermined users who operate the plurality of user terminals 20, 201 to 20N include a first player (first player) and a second player (second player). Any user may be a first player and may be a second player.

  Here, the first player (first player) is a user who plays a video game by operating one of the plurality of user terminals 20, 201 to 20N. In particular, the first player in this example means a user as a reference for transmitting an image generated by an image generation process described later. In the following, detailed description will be given assuming that the first player is a user who operates the user terminal 20.

  Here, the second player (second player) is a user who plays a video game by operating one of the plurality of user terminals 20, 201 to 20N. The second player is a user other than the first player. And the image which the virtual camera corresponding to operation of the 2nd player himself may constitute a part of game image displayed on the display screen of user terminal 20 which the 1st player operates. Hereinafter, the second player will be described in detail on the assumption that the second player is a player who operates the user terminals 201 to 20N.

  The video game processing system 100 has various functions for controlling the progress of a video game (so-called online game) in which a plurality of players play in the same virtual space (including a synchronized virtual space and an asynchronous virtual space). Have.

  The video game processing server 10 is managed by an administrator of the video game processing system 100, and has various functions for providing game information related to video games to the user terminals 20, 201 to 20N.

  The video game processing server 10 is configured by an information processing apparatus such as a WWW server, and includes a storage medium that stores various types of information. In the video game processing system 100, it is preferable that the video game processing server 10 generates and manages game information regarding the video game from the viewpoint of reducing the processing load on each of the plurality of user terminals 20, 201 to 20N. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video game processing server 10A (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as server 10) which is one of the embodiments according to the present invention. The server 10 includes at least a storage unit 11, a reception unit 12, an update unit 13, a determination unit 14, an image generation unit 15, a distance calculation unit 16, and a transmission unit 17. The server 10 has a general configuration for performing game processing, such as a control unit, but a description thereof is omitted here.

  The storage unit 11 is a storage medium that stores various information related to the video game and various data such as a video game control program necessary for controlling the progress of the video game.

  In addition, the storage unit 11 is controlled (or operated by each user; the same applies hereinafter) in a virtual space where game images transmitted to the user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N and an avatar operated by each user exist. It has a function of storing the position information (position information).

  Here, an avatar means what can be a user's operation target. The avatar in this example does not necessarily need to be a character displayed on the display screen as a substitute for each user. That is, as the avatar in this example, a so-called player character or virtual viewpoint that can be operated by the user and whose position in the virtual space can be defined can be adopted. In this example, an avatar corresponding to the first player is described as a first avatar (first avatar), and an avatar corresponding to the second player is described as a second avatar (second avatar).

  The position information is identification information indicating coordinates in the virtual space or a predetermined area in the virtual space.

  The storage unit 11 includes at least an avatar information storage unit 11a and a virtual area information storage unit 11b.

  The avatar information storage unit 11a is a storage medium that stores avatar information indicating information related to each avatar.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of the avatar information. As shown in FIG. 3, the avatar information is set to the player ID, the charging status of the player, the avatar ID, the avatar name, the level set to the avatar, the HP set to the avatar, and the avatar. It includes at least a visible region, a weapon used for the avatar, a registered avatar set for the avatar, a scenario progress degree, and a registered clan.

  Here, the registered avatar indicates another avatar registered as a friend of the first avatar. In the registered avatar, other avatars may be registered not only as friends of the first avatar but also as rivals of the first avatar.

  The scenario progress degree is information indicating the progress degree of the game, and in this example, information indicating which scenario has been cleared.

  Here, the registered clan indicates a clan to which the avatar belongs. Here, a clan indicates a predetermined group in the game world.

  The virtual area information storage unit 11b is a storage medium that stores virtual area information indicating information related to the virtual area.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of virtual area information. As shown in FIG. 4, the virtual area information includes a player ID, an avatar name ID, an avatar name, a presence position of the avatar in the virtual space, a presence position of the virtual camera in the virtual area, and a direction of the virtual camera. At least. In this example, it is assumed that a virtual camera is set at the position of the avatar's line of sight and an image in the field of view of the virtual camera is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal based on the position information of the virtual camera.

  Here, the virtual area is an area of a three-dimensional structure in a virtual space where an avatar can act. A plurality of virtual areas may be provided, or may be an area having a two-dimensional structure.

  The receiving unit 12 has a function of receiving control signals from the plurality of user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N.

  The updating unit 13 has a function of updating the game state based on the control signal received by the receiving unit 12.

  The determination unit 14 has various functions such as a function of referring to various types of information regarding the video game and executing various types of determination processing necessary for controlling the progress of the video game.

  The image generation unit 15 has a function of generating an image to be transmitted to the user terminal 20 operated by the first player based on the game situation updated by the update unit 13. The image generation unit 15 includes at least a first image generation unit 15a, a second image generation unit 15b, and a composite image generation unit 15c.

  The first image generation unit 15a has a function of generating a first image. Here, the first image is an image in the field of view of a virtual camera associated with the first avatar operated by the first player (hereinafter simply referred to as a first virtual camera), and The image which did not display the 2nd avatar which exists in the visual field of 1 virtual camera is shown. In the first image, for example, an object such as a landscape, a building, the first avatar itself, and a non-player character is displayed as the situation of the virtual area. In this example, the object set to non-display in the first image is limited to the second avatar, but an object other than the second avatar may be set to non-display. In other words, the first avatar itself may be configured to be hidden, or a specific object other than the avatar (for example, a predetermined landscape object or item object) may be configured to be hidden. Good.

  The second image generation unit 15b has a function of generating a second image. Here, the second image is within the field of view of a virtual camera associated with a second avatar (second avatar) operated by the second player (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a second virtual camera). An image is shown. In the second image, for example, objects such as scenery, buildings, the second avatar itself, other avatars including the first avatar, and non-player characters are displayed as the situation of the virtual area. In the second image, a specific object may be set not to be displayed.

  The composite image generation unit 15c has a function of generating a composite image in which the generated first image and second image are combined. The generation of the composite image will be described in the composite image composition process described later.

  The first image generation unit 15a is configured to generate the first image using an object displayed on the second image generated by the second image generation unit when generating the first image. It may be. That is, the 1st image generation part 15a may be set as the structure which produces | generates a 1st image by hiding a specific object among the produced | generated 2nd images.

  The distance calculation unit 16 has a function of calculating the distance between each avatar. More specifically, the distance calculation unit refers to the virtual area information and calculates the distance between the avatars based on the avatar's presence position.

  The transmission unit 17 has a function of transmitting the composite image generated by the image generation unit 15 to the user terminal 20 of the first player. More specifically, the transmission unit 17 has a function of transmitting data corresponding to the generated composite image to the user terminal 20 operated by the first player. Hereinafter, the same applies to various images transmitted and received.

  The user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N include a communication unit with the server 10, a storage unit for various information, a control unit that executes processing related to the game based on the various information, and an input unit that receives an operation input from the user. Including. And user terminal 20,201-20N is a game program stored in the memory | storage part based on the function which receives the information transmitted from the server 10, the function which displays the received information on a display screen, and received information Has a function to execute.

  The input unit included in the user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N includes a touch panel. In addition, the user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N include gyro sensors, and receive information indicating the inclinations of the user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N calculated by the gyro sensors as input information.

  Next, the concept of the video game processing system 100 (system 100) of this example will be described.

  5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the concept of the video game processing system 100 (system 100). As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a composite image (501, 601) composed of a plurality of images is displayed in a multi-monitoring manner on the game screen (500, 600). In the multi-monitoring, the image occupying the most range in a single image (the monitor portion displaying 502 and 602 is a view image of the avatar operated by the user who is executing the game using the terminal shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Even if there is an enemy character in the range displayed in this image (502, 602), no enemy character is displayed, instead, there is an enemy character in the view range. Is displayed with the viewpoint of the enemy character on any of the other monitor parts (503, 603) configured by the multi-monitor, that is, the user relies on the video showing the viewpoint of the enemy character, The user has to guess the position of the enemy character that is not displayed from the viewpoint of the player's own character, and the user can view each image displayed as a composite image. Based on bets, the attack operation against presumed position.

  The attack operation may be performed by a tap operation with an operation article 504 (in this example, a finger) as shown in FIG. 5, or by an operation using a gyro function mounted on the user terminal as shown in FIG. It may be done. Moreover, you may be attacked by a different operation method. In this example, the player performs an attack operation using a gun such as a rifle possessed by the avatar. When the attack hits the enemy, the HP of the enemy character can be reduced or the enemy character can be defeated, and the user can receive a predetermined benefit in the game. On the other hand, if the attack does not hit the enemy character, the game suffers disadvantages such as a decrease in the parameters of the player character or the end of the game. In this way, the game controlled by the video game processing system 100 proceeds.

  Next, the operation of the video game processing system 100 (system 100) of this example will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of game processing executed by the system 100. In the game process in this example, a process of transmitting game information to the user terminal 20 that operates the first avatar is executed. Note that the contents of processing not related to the present invention may be omitted.

  The game process is started in response to, for example, the server 10 receiving operation information from the user terminal 20 corresponding to a predetermined operation of the first player.

  In the game process, first, the server 10 determines whether or not to execute the image generation process based on the received operation information by the first player (step S101). In this example, the server 10 determines to execute the image generation process when an update request for virtual area information is received based on the operation information by the first player. In this example, when a virtual area information update request is received, the image generation processing is determined to be executed. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a periodic generation processing timing is set. In addition, it may be configured to determine whether or not it is the generation processing timing.

  When it is determined that the image generation process is to be executed (Y in step S101), the server 10 executes an image generation process to be described later (step S102).

  When the image generation process is executed or when it is determined not to execute the image generation process (N in step S101), the server 10 executes other processes (step S103).

  Here, in other processing, various information processing used for game progress including calculation of parameters (for example, hit points (HP)) associated with each avatar and attack determination of each avatar is executed.

  When other processing is executed, the server 10 determines whether or not the game is over (step S104). If it is determined that the game is over, the process is terminated. If it is determined that the game is not over, is the image generation process executed based on the received operation information from the first player? It is determined whether or not (step S101).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image generation processing executed by the system 100. In the game processing in this example, the server 10 generates a composite image in which the first image and the second image are combined as an image to be transmitted to the first player, and the first player uses the generated composite image. Processing for outputting on the user terminal 20 to be operated is performed.

  The image generation process is started when, for example, the server 10 is determined to execute the image generation process in step S101.

  In the image generation process, first, the server 10 determines whether or not operation information by the first player has been received (step S201). The received operation information includes, for example, a first avatar movement operation or an attack operation as an operation by the first player.

  If it determines with having received the operation information by a 1st player (Y of step S201), the server 10 will update virtual area information (step S202). In this example, the server 10 performs a process for reflecting the operation of the first player in the state of the virtual space corresponding to the first player. As an example of the process, for example, there is an update of the position information of the first avatar or the first virtual camera according to the operation of the first player.

  When the virtual area information is updated, the server 10 generates a second image based on the updated virtual area information (step S203).

  On the other hand, if it determines with not receiving the operation information by a 1st player, the server 10 will produce | generate a 2nd image by the 2nd image generation part 15b (step S203).

  When the second image is generated, the server 10 causes the first image generation unit 15a to generate a first image in which the second avatar displayed in the second image is set to non-display (step S204). In this example, the server 10 is configured to generate the first image based on the generated second image, but may be configured to generate the first image and the second image with different configurations. .

  When the first image and the second image are generated, the server 10 executes a composite image generation process (step S205). The composite image generation process will be described in detail later.

  When a composite image is generated in the composite image generation process, the server 10 transmits the generated composite image as composite image information to the user terminal 20 operated by the first player (step S206).

  When the composite image information is transmitted to the user terminal 20, the server 10 determines again whether or not the operation information by the first player has been received from the user terminal 20 (step S101).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of composite image generation processing executed by the system 100. In the composite image generation process in this example, the user terminal 201 performs a process for generating a composite image arranged by combining the first image and the second image.

  The composite image generation process is started, for example, in response to the server 10 generating the first image and the second image based on the operation information of the first player.

  The server 10 refers to the avatar information in response to the generation of the first image and the second image (step S301), and determines a predetermined area (predetermined area) corresponding to the first avatar operated by the first player. Specify (step S302).

  Here, the predetermined area is an area provided for each avatar, and is referred to for determining a second avatar that is determined whether the relationship with the first avatar satisfies a predetermined condition. It is an area. That is, the image of the field of view of the virtual camera corresponding to the second avatar present in the predetermined area becomes a display candidate as the second image in the composite image.

  When the predetermined area corresponding to the first avatar operated by the first player is specified, the server 10 determines whether or not the second avatar exists in the specified predetermined area (step S303).

  When it is determined that the second avatar is present in the specified predetermined area (Y in step S303), the server 10 refers to the virtual area information, and the first avatar and the first avatar existing in the specified predetermined area. The distance from the two avatars is calculated (step S304).

  When the distance from the second avatar in the specified predetermined area is calculated, the server 10 refers to the avatar information shown in FIG. 4 and specifies the second avatar corresponding to the second image combined as the composite image ( Step S305). In this example, the server 10 refers to the displayable number of avatar information and specifies the number of second avatars corresponding to the second image combined as a composite image. When there are more second avatars than the number of displayable persons in the specified area, the second avatar corresponding to the second image combined as the composite image is specified in the order closer to the first avatar. The second avatar may be specified by a different configuration. For example, a configuration specified based on whether the avatar belongs to another clan or a configuration specified based on whether the avatar belongs to the same clan may be used. In this case, the server 10 is configured to refer to the registered clan information included in the avatar information and identify whether it is an avatar belonging to another clan or whether it is an avatar belonging to the same clan. That's fine. Moreover, it is good also as a structure identified based on whether it is locked on (that is, it is selected as an attack target). In this case, the server 10 may be configured to identify whether the avatar information includes lock-on target information and is locked on with reference to the lock-on target information. Moreover, it can also be configured to be specified based on whether or not it is specified as a target to be recovered or specified as a target to be recovered. In this case, the server 10 is configured to specify based on whether the avatar information includes the recovery selection target information and is specified as a target to be recovered or specified as a target to be recovered. That's fine. Moreover, it can also be set as the structure which specifies a 2nd avatar based on whether it is the relationship which is chatting between users. In this case, if the server 10 is configured so that the avatar information includes the chat target user information and refers to the chat target user information, the server 10 specifies whether or not the chat is between users. Good. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which identifies a 2nd avatar combining the identification method mentioned above.

  When the second avatar corresponding to the second image combined as the composite image is specified, the server 10 generates a composite image to be transmitted to the user terminal 201 by combining the first image and the specified second image (step S306), the process here ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S303 that the second avatar does not exist in the specified predetermined area (N in step S303), the server 10 transmits only the first image to the user terminal 201 (step S306). The process here is terminated. In the present example, when the second avatar does not exist within the specified predetermined area, only the first image display area may be generated as a composite image. In the second image display area, “ It may be configured to generate a composite image by displaying a description such as “There is nothing to display”.

  Here, the composite image displayed on the display screen of the terminal 20 will be described. The user terminal 20 updates the composite image displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 20 every time the composite image information is received. In other words, in this example, the composite image displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 20 is updated in accordance with the operation of the player (for example, the operation of moving the avatar or fighting the player).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a composite image displayed on the display screen of the terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the composite image 1001 displayed on the game screen 1000 is provided with, for example, a first image display area 1002, a second image display area 1003, and other image display areas 1004. . Here, the other images are images on which no virtual space state or the like is displayed. In this example, when there is no second avatar in the predetermined area set as the first avatar, an explanation such as “nothing to display” is displayed on other screens. Good.

  The first image display area 1002 displays a first image as a composite image. That is, in the first image display area 1002, an image corresponding to the virtual camera corresponding to the first avatar operated by the first player (that is, the first virtual camera) is displayed. The first image does not display the enemy second avatar. That is, the first player cannot confirm the appearance of the second avatar as an enemy by the field of view of the first virtual camera set as the avatar operated by the first player. Therefore, the second image is displayed in the second image display area 1003 in order to recognize the position of the enemy second avatar. In the second image, a second avatar that is an enemy is displayed. Therefore, the first player can confirm the appearance of the second avatar as an enemy from the field of view of the second virtual camera corresponding to the avatar operated by the second player. That is, the first player uses the first image displayed in the composite image and the second image in combination to estimate the position of the second avatar that is an enemy that is not displayed in the first image. It becomes possible to attack.

  Note that the first image display area 1002 and the second image display area 1003 of this example are set so as not to overlap, but may be configured to partially overlap. Further, although not shown in detail, a configuration may be adopted in which a display area for displaying other images 1004 such as a game commentary image area is displayed. Furthermore, the size of each display area is not limited to the configuration shown in this example.

  Next, an example of information transmission / reception between the user terminal 20 and the video game processing server in the video game processing system 100 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of information transmission / reception between the user terminal 20 and the video game processing server in the video game processing system 100.

  First, when the operation of the first player is received at the user terminal 20 (step S401), the user terminal 20 transmits a control signal to the video game processing server 10. The video game processing server 10 that has received the control signal updates the game state in accordance with the received control signal (step S501).

  When the game state is updated, the video game processing server 10 generates an image to be displayed on the user terminal (step S502). Specifically, the video game processing server 10 generates a first image and a second image. Furthermore, the video game processing server 10 generates a composite image when the second avatar satisfies a predetermined condition.

  When the image is generated, the video game processing server 10 generates game information related to a game other than the image (step S503).

  When other game information is generated, the video game processing server 10 transmits the generated information to the user terminal. The user terminal 20 that has received the game information from the video game processing server 10 outputs the received information (step S402). Specifically, various parameters and images are displayed. In this way, game processing in the video game processing system 100 proceeds.

  Although not shown, the weather in the virtual area may be configured to reflect the weather in the real world. In this example, for example, when the virtual area is set to New York, or when it is raining in New York in the real world, an effect of raining in the virtual area is also performed. Moreover, it may be configured such that the weapons and items that can be used by the player are limited depending on the weather.

  As described above, as one aspect of the above-described embodiment, virtual area information indicating information regarding a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users is a server that controls the progress of a video game. A virtual area information storage unit 11b to store, a reception unit 12 that receives a control signal from a user terminal, a virtual area information update unit 13 that updates virtual area information based on the received control signal, and a plurality of avatars, respectively. And a first image in which an avatar other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera is not displayed among a plurality of avatars displayed in the image. A first image generation unit 15a that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars. And a determination unit 14 that determines whether or not a relationship between the state of the first avatar and the state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition, and that it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied And a composite image generation unit 15c that generates a composite image that is an image obtained by combining the second image associated with the second avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar; Since the transmission unit 16 transmits the composite image information, which is information indicating the composite image, to the user terminal 20 corresponding to the first avatar in response to the generation of the image, the battle content is It is possible to provide a video game that can avoid becoming monotonous and realize a new shooting function that is rich in taste.

  Further, as one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the server 10 includes the distance calculation unit 16 that calculates the distance information between avatars by referring to the virtual area information. Then, referring to the distance information, it is determined whether or not the positional relationship between the first avatar and the second avatar is shorter than a predetermined distance, and the composite image generation unit performs the first avatar and the second avatar. The composite image is generated in response to the determination that the positional relationship with the avatar is shorter than a predetermined distance. According to such a configuration, the user can grasp that the character corresponding to the image displayed in the second image is a predetermined distance from the user character, so that the user is more interesting. A video game that realizes a shooting function can be provided.

  Further, as one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the server 10 includes an avatar information storage unit that stores avatar information indicating information on each of the plurality of avatars, and the predetermined distance is the avatar information. It is set as the structure which changes according to. According to such a configuration, the predetermined distance can be changed according to various conditions, so that the range of game characteristics can be widened.

  Further, as one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the composite image generation unit 15c in the server 10 determines the first avatar when there are a plurality of second avatars that satisfy a predetermined condition. A predetermined number of second avatars are selected in the closest order, and a predetermined number of second images associated with the predetermined number of second avatars are combined with a first image associated with the first avatar. The composite image is generated. According to such a configuration, the number of screens to be combined can be limited, so that a user interface that is easy for the user to handle can be provided.

  Further, as one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the server 10 stores information related to each of a plurality of avatars, and stores avatar information including correspondence information indicating relationships associated with other avatars. The determination unit 14 determines whether or not the first avatar and the second avatar are associated with each other, and the composite image generation unit includes the first avatar and the avatar information storage unit. The composite image is generated in response to the determination that the second avatar is associated with the second avatar. According to such a configuration, not only can the number of screens to be combined be limited, but also the field of view of the virtual camera corresponding to the character operated by the user who has some relationship with the user can be displayed. Therefore, the range of game characteristics can be expanded.

  As one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the composite image generation unit 15c in the server 10 causes the first image and the second image so that the first image and the second image do not overlap. By arranging these images, a composite image is generated as one image. According to such a configuration, a user interface that is easy for the user to handle can be provided.

  As one aspect of the above-described embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the composite image generation unit 15c in the server 10 changes the size of the area occupied by the first image or the area occupied by the second image. It is set as the structure which has a part. According to such a configuration, a user interface that is easy for the user to handle can be provided.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the user terminals 20 and 201 to 20N may be configured to include the composite image generation unit 15c included in the server 10. That is, the video game processing system 100 is a video game processing system that includes a plurality of user terminals owned by a plurality of users and a server connected to the plurality of terminals via a network, and controls the progress of the video game. The server includes a virtual area information storage unit that stores virtual area information indicating information related to a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users, a receiving unit that receives a control signal from a user terminal, Based on the received control signal, the virtual area information updating unit that updates the virtual area information and the images in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and the plurality of avatars displayed in the images A first image generation unit that generates a first image in which avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera are not displayed. A second image generation unit that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and a user corresponding to the first avatar with the first and second images A transmission unit that transmits to the terminal, and each of the user terminals displays a composite image that generates a composite image that is a combination of the first image and the second image received from the server, and displays the composite image The display unit may be configured to have a display unit.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the image generation process and other processes may be executed by different servers. That is, in the system 100 according to the above-described embodiment, the server 10 is configured to execute the image generation process and other processes in the same process flow. However, different processes flow depending on servers having different processes. It may be configured to be executed. Further, the server 10 may include a multi-thread processing method, and the image generation processing and other processing may be executed in different processing flows.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to avoid a monotonous battle content, and to provide a video game that realizes a new shooting function that is rich in taste.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video game processing server 11 Storage part 11a Avatar information storage part 11b Virtual area information storage part 12 Reception part 13 Update part 14 Determination part 15 Image generation part 15a 1st image generation part 15b 2nd image generation part 15c Composite image generation part 16 Distance calculating unit 17 Transmitting unit 20, 201 to 20N User terminal 30 Communication network 100 Video game processing system

Claims (10)

A server that controls the progress of the video game,
A virtual area information storage unit that stores virtual area information indicating information related to a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users;
A receiving unit for receiving a control signal from a user terminal;
A virtual area information updating unit that updates the virtual area information based on the received control signal;
An image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera among the plurality of avatars displayed in the image are hidden. A first image generation unit for generating the first image,
A second image generation unit that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars;
A determination unit that determines whether or not a relationship between a state of the first avatar and a state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition;
An image obtained by combining the second image associated with the second avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar in response to the determination that the predetermined condition is satisfied. A composite image generation unit for generating a composite image,
A transmission unit that transmits composite image information, which is information indicating the composite image, to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar in response to the generation of the composite image;
Server with. A distance calculation unit that calculates distance information between avatars with reference to the virtual area information,
The determination unit refers to the distance information to determine whether a positional relationship between the first avatar and the second avatar is shorter than a predetermined distance,
The composite image generation unit generates the composite image when it is determined that a positional relationship between the first avatar and the second avatar is shorter than a predetermined distance. The listed server. An avatar information storage unit that stores avatar information indicating information on each of the plurality of avatars;
The server according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance changes according to the avatar information. When there are a plurality of second avatars that satisfy the predetermined condition, the composite image generation unit selects a predetermined number of second avatars in order from the first avatar, and the predetermined number of second avatars. The server according to claim 1, wherein the composite image is generated by combining a predetermined number of second images associated with the first avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar. An avatar information storage unit that stores information on each of the plurality of avatars and stores avatar information including correspondence information indicating a relationship associated with another avatar;
The determination unit determines whether or not the first avatar and the second avatar are associated with each other.
The server according to claim 1, wherein the composite image generation unit generates the composite image in response to a determination that the first avatar and the second avatar are associated with each other. The composite image generation unit generates the composite image as one image by arranging the first image and the second image so that the first image and the second image do not overlap. The server in any one of 1-5. The server according to claim 6, wherein the composite image generation unit includes a changing unit that changes a size of an area occupied by the first image or an area occupied by the second image. A video game processing system for controlling the progress of a video game,
A virtual area information storage unit that stores virtual area information indicating information related to a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to a plurality of users;
A receiving unit for receiving a control signal from a user terminal;
A virtual area information updating unit that updates the virtual area information based on the received control signal;
An image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera among the plurality of avatars displayed in the image are hidden. A first image generation unit for generating the first image,
A second image generation unit that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars;
A determination unit that determines whether or not a relationship between a state of the first avatar and a state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition;
An image obtained by combining the second image associated with the second avatar and the first image associated with the first avatar in response to the determination that the predetermined condition is satisfied. A composite image generation unit for generating a composite image,
A video game processing system comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit composite image information, which is information indicating the composite image, to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar in response to generation of the composite image. A video game processing system comprising a plurality of user terminals each of which has a plurality of users and a server connected to the plurality of terminals via a network, and controlling the progress of the video game,
The server
A virtual area information storage unit that stores virtual area information indicating information about a virtual area including a plurality of avatars corresponding to the plurality of users, respectively;
A receiving unit for receiving a control signal from the user terminal;
A virtual area information updating unit that updates the virtual area information based on the received control signal;
An image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars, and avatars other than the avatar associated with the virtual camera among the plurality of avatars displayed in the image are hidden. A first image generation unit for generating the first image,
A second image generation unit that generates a second image that is an image in the field of view of the virtual camera associated with each of the plurality of avatars;
A transmission unit that transmits the first image and the second image to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar;
Each of the user terminals is
A composite image generating unit that generates a composite image that is an image obtained by combining the first image and the second image received from the server;
A video game processing system comprising: a display unit configured to display the composite image. The server includes a determination unit that determines whether a relationship between a state of the first avatar and a state of the second avatar among the plurality of avatars satisfies a predetermined condition;
The transmission unit, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the first image associated with the first avatar and the second image associated with the second avatar. The video game processing system according to claim 9, wherein the video game processing system is transmitted to a user terminal corresponding to the first avatar.

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