JP2017221553A - Game program and game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game program and a game system capable of improving effectiveness of load reduction processing.SOLUTION: A computer is caused to function as: virtual space generation means generating a virtual space; sound effect identification means identifying sound effect to be outputted outside by a sound effect output part among a plurality of sound effects in accordance with game situations; sound effect total amount acquisition means acquiring a total sum of volume of the sound effects outputted outside; volume determination means determining whether or not a total sum of volume of the sound effects is equal to or larger than a prescribed reference volume; and load reduction means reducing processing load about at least a part of a plurality of drawing elements that are drawn in a virtual space displayed to a game screen in a predetermined mode when it is determined that the total sum of the volume of sound effects is equal to or larger than the prescribed reference volume.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a game program and a game system.

  Conventionally, there are games such as an action game and a role playing game that cause a player character to move in a virtual game space in response to a user operation. In such a game, the computer displays each frame (image) whose contents change momentarily according to the movement of the object in order to display on the game screen how the object such as the player character and the enemy character moves. And generated at a predetermined frame rate. However, for example, the amount of movement of the object included in the frame increases and the amount of calculation of polygon data increases, and in addition to this, effect processing (for example, particle data representing a blast or a spark to express the effect of an attack) Or the like may generate an excessive load on the computer. In this way, when the load on the computer becomes excessive, frames cannot be generated at a desired frame rate, and one or more frames cannot be displayed on the display, or the display speed becomes slow (so-called “ Processing loss ") may occur.

  In order to reduce the processing load for drawing such a game screen, for example, in Patent Document 1, the load required to generate a frame is detected, and the update frequency for drawing a predetermined object according to the detection result A configuration has been proposed for lowering. The detection of the load required for frame generation in Patent Document 1 is exemplified by determining whether or not the frame rate is equal to or lower than a predetermined value based on the time required from the start of update of object data to the end of update. .

JP 2011-186834 A

  However, the configuration as in Patent Document 1 starts processing for reducing the processing load after detecting that the frame rate is actually decreasing, and it is not after the processing load has actually increased to some extent. And processing load reduction processing cannot be executed. For this reason, the start of the load reduction process is not in time, and in some cases, there is a possibility that the process may still drop.

  An object of this invention is to provide the game program and game system which can improve the effectiveness of the load reduction process.

  A game program according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image captured by a virtual camera arranged in a virtual space as a game screen, a storage unit that stores a plurality of sound effects, and a plurality of the sound effects. A game program to be executed by the computer in a game system comprising: a sound effect output unit that outputs sound effects generated in a virtual space displayed on the game screen to the outside; and a computer, A virtual space generating means for generating the virtual space, a sound effect specifying means for specifying a sound effect to be output to the outside from the sound effect output unit among the plurality of sound effects, according to a game situation, the external sound Sound effect amount acquisition means for acquiring the sum of the volume of the sound effects to be output to the sound volume for determining whether the sum of the sound effect sound volumes is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference sound volume; And at least a part of a plurality of drawing elements drawn in the virtual space displayed on the game screen when it is determined that the sum of the sound volume of the setting means and the sound effect is greater than or equal to the predetermined reference volume It is made to function as a load reducing means for reducing the processing load related to the drawing elements in a predetermined manner.

  Of the plurality of drawing elements, two or more drawing elements that are targets of processing load reduction are each assigned a priority, and the volume determination means has a plurality of the predetermined reference volumes, and the load reduction The means may stepwise reduce the processing load related to the two or more drawing elements in the order of priority each time the sum of the sound effect sound volumes exceeds the plurality of reference sound volumes by one.

  Causing the computer to function as a first distance measuring unit that measures a first distance between a predetermined reference position based on the position of the virtual camera in the virtual space and each drawing element that is a target to reduce a processing load; The load reducing unit is configured to reduce a processing load related to the drawing element in which the first distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined first reference distance when it is determined that the sum of the sound effects is greater than or equal to the predetermined reference volume. May be reduced.

  The load reducing unit may reduce a processing load related to the drawing element by deleting or simplifying the display of the drawing element as a target. The load reducing means may reduce the processing load related to the drawing element by deleting or simplifying the motion of the drawing element as a target. The load reducing unit may reduce a processing load related to the drawing element by stopping a route search for the drawing element to be processed.

  The computer is caused to function as a second distance measuring unit that measures a second distance between a sound listening position in the virtual space and a position where each sound effect is generated, and the sound effect total amount acquiring unit includes the plurality of sound effect obtaining units. Obtaining the volume of each sound effect individually, adding the sound volumes together to obtain the sum of the sound effect volume, and obtaining the sound effect volume whose second distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined second reference distance The interval may be longer than the sound volume acquisition interval where the second distance is less than the predetermined second reference distance.

  A game system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a program storage unit that stores the above-described game program, and a computer that executes the program stored in the program storage unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the game program and game system which can improve the effectiveness of the load reduction process can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the game device in this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the game device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the game sound in this Embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the virtual space in the game in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change aspect of the mouth of the character by the utterance motion in this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a game program and a game system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Game Overview]
In the following description, an action game executed in a home game device will be described as an example. The action game according to the present embodiment achieves a predetermined goal such as operating a player character acting in a virtual game space to annihilate the enemy character or reach a predetermined position in the game space. Therefore, it progresses by fighting an enemy character.

  In this game, an image around the position of the player character that can be operated by the user on the game space is displayed as a game screen. The player character itself may or may not be displayed. While the main game that allows the user to operate the player character is in progress, as will be described later, game sounds including predetermined background music, a plurality of sound effects, and a user interface are reproduced.

[Hardware configuration]
A configuration of a game device that realizes the above-described game will be described. The game system according to the present embodiment includes the following game device 2 and external devices such as a monitor (display unit) 19, a speaker 22, and a controller (operation unit) 24 connected to the game device 2. A game can be played based on the game program 30a and the game data 30b read from the type storage medium 30. However, in the following, in order to simplify the description, the game device 2 may be simply referred to.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of game device 2 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 2 can communicate with another game apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 3 via a communication network NW such as the Internet or a LAN. The game apparatus 2 includes a CPU 10 that is a computer for controlling the operation thereof, and a disk drive 12, a memory card slot 13, an HDD 14 that constitutes a program storage unit, a ROM 15, and a RAM 16 are connected to the CPU 10 via a bus 11. Yes.

  Further, the graphic processing unit 17, the audio synthesis unit 20, the wireless communication control unit 23, and the network interface 25 are connected to the CPU 10 via the bus 11.

  Among these, the graphic processing unit 17 draws a game image including a game space and each character in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 10. An external monitor 19 is connected to the graphic processing unit 17 via a video conversion unit 18, and the game image drawn by the graphic processing unit 17 is converted into a moving image format by the video conversion unit 18, and the monitor 19 Is displayed.

  The audio synthesizing unit 20 reproduces and synthesizes digital game sound in accordance with instructions from the CPU 10. An external speaker 22 is connected to the audio synthesis unit 20 via an audio conversion unit 21. Therefore, the game sound reproduced and synthesized by the audio synthesizing unit 20 is decoded into an analog format by the audio converting unit 21 and further outputted from the speaker 22 to the outside. The speaker 22 serves as a music output unit that outputs a predetermined game sound, which will be described later, to the outside.

  Furthermore, the audio synthesizing unit 20 converts the user's voice or the like input from the microphone 26 provided in the headset or the controller 24 connected to the game apparatus 2 into the digital format by the audio converting unit 21. It can be acquired. The audio synthesizing unit 20 can transmit the acquired data to the CPU 10 as input information.

  The wireless communication control unit 23 includes a 2.4 GHz band wireless communication module, and is wirelessly connected to the controller 24 attached to the game apparatus 2 so that data can be transmitted and received. The user can input a signal to the game apparatus 2 by operating an operator such as a button provided on the controller 24, and can control the action of the player character displayed on the monitor 19. . The network interface 25 connects the game apparatus 2 to a communication network NW such as the Internet or a LAN, and can communicate with another game apparatus 2 or the server apparatus 3. Then, by connecting the game apparatus 2 to another game apparatus 2 via the communication network NW and transmitting / receiving data to / from each other, a plurality of player characters can be displayed synchronously in the same game space. Thereby, in this game, multiplayer is possible in which a plurality of player characters corresponding to a plurality of users cooperate with each other to fight against enemy characters, or a plurality of users battle against each other.

[Functional configuration of game device]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game apparatus 2 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the game apparatus 2 includes a control unit 4 including a CPU 10, an HDD 14, a ROM 15, a RAM 16, a graphic processing unit 17, a video conversion unit 18, an audio synthesis unit 20, an audio conversion unit 21, a network interface 25, and the like. Act as a computer. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 4 of the game apparatus 2 executes the game program 30a of the present invention, so that the virtual space generating unit 41, the sound effect specifying unit 42, the sound effect total amount acquiring unit 43, the sound volume The function of the determination means 44, the load reduction means 45, the 1st distance measurement means 46, the 2nd distance measurement means 47, the object control means 48, the game sound reproduction means 49, etc. is exhibited.

  Among these, the virtual space generation means 41 generates a virtual space (game space) in which the player character operated by the user acts. The virtual space generation unit 41 generates a virtual game space in which the character moves and each character that moves in the game space, and displays the character on the monitor 19. For example, the virtual space generation means 41 reads data such as objects and textures included in the game data 30b as the player character moves, and generates a three-dimensional virtual game space. Further, the virtual space generation unit 41 generates a two-dimensional image when the image is taken with a predetermined virtual camera arranged in the generated game space in order to display the game space on the monitor 19 of the game apparatus 2. Display as a game screen.

  The object control means 48 controls at least the action of the character (player character) corresponding to the user who operates the computer according to the operation input of the controller 24 by the user or the progress of the game. Based on at least one specific operation of the user input through the controller 24, the player character performs a predetermined action determined for the specific operation. When the object control unit 48 determines that a specific operation has been performed based on an input operation to the controller 24 by the user, the object control unit 48 causes the player character to execute a corresponding predetermined action. Furthermore, the object control means 48 controls the movement of a non-player character or other moving object that acts in the game space.

  The sound effect specifying means 42 outputs at least one sound effect generated in the virtual space displayed on the game screen from the speaker 22 among a plurality of sound effects stored in advance in the storage unit such as the HDD 14 as the game data 30b. The sound effect output to the outside is specified according to the game situation. For example, the sound effect specifying means 42 receives an operation from the user who fires the gun of the player character, reads out the data of the fired sound of the corresponding gun from the storage unit, and specifies it as the sound effect to be reproduced. The game sound reproducing means 49 causes the speaker 22 to output the sound effect to be reproduced specified by the sound effect specifying means 42. At this time, the game sound reproducing means 49 also reproduces background music and user interface sounds (described later) as necessary. That is, the game sound reproduction means 49 reproduces game sounds that can include sound effects, background music, and user surface sounds, and outputs them from the speaker 22.

  The total sound amount acquisition unit 43 acquires the sum of the volume levels of the sound effects specified by the sound effect specifying unit 42 and output from the speaker 22. For example, the effective value of the volume of each sound effect is preset, and the total sound effect amount obtaining unit 43 calculates the sum of the sound effect sound volumes by adding the effective values of all the sound effects to be output. To do. The sound volume determination means 44 determines whether or not the sum of the sound effect sound volumes is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference sound volume.

  The load reducing unit 45 draws at least a part of a plurality of drawing elements drawn in the virtual space displayed on the game screen when it is determined that the sum of the sound effects is greater than a predetermined reference volume. A load reduction process for reducing the processing load related to the elements in a predetermined manner is performed.

[Data structure of game sound]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the game sound in the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 3, as sound effect data D _EF , sound data D _Em (m = 1, 2,...) Regarding enemy characters, sound data D _PL regarding player characters, sound data D _Wn (n = 1,2, ...) includes environmental sound data _{D A.} In the sound data D _PL and D _Em related to the enemy character and the player character, voice data D _EmV and D _PLV related to the voice of the character (speaking voice, screaming, crying, etc.) and the movement of the character (footsteps etc.), respectively. operation sound regarding (motion) data _{D EMM,} includes a _{D PLM.} There may be a plurality of utterance data and / or operation sound data. When there are a plurality of enemy characters and player characters, these sound data may be provided for each character.

The sound data D _Wn related to a weapon includes one or a plurality of sound data for one weapon, such as a fire sound data D _W11 , reload sound data D _W12 , explosion sound data D _W13, etc. Can be. When there are a plurality of weapons, sound data may be provided for each weapon. The sound data D _A relating to the environmental sound includes a wide range of environmental sound data (for example, rain sound, bird singing, etc.) D _A1 generated in the virtual space as a whole and locally at a specific location in the virtual space. The generated environmental sound data in a narrow area (river sound, bonfire sound, waterfall sound, etc.) D _A2 is included.

The data of each sound effect is stored in association with the sound effect category. Separately, sound data D _UI related to the user interface sound is stored. The user interface sound is an operation sound on the game system, and includes sounds that are not recognized as sounds generated in the virtual space, such as a confirmation sound when changing weapon selection, a confirmation sound when using a tool, and the like. The data D _B of the background music is stored as a separate category and sound effects. Sound effects, the combination of the user interface sounds and background music is configured as data D _M of the master sound. By each sound whether to reproduce the data are switched for each sound data of each category is generated master sound data D _M in accordance with the game progress, the master sound is output to the outside from a speaker 22.

In such a data structure, the total sound effect amount obtaining unit 43 obtains an effective value of the sound volume for each sound data or each category. Acquisition of the effective value of the sound volume is realized, for example, by incorporating a known meter plug-in program into the game program. In FIG. 3, the master sound volume SV _M , the sum of effect sound volumes SV _EF , the user interface sound volume SV _UI , the background music volume SV _B , the volume of each character SV _Em , SV _PL , and the volume of each weapon. SV _Wn and environmental sound volume SV _A can be acquired. Sound effect amount obtaining means 43, of which monitors the sum SV _EF volume of sound effects, used for volume determination by volume determination means 44. It should be noted that the total sound effect amount acquisition means 43 may be able to acquire the sound volume for each finer sound data (for example, each of the player character's utterance data D _PLV and action sound data D _PLM ).

[Load reduction processing]
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the virtual space in the game according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the virtual space S, a player character PL is arranged, and enemy characters E1 to E3 are arranged. The player character PL performs a specific action such as walking or using the possessed weapon W1 based on a user operation on the controller 24. The actions of the enemy characters E1 to E3 are controlled by the object control means 48, move toward the player character PL, perform a specific action such as attacking the player character PL using the weapon W2 and shouting. . In the example of FIG. 4, a fixed object A <b> 2 that generates a sound such as a waterfall, a river murmur, and a bonfire is disposed at a predetermined position in the virtual space S.

  A virtual camera VC for imaging the virtual space S is arranged at a predetermined position near the player character PL in the virtual space S, and the virtual space captured by the virtual camera VC is displayed on the monitor 19 of the game apparatus 2. A two-dimensional image of S is displayed as a game screen. The game is an action game in which the user operates the player character PL while fighting the enemy characters E1 to E3 while watching the game screen, and subjugates them.

  The positional relationship between the player character PL and the virtual camera VC is associated with each other. Specifically, the virtual camera VC is kept at a predetermined distance from the player character PL, and the field of view when viewed in plan is centered on a line connecting the virtual camera VC and the player character PL. The axis is set to have a predetermined angle on the left and right. A virtual space S within the field of view of the virtual camera VC is displayed on the game screen. Note that the virtual camera VC is normally controlled so that the center axis of the visual field is in the direction of the player character PL in a state of being separated from the player character PL by a predetermined distance. The virtual camera VC is controlled to be able to turn three-dimensionally with the virtual camera VC facing the player character PL around the player character PL, either automatically or in response to an operation on the controller 24. That is, control is performed so that the position of the virtual camera VC can be changed not only in the horizontal direction but also in the height direction. Note that it is also possible to change the position of the virtual camera VC relative to the player character PL (change the relative distance between the virtual camera VC and the player character PL) in accordance with an operation on the controller 24.

  At least a part of the objects arranged in the virtual space S is set as a sound generation source. For example, when the position of the sound generation source (object set) is located within the field of view of the virtual camera VC, sound is generated from the sound generation source. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the region where sound is generated from the sound source may be wider or narrower than the visual field of the virtual camera VC, but the region is determined based on the sound listening position LC. It is done. Further, the sound generation source does not necessarily have to be set in association with the object. For example, a sound generation source may be set at a predetermined position coordinate in the virtual space S. The sound generated from the sound source arranged in the virtual space S is detected at a predetermined sound listening position LP in the virtual space S, and is output from the speaker 22 of the game apparatus 2. In the present embodiment, the sound listening position LP coincides with the position of the virtual camera VC, but is not limited thereto.

The characters PL, E1 to E3, the weapons W1 and W2, and the fixed object A2 are set as sound generation sources that generate sounds at all times or based on predetermined actions. For example, the player character PL sound data D _PLM related footsteps in a position of the player character PL is reproduced walk. When the player character PL fires a weapon W1 that is a gun, sound data _DW11 relating to the fired sound of the weapon W1 is reproduced at the position of the weapon W1. Further, when a bullet fired from the weapon W1 lands on the enemy character E1 or the like, sound data _DW13 relating to the landing sound (explosive sound or the like) is reproduced at the landing position. Further, when the player character PL performs a reload operation of the weapon W1, the sound data _DW12 relating to the reload sound is reproduced at the position of the weapon W1.

Further, the sound data D _{E1M to} D _E3M relating to the movement is reproduced when the enemy characters E1 to E3 move. In addition, when the enemy characters E1 to E3 raise a scream during a shot, sound data D _{E1V to} D _E3V are reproduced in the enemy characters E1 to E3. Further, the enemy character E1 possesses the weapon W2, and the sound data D _{W21 to} D _W23 are reproduced at the position of the weapon W1 or the landing position in accordance with a predetermined action in the same manner as the weapon W1. In the example of FIG. 4, the enemy character E1 is the main character (for example, a target that is a condition for clearing the stage), and the other enemy characters E2 and E3 are infinitely sub-characters (for example, the condition for clearing the stage is not infinite). Such as a mobs character. Also, the sound data DA2 corresponding to the fixed object A2 is reproduced at the position of the fixed object A2 at all times or at a predetermined timing.

Since the volume of the sound generated by the virtual space S is set individually, although not necessarily exactly, as a general trend, the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect to be heard on the listening position LP of the sound, The larger the number of objects set as the sound source, the greater the number of objects arranged in the field of view of the virtual camera VC, the larger the object. In other words, the larger the total volume SV _{EF of the} sound effects heard at the sound listening position LP, the larger the number of objects arranged in the visual field of the virtual camera VC, and the moving objects such as characters move. There is a high possibility that the processing load is high.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sound volume determination unit 44 determines whether or not the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The total sum _SVEF of the sound effects used for the determination by the sound volume determination means 44 is the sum of the sound effects generated within the sound generation region determined based on the sound listening position LP. In this embodiment, the sound effect amount acquisition unit 43, each of the volume of the plurality of sound effects separately acquired, acquires the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect by adding up the volume. In an aspect in which the volume is attenuated according to the distance between the position of the sound source and the sound listening position LP, the sum of the volume of the sound effect after attenuation (the volume of each sound at the sound listening position LP is (Sum)) or the sum of the volume of the sound effect before attenuation (the sum of the volumes at the source of each sound) may be used.

  The total sound amount acquisition unit 43 acquires the volume of each sound effect at predetermined acquisition intervals (for example, every three frames). The volume of each acquired sound effect is temporarily stored, and updated and stored every time a new sound effect volume is acquired.

The load reducing means 45, when the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined reference sound volume, a plurality of drawing elements to be drawn in the virtual space S displayed on the game screen The processing load on at least some drawing elements is reduced in a predetermined manner. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the processing load on the game screen is estimated based on the number of sound effects generated in the virtual space S displayed on the game screen. Therefore, the processing load reduction process can be started before detecting whether or not the frame rate is actually decreased, and the effectiveness of the processing load reduction process can be improved. At this time, the user who plays the game does not reduce the load as much as possible for the main enemy character E1, but reduces the load of the sub-characters E2 and E3 or the fixed object A2 constituting a part of the background. It is possible to make it difficult to perceive a decrease in image quality or a change in the movement of the main enemy character E1.

  In the present embodiment, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load by deleting or simplifying the display of the enemy character E3 and / or the fixed object A2, for example. The display simplification includes, for example, reducing the number of polygons, deleting a part of the texture, etc., and reducing the resolution.

  Further, for example, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load on the enemy character E3 by deleting or simplifying the motion of the enemy character E3. The simplification of motion includes, for example, reduction of the number of frames constituting the motion (thinning), change of the motion itself, and the like.

The motion itself may be deleted. For example, the utterance motion of the enemy character E3 may be deleted. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the character's mouth changes due to the utterance motion in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the object control means 48 _acquires the volume SV _E3V of the utterance data D _E3V of the corresponding enemy character E3, and changes the mouth opening ratio of the enemy character E3 according to the volume SV _E3V. Perform a motion. As a result, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 5, when the volume SV _{E3V of the} utterance data is 0% (when not speaking), the character E3 is in a state where the mouth is closed (opening ratio 0%). As shown in the lower row, when the volume SV _E3V of the utterance data is 100% (at the maximum volume), the character E3 is in a state where the mouth is fully opened (aperture ratio 100%). In these intermediate states (for example, the state in which the volume SV _{E3V of the} utterance data is 50% as shown in the middle part of FIG. 5), the character E3 opens its mouth with an aperture ratio corresponding to the volume SV _E3V . The ratio of the utterance data in the volume SV _E3V may not be 0% when the voice is not uttered, and may not be 100% when the maximum volume is reached. That is, the ratio of the volume SV _E3V of the utterance data may not match the mouth opening ratio of the character E3.

  Conventionally, there is a mode in which a character's mouth is moved in accordance with a voice uttered. For example, conventionally known modes include a mode in which a motion of a character is created in advance, and voices are synchronized so as to match the motion, or a motion capture that captures an actual video. However, the way to synchronize the voice according to the motion of the character is difficult to increase the degree of coincidence between the opening of the mouth and the voice, it is difficult to change the mouth opening of the character in advance, etc. It was difficult to realize natural motion according to the utterance. In addition, there is a problem that processing load increases when motion capture is performed, and only a predetermined voice can be reproduced.

On the other hand, in the utterance motion in the present embodiment, the opening degree of the mouth of the character E3 changes according to the volume SV _E3V of the voice uttered by the character E3. Thereby, the opening of the mouth close to natural utterance can be reproduced without using motion capture.

  As described above, the utterance motion in the present embodiment has a lower load than before, but when the processing load on the entire game screen is increased, the utterance motion is deleted as one aspect of reducing this. (Do not move your mouth). Further, even when the voice utterance of the character E3 is reproduced at random, a motion that closely follows the voice utterance can be obtained.

  Further, for example, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load related to the enemy character E3 by stopping the route search that is a reference for the action of the enemy character E3. When the route search of the enemy character E3 is stopped, the load reducing means 45 instead moves the enemy character E3 linearly in a predetermined direction or stops on the spot, and uses the position of the enemy character E3 as a reference. When the player character PL is positioned within a predetermined range, an action with a lighter processing load than an action based on a route search, such as performing a battle action on the player character PL, may be executed.

  Furthermore, the load reducing means 45 may use not only the enemy character E3 but also the enemy character E2 as targets for the load reducing process. In this manner, among the plurality of drawing elements, priority may be set for each of two or more drawing elements that are targets of processing load reduction. In this case, the volume determination unit 44 has a plurality of predetermined reference volumes that serve as a basis for the load reduction process, and the load reduction unit 45 has a priority each time the sum of the sound effects exceeds one of the plurality of reference volumes. The processing load related to two or more drawing elements may be reduced in stages.

For example, when the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects exceeds the first reference volume SV1, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load on the enemy character E3, and the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects is the first. When the second reference volume SV2 larger than the reference volume SV1 is exceeded, the load reducing unit 45 performs a process of reducing the processing load related to the enemy character E2 in addition to the enemy character E3. In this case, enemy characters E2 and E3 are included as enemy characters to be subjected to load reduction processing, and the priority is set so that the enemy character E3 is higher than the enemy character E2. Note that the target of load reduction processing for a plurality of drawing elements is not limited to a target for a plurality of objects (such as characters). For example, a plurality of drawing elements in one object may be gradually reduced. included. For example, if the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect is greater than the first reference volume SV1, motion of the enemy character E3 is simplified, the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect is greater than the second reference volume SV2 In this case, the route search for the enemy character E3 may be stopped. In this case, the rendering element of the enemy character E3 to be subjected to the load reduction process includes simplification of motion and stop of path search, and the priority of the motion simplification process is set higher than the stop process of path search. Is done.

Further, based on the first distance L1 between the predetermined reference position based on the position of the virtual camera VC in the virtual space S and each drawing element that is a target to reduce the processing load, measured by the first distance measuring unit 46. Thus, the target to be subjected to the load reduction process may be determined. For example, the predetermined reference position is set to the position of the virtual camera VC (in the present embodiment, matches the sound listening position LP). Instead, the predetermined reference position may be set to the position of the player character PL that maintains a certain distance from the virtual camera VC. Then, when it is determined that the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference volume, the load reducing unit 45 determines that the first distance L1 is the predetermined among the drawing elements to be subjected to the load reducing process. The processing load related to the drawing element that is equal to or greater than the first reference distance LB1 is reduced.

For example, if the sum SV _EF volume of the sound effect exceeds a predetermined reference sound volume, pressure relief means 45, the first distance L1 to reduce the processing load related to the enemy character E2 is first reference distance LB1 above. Alternatively, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load related to the enemy character E2 whose first distance L1 is equal to or greater than the first reference distance LB1 when the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects exceeds the first reference volume SV1. If the sum _{SV EF} volume of the sound effect is greater than the second reference volume SV2 (> SV1), regardless of the first distance L1, it may reduce the processing load on all the enemy characters E2. Alternatively, the load reducing unit 45 reduces the processing load on the enemy character E3 regardless of the first distance L1 when the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects exceeds the first reference sound volume SV1, and reduces the sound effect sound volume. When the total SV _EF exceeds the second reference volume SV2 (> SV1), the processing load related to the enemy character E2 whose first distance L1 is equal to or greater than the first reference distance LB1 may be reduced. In addition, when the total sum SV _EF of the sound effects exceeds the first reference volume SV1, the load reduction unit 45 loads the processing load on the enemy characters E2 and E3 whose first distance L1 is equal to or greater than the first reference distance LB1. If the total sum V _EF of the sound effects exceeds the second reference volume SV2 (> SV1), the first distance L1 is not less than a predetermined reference distance (third reference distance LB3) shorter than the first reference distance. The processing load related to the enemy characters E2 and E3 may be reduced.

  As described above, the load reduction processing is performed on the drawing elements that are equal to or larger than the first distance L1 between the predetermined reference position and the position of each drawing element that is the target of reducing the processing load, thereby leaving the player character PL. By reducing the processing load on an object located at a certain position, that is, an object that is drawn small on the game screen, the processing load is efficiently reduced while the load is reduced. It is possible to make it difficult for the user to feel this change.

  In the present embodiment, the total amount of sound effect acquisition means 43 acquires the volume of each sound effect based on the second distance L2 between the sound listening position LP and the sound generation position (sound generation source position). The acquisition interval may be changed. In this case, the second distance measuring means 47 measures the second distance L2 between the sound listening position LP in the virtual space S and the generation position of each sound effect. In the present embodiment, since the predetermined reference position serving as the reference for the first distance L1 is set to the sound listening position LP, the second distance L2 matches the first distance L1. Then, the total amount of sound effects acquisition unit 43 sets the sound volume acquisition interval at which the second distance L2 is equal to or greater than the predetermined second reference distance LB2, and the sound effect at which the second distance L2 is less than the predetermined second reference distance LB2. Longer than the volume acquisition interval. In the example of FIG. 4, the second reference distance LB2 is set to the same distance as the first reference distance LB1. For example, the total sound amount acquisition unit 43 acquires the volume of the sound effect generated from the sound source every three frames for the sound source whose second distance L2 is less than the second reference distance LB2. For sound sources whose second distance L2 is greater than or equal to the second reference distance LB2, sound effects generated from the sound source at intervals longer than 3 frames, for example, every second (eg, 30 frames) Get the volume.

  According to this, since the acquisition and update frequency of the sound effect reproduced at a position separated from the player character PL by a predetermined distance (second reference distance LB2) or more is reduced, the load due to the sound effect sound volume acquisition process is reduced. Can do. In a mode in which sound generated at a position away from the player character PL by a predetermined distance or more is not so important, and the sound volume is attenuated according to the distance between the position of the sound source and the sound listening position LP. Since the volume of the sound effect to be played is reduced, the game can be played even if the acquisition and update frequency of the sound effect to be played at a position separated from the player character PL by a predetermined distance (second reference distance LB2) or more is reduced. The user who plays is unlikely to feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing load while keeping a sense of incongruity on the game low.

  The sound effect total amount acquisition means 43 sets a confirmation interval as to whether or not an obstacle (an object that affects the volume of the sound effect such as a wall) exists between the sound listening position LP and the sound generating position. You may change according to the 2nd distance L2.

  In this embodiment, when a specific enemy character (such as a boss enemy) such as the enemy character E1 shown in FIG. 4 is encountered, the game sound reproducing means 49 changes the background music. In this case, the game sound reproducing means 49 uses the third distance L3 between the predetermined reference position based on the position of the player character PL and the position of the specific enemy character E1 based on the position of the player character PL. You may change according to.

  For example, the background music that is played when a specific enemy character E1 encounters is configured by combining a plurality of sound waveforms parallel to the time axis. That is, the background music has a plurality of tracks that are played back simultaneously. The game sound reproducing means 49 changes the volume of at least one of the plurality of tracks constituting the background music according to the third distance L3.

  For example, the plurality of tracks include a melody track and a rhythm track, and the game sound reproducing means 49 increases the volume of the rhythm track as the third distance L3 becomes shorter (that is, the player character PL and the specific enemy character E1). (The closer the distance is, the larger it will be). Thereby, the start of the battle | competition with the specific enemy character E1 can be excited. The volume of the rhythm track may be increased linearly or may be increased curvedly. Note that the game sound reproducing means 49 may reduce the volume of the rhythm track as the third distance L3 increases (that is, as the distance between the player character PL and the specific enemy character E1 increases). Instead, once the volume of the rhythm track is increased, it does not decrease until a predetermined condition (for example, the state where the third distance L3 is equal to or greater than the predetermined reference distance is maintained for a predetermined time) is satisfied. You may do it. In addition, when the third distance L3 is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference distance, the volume may be gradually decreased based on the passage of time (for example, the volume may be decreased by a predetermined volume every frame).

  In addition to or instead of this, the game sound reproduction means 49 may reproduce the background music by increasing the tempo of the background music as the third distance L3 becomes shorter. Further, whether or not to change the tempo of the background music may be combined with an aspect in which the action of the specific enemy character E1 changes depending on whether or not the specific enemy character E1 recognizes the player character PL. For example, in such an aspect, it is determined whether or not the player character PL is positioned within the field of view set for the specific enemy character E1, and the player character PL is not positioned within the field of view (player character In a state before the PL is recognized, the specific enemy character E1 is set so as to go around a predetermined route in the virtual space S, and when the player character PL is located in the field of view (the specific enemy character E1 is the player). After that, when the character PL is recognized), the specific enemy character E1 is set to follow the player character PL.

  In such an aspect, while the specific enemy character E1 is not recognizing the player character PL, the game sound reproduction means 49 reproduces the background music at a predetermined tempo regardless of the third distance L3, and the specific enemy character E1. After the character E1 recognizes the player character PL, the background music may be played back at a faster tempo according to the third distance L3. Thereby, while the specific enemy character E1 does not recognize the player character PL, the tempo of the background music does not change while the player character PL approaches, but as soon as the enemy character E1 recognizes the player character PL. The background music is reproduced at a fast tempo according to the third distance L3. Therefore, a sense of urgency can be enhanced in a game mode in which the specific enemy character E1 is quietly approached. As with the rhythm track volume, the tempo may be decreased as the third distance L3 is increased, or the tempo may not be decreased until a predetermined condition is satisfied, or time elapses. The tempo may be gradually reduced based on

  The manner in which the specific enemy character E1 recognizes the player character PL is not limited to whether or not the player character PL is located in the field of view. For example, the player character PL is located within a predetermined range based on the specific enemy character E1. When the player character PL makes a sound (gunshot, footstep, etc.) in the state, the specific enemy character E1 may recognize the player character PL.

  In addition to or instead of this, the game sound reproducing means 49 may change the tempo of the background music according to the elapsed time after the specific enemy character E1 recognizes the player character PL. For example, while the specific enemy character E1 is not recognizing the player character PL, the game sound reproducing means 49 uses background music at a predetermined tempo (a predetermined maximum tempo (eg, 120 BPM) regardless of the third distance L3). 50% tempo (60 BPM)), and after the specific enemy character E1 recognizes the player character PL, the game sound reproduction means 49 is 100 when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since the recognition. The tempo may be changed so that the tempo is% (120 BPM).

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements, changes, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sound related to the player character, enemy character, fixed object, weapon, etc. is exemplified as the plurality of sound effects. However, the sound is not limited to this. May be included. In the above embodiment, the total sum _SVEF of the sound effects is the sum of all the sound effects to be reproduced. However, some sound effects of all the sound effects to be reproduced are included. it may be compared with the reference sound volume as the sum SV _EF volume of sound effects that were excluded. For example, in a mode in which the main enemy character E1 screams at a high volume when performing a specific motion, when the volume alone due to the scream of the enemy character E1 is close to the reference volume or exceeds the reference volume, Although the actual processing load is not large, there is a possibility that the load reduction processing is executed. In such a case, sound effects related cry of the enemy character E1 is by excluding from the sum SV _EF volume of sound effects, and more with the actual change in the volume of the sum SVEF processing load changes and sound effects Can be matched.

  Further, although the stationary game apparatus has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be suitably applied to computers such as portable game apparatuses, mobile phones, and personal computers.

  The present invention is useful for improving the effectiveness of load reduction processing in a game.

2 Game device (game system)
30a Game program 30b Game data 41 Virtual space generation means 42 Sound effect identification means 43 Sound effect total amount acquisition means 44 Volume determination means 45 Load reduction means 46 First distance measurement means 47 Second distance measurement means

Claims (8)

A display unit that displays an image captured by a virtual camera arranged in a virtual space as a game screen, a storage unit that stores a plurality of sound effects, and a virtual space displayed on the game screen among the plurality of sound effects A game program to be executed by the computer in a game system comprising: a sound effect output unit for outputting sound effects generated in the outside; and a computer,
The computer,
Virtual space generation means for generating the virtual space;
Among the plurality of sound effects, a sound effect specifying means for specifying a sound effect to be output to the outside from the sound effect output unit according to the situation of the game,
A total amount of sound effects acquisition means for acquiring the sum of the volume of the sound effects to be output to the outside;
Volume determining means for determining whether or not the sum total of the volume of the sound effects is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference volume, and when it is determined that the total sum of the volume of the sound effects is equal to or higher than the predetermined reference volume, A game program that functions as a load reducing unit that reduces a processing load related to at least some drawing elements of a plurality of drawing elements drawn in the virtual space displayed on a game screen in a predetermined manner. Of the plurality of drawing elements, two or more drawing elements that are targets of processing load reduction are each assigned a priority,
The volume determination means has a plurality of the predetermined reference volumes,
The load reduction means reduces the processing load related to the two or more drawing elements in order of the priority every time the sum total of the volume of the sound effects exceeds the plurality of reference volumes by one. The described game program. The computer,
Functioning as a first distance measuring means for measuring a first distance between a predetermined reference position based on the position of the virtual camera in the virtual space and each drawing element to be reduced in processing load;
The load reducing unit is configured to reduce a processing load related to the drawing element in which the first distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined first reference distance when it is determined that the sum of the sound effects is greater than or equal to the predetermined reference volume. The game program according to claim 1, which is reduced.   4. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the load reducing unit reduces the processing load related to the drawing element by deleting or simplifying the display of the drawing element to be processed. 5.   5. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the load reducing unit reduces processing load on the drawing element by deleting or simplifying motion of the drawing element to be processed. 6.   The game program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the load reducing means reduces a processing load related to the drawing element by stopping a route search for the drawing element to be processed. The computer,
Function as second distance measuring means for measuring a second distance between the listening position of the sound in the virtual space and the generating position of each sound effect;
The total amount of sound effects acquisition unit individually acquires the volume of each of the plurality of sound effects, adds the sound volumes, acquires the sum of the sound effects, and the second distance is a predetermined second. 7. The sound effect sound volume acquisition interval that is equal to or greater than a reference distance is set longer than the sound effect sound volume acquisition interval in which the second distance is less than the predetermined second reference distance. Game program. A program storage unit storing the game program according to claim 1;
A game system comprising: a computer that executes a program stored in the program storage unit.

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