JP2022097538A - Game system, computer program used for therefor, and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system capable of more reliably delivering viewer information related to a viewer of a play moving image composed as a moving image containing a game screen to a player playing a game through the game screen.

SOLUTION: A game system 1 is connected to a monitor MO for displaying a game screen 50 including a player character 51, and distributes a play moving image 60 composed as a moving image containing the game screen 50 to a user terminal device 4 connected through a network NT. When predetermined compensation is collected from a viewer P through the user terminal device 4 as compensation for adding a message of the viewer P of the play moving image 60 to the game screen 50, the game system 1, with the collection of the compensation, acquires information on a purchasing result as information indicating the collection from the user terminal device 4. The game system 1 controls the monitor MO so that the message is displayed in the player character 51 on the basis of the information.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a game system or the like that is connected to a display device that displays a game screen including a character and distributes a play video configured as a video including the game screen to a display terminal connected via a network.

There is a game system that is connected to a display device that displays a game screen including a character and distributes a play video configured as a video including the game screen to a display terminal connected via a network. For example, as a system similar to such a game system, an advertisement distribution system is displayed in which an advertisement site containing an advertisement for a product corresponding to the object is displayed when an object included in the game display screen of an online game is selected. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4484900

In the system of Patent Document 1, through the display of the advertising site through the object on the game display screen, the sales promotion of the product corresponding to the object is planned. However, such promotion is for the online game player itself, and this system is not the kind of third party supporting the game player. Further, in the system of Patent Document 1, the game display screen itself is used for sales promotion and is displayed on the player terminal as a part of the online game, but a moving image that appropriately captures the transition of the game screen displays it. It may be delivered to a third party via a display terminal for the purpose of. Even if the system of Patent Document 1 is applied to such distribution, it does not reach a configuration in which a third party supports the player of the game. That is, the system of Patent Document 1 is not suitable for a configuration in which a third party supports a player of a game.

On the other hand, ale may be sent to the delivered video, or various values (including appropriate values such as in-game currency) may be donated through functions such as so-called throwing money. As such a moving image, a moving image in which the transition of the game screen as described above is captured may be delivered. However, these ales or donations are not the game corresponding to the video or the video, and are only displayed in a chat function (or chat site) different from them. Therefore, it may not be possible to sufficiently convey the information to the user (player) who distributes such a moving image or other third parties.

Therefore, the present invention provides a game system or the like capable of reliably delivering viewer information related to a viewer of a play video configured as a video including a game screen to a player who plays the game via the game screen. The purpose is to provide.

The game system of the present invention is a game system connected to a display device that displays a game screen including a character, and distributes a play video configured as a video including the game screen to a display terminal connected via a network. The predetermined consideration is collected from the viewer via the display terminal as a consideration for adding the viewer information related to the viewer of the play video to the game screen. With the collection of the consideration, the information acquisition means for acquiring the consideration information as the information indicating the collection of the predetermined consideration from the display terminal, and the viewer information is displayed on the character based on the consideration information. Is provided with a display control means for controlling the display device.

On the other hand, the computer program of the present invention is configured to make the display device and the computer connected to the display terminal function as each means of the above-mentioned game system.

Further, the control method of the present invention is connected to a display device that displays a game screen including a character, and distributes a play video configured as a video including the game screen to a display terminal connected via a network. When a predetermined consideration is collected from the viewer via the display terminal as a consideration for adding the viewer information related to the viewer of the play video to the game screen on the computer incorporated in the game system. In addition, the information acquisition procedure for acquiring the consideration information as the information indicating the collection of the predetermined consideration from the display terminal along with the collection of the predetermined consideration, and the viewer information to the character based on the consideration information. The display control procedure for controlling the display device so as to be displayed is executed.

The figure which shows the schematic structure of the game system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. A functional block diagram showing a main part of the control system of a game machine. The figure which shows an example of the game screen schematically. An explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the flow for realizing a support service. The figure which shows an example of the game screen when a message is displayed schematically. The figure which shows an example of the structure of delivery data. A flowchart showing an example of the procedure of information addition processing.

Hereinafter, an example of the game system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of the game system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The game system 1 includes a center server 2 and a plurality of game machines 3 as client devices that can be connected to the center server 2 via a predetermined network NT. The center server 2 is configured as one logical server device by combining the server units 2A, 2B, etc. as a plurality of computer devices. However, the center server 2 may be configured by a single server unit. Alternatively, the center server 2 may be logically configured by using cloud computing.

The network NT may be appropriately configured as long as the game machine 3 can be connected to the center server 2. As an example, the network NT may include the Internet as a WAN, a LAN that connects each of the center server 2 and the game machine 3 to the Internet, or various connection facilities or devices such as an access point AP.

In the example of FIG. 1, game machines 3A, 3B, and 3C are shown as game machines 3. The game machine 3 is an example of a game device that provides a game. The game machine 3A is installed in a facility such as an amusement store, and is configured as an arcade game machine that allows a user to play a game within a range corresponding to the play fee in exchange for payment of a predetermined consideration. This type of game machine is sometimes called an arcade game machine. When this type of game machine 3A (hereinafter, may be referred to as an arcade game machine 3A) is installed in a predetermined facility such as a store for the main purpose of making a large number of users play the game repeatedly and earning profits. There are many. On the other hand, the game machines 3B and 3C are home-use stationary game machines or portable game machines used for personal use by the user. Such game machines 3B and 3C (hereinafter, may be referred to as stationary game machines 3B or portable game machines 3C, respectively, and when these are not distinguished, they may be referred to as user terminal device type game machines 3. ), A mobile phone such as a smartphone or a personal digital assistant (including a tablet terminal and a personal computer) may function. In the example of FIG. 1, a plurality of types of game machines 3 are connected to the center server 2, but only one type of game machine 3 may be connected to the center server 2.

The game machine 3 provides a game using a character. As such characters, various characters such as monsters, athletes, and warriors, and various objects such as cars and animals may be used. In addition, an appropriate number of characters such as one or a plurality of characters may appear in the game. Hereinafter, as an example, a case where the game machine 3 provides a gun shooting game will be described. A gun shooting game is a type of shooting game that uses a gun as a tool to attack an enemy. Further, in such a gun shooting game, various viewpoints such as a two-dimensional (planar) viewpoint or a three-dimensional (three-dimensional) viewpoint are used, and the game progresses in an appropriate progress (scrolling) direction. It may be configured, but as an example, it is configured as a game that progresses forward (in the depth direction of the game screen) of a subjective viewpoint (so-called FPS, first-person viewpoint) type.

The user terminal device 4 may be connected to the game system 1 via the network NT. The user terminal device 4 is a computer device that can be connected to a network and is used for personal use by the user. For example, a stationary or book-type personal computer 4A, or a mobile terminal device 4B such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone) is used as the user terminal device 4. In addition, various computer devices that can be connected to a network and are used for personal use by users, such as stationary home-use game machines, portable game machines, and portable tablet terminal devices, are used as the user terminal device 4. You can do it. By implementing various computer software, the user terminal device 4 can allow the user to enjoy various services provided by the center server 2. For example, the user terminal device 4 functions as a display terminal that displays a moving image in the execution of predetermined software (application). It should be noted that such a user terminal device 4 may function as a game machine 3 through computer software. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, it is separated from the user terminal device type game machine 3 such as the stationary game machine 3B or the user terminal device 4 such as the personal computer 4A according to the function (or role). Although marked with, they may all be the same device.

The center server 2 provides various game machine services to the game machine 3 or its users. The service for the game machine includes a data distribution service for distributing and updating the program or data of the game machine 3 via the network NT. The center server 2 appropriately distributes various programs or data necessary for providing a gun shooting game to each game machine 3 through such a distribution service. Further, the service for a game machine includes a video distribution service for distributing a play video configured as a video including a game screen of a gun shooting game to a user terminal device 4. A play video is a video in which a game screen that transitions as the game progresses is configured as a set of captured images at any time. That is, the video distribution service is a service for distributing the play status of the game machine 3 to the user of the user terminal device 4 through such a play video. For this reason, the video distribution service may function as a service separate from the gun shooting game, or may function as a part of the gun shooting game, but as an example, it functions as a part of the gun shooting game ( In the following, unless otherwise specified, gun shooting games include video distribution services). Details of the video distribution service will be described later.

The service for the game machine may include various services related to the game machine 3. For example, the service for a game machine may include a matching service for matching users when a plurality of users play a common game via a network NT. The game system 1 may provide a gun shooting game as a multi-play type game in which progress is shared among a plurality of users through such a matching service. In addition, the game machine service is a service that receives user identification information from the game machine 3 and authenticates the user, and a play that receives the authenticated user's play data from the game machine 3 and saves or saves it. It may include a service that provides data to the game machine 3. Further, the service for a game machine may include, for example, a billing service for collecting a fee from a user.

Further, the center server 2 provides various Web services to the user of the user terminal device 4 via the network NT. The Web service includes, for example, the above-mentioned video distribution service. That is, the video distribution service is realized by a combination of a game machine service and a Web service. The Web service is, for example, a game information service that provides various information about the game provided by the game machine 3, and distributes various data or software to each user terminal device 4 (including updates of data and the like). It may include services such as a data distribution service, a community service that provides a place for interaction such as information transmission, exchange, and sharing by a user, and a service that assigns a user ID for identifying each user.

Next, a main part of the control system of the game system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the center server 2 is provided with a control unit 21 and a storage unit 22 as storage means. The control unit 21 is configured as a computer in which a CPU as an example of a processor that executes various arithmetic processes and operation controls according to a predetermined computer program, and an internal memory and other peripheral devices necessary for the operation are combined.

The storage unit 22 is an external storage device realized by a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk array. The storage unit 22 may be configured to hold all the data in one storage unit, or may be configured to distribute and store the data in a plurality of storage units. The server program PG1 is recorded in the storage unit 22 as an example of a computer program that causes the control unit 21 to execute various processes necessary for providing various services to the user. Further, the storage unit 22 stores server data necessary for providing various services. Such server data includes various data for gun shooting games, and in the example of FIG. 2, distribution data DD is shown as a kind of such data. The distribution data DD is data for managing various information unique to each play video. The details of the distribution data DD will be described later.

The server data may include, for example, various data for realizing various services. For example, such data includes video data as a kind of data for a video distribution service. The moving image data is well-known data for displaying a play moving image on the user terminal device 4 at any time through streaming distribution. Alternatively, the server data includes image data for displaying various images for the game screen, BGM data for playing various BGMs for the game, and past of each user as data for the gun shooting game. Includes achievement data that describes information about various achievements (various achievements such as watching games or videos), or ID management data for managing various IDs such as user IDs for identifying each user. You can do it. However, their illustration is omitted.

The control unit 21 is provided with various logical devices realized by combining the hardware resources of the control unit 21 and the server program PG1 as software resources. As such a logical device, FIG. 2 shows. In the example, the game machine service management unit 26 and the Web service management unit 27 are shown. The game machine service management unit 26 executes various processes for realizing the above-mentioned game machine service for the game machine 3. On the other hand, the Web service management unit 27 executes various processes for realizing the above-mentioned Web service on the user terminal device 4. An input device such as a keyboard, an output device such as a monitor, and the like may be connected to the control unit 21 as needed. However, their illustration is omitted.

On the other hand, the game machine 3 is provided with a control unit 31 as a computer and a storage unit 32 as a storage means. The control unit 31 is configured as a computer in which a CPU as an example of a processor that executes various processes according to a predetermined computer program and an internal memory and other peripheral devices necessary for the operation thereof are combined.

The storage unit 32 is an external storage device realized by a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk and a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 32 records the game program PG2 as an example of a computer program that causes the control unit 31 to execute various processes necessary for providing various services such as a gun shooting game. Further, the storage unit 32 records game data necessary for providing a gun shooting game. Such game data includes various data for a gun shooting game, and in the example of FIG. 2, distribution data DD is shown as one of them. The distribution data DD is provided from the center server 2 through a data distribution service (including a case where it functions as a part of the video distribution service). The game data may include moving image data, image data, BGM data, actual data, or ID management data provided through a data distribution service as well as distribution data DD and the like. However, these illustrations are omitted.

In the control unit 31, various logical devices are configured by the combination of the hardware resource of the control unit 31 and the game program PG2 as the software resource. Then, various processes necessary for providing the gun shooting game (including processes necessary for enjoying the game machine service provided by the game machine service management unit 26 of the center server 2) are executed through these logical devices. However, in the example of FIG. 2, an image control unit 36 and a data management unit 37 are shown as logical devices related to a gun shooting game.

The image control unit 36 is a logical device that performs various processes for displaying various images for a gun shooting game on a game screen. Such processing includes processing to display various characters, processing to operate those characters appropriately (in the case of a player character corresponding to a user as a player, processing to operate according to a play action such as various buttons, or processing. In the case of a non-player character that is not a user's play target, a process of automatically operating according to a predetermined rule) and the like are included. In addition, such processing includes processing for realizing a video distribution service. Such a process includes a process of appropriately capturing a game screen and providing it to the center server 2, or a process of providing a play video to the center server 2 at any time based on such capture. Further, such a process includes a process for a viewer of the play video (a user of the user terminal device 4) to participate in the game as a supporter. Specifically, the image control unit 36 executes information addition processing as an example of such processing. The procedure for such information addition processing will be described later.

On the other hand, the data management unit 37 is a logical device that performs various processes related to the management of various data recorded in the storage unit 32. Such a process includes a process of acquiring the distribution data DD from the center server 2, a process of appropriately updating the distribution data DD, and a process of providing (transmitting) the updated data to the center server 2.

Further, the game machine 3 may be appropriately provided with various output devices and input devices according to the type of the arcade game machine 3A, the user terminal device type game machine 3, etc., but is displayed in the example of FIG. A monitor MO as a device and a speaker SP are shown as output devices provided in the game machine 3. The monitor MO and the speaker SP are a well-known display device for displaying a game screen and the like, and a well-known sound reproduction device for reproducing sound, respectively. Similarly, in the example of FIG. 2, as an input device provided in the game machine 3, an input device 38 for inputting a user's play action (including, for example, the progress of a character or the operation of various guns) is shown. There is. The input device 38 may be appropriately configured according to the type of the game machine 3. For example, in the case of the arcade game machine 3A, a stick indicating the traveling direction of the character or a push button for shooting a gun may be used as the input device 38. Further, a touch panel that outputs a signal corresponding to the touch position (operation touched by a finger) may be used as the input device 38.

On the other hand, for example, in the case of the stationary game machine 3B, a keyboard including a plurality of push buttons or various dedicated controllers such as a gun type may be used as the input device 38. In this case, the operation of pressing those push buttons is used as a play act. Similarly, for example, in the case of the portable game machine 3C, as the input device 38, for example, a touch panel that outputs a signal corresponding to a user's touch operation may be used. In this case, the touch operation and its position are used as a play act. Further, a dedicated controller may be connected to and used by the portable game machine 3C by wire or wirelessly.

In addition, for example, in the arcade game machine 3A, in order to collect a predetermined consideration required for the game from the user by using cash, alternative coins, medals, electronic currency (including points), credit card function, etc. The consideration collection device may be provided as an input device. Then, with such a device, various consideration for electronic currency and the like may be collected, for example, via a card for recording the remaining amount of electronic currency. Further, for example, in the case of the user terminal device type game machine 3, the user terminal device type game machine 3 is charged for a gun shooting game (including the case where a part of the game is charged for additional range of play, etc.). It may be provided or provided free of charge (including the case where the software is purchased in advance). When the gun shooting game is provided for a fee, the consideration may be collected through various well-known payment processes in the user terminal device type game machine 3.

Further, the user terminal device 4 is provided with a control unit 41 as a computer and a storage unit 42 as a storage means. The control unit 41 is configured as a computer in which a CPU as an example of a processor that executes various processes according to a predetermined computer program and an internal memory and other peripheral devices necessary for the operation thereof are combined.

The storage unit 42 is an external storage device realized by a storage unit including a non-volatile storage medium (computer-readable storage medium) such as a hard disk and a semiconductor storage device. The terminal program PG3 is recorded in the storage unit 42 as an example of a computer program that causes the control unit 41 to execute various processes necessary for providing various services. Such services include services for providing play videos (enjoying video distribution services). More specifically, the terminal program PG3 includes a program for making the user terminal device 4 function as a display terminal (enjoying a moving image distribution service). On the other hand, the storage unit 42 records the terminal data 44 necessary for providing such various services. Such terminal data 44 includes various data such as moving image data. Further, the terminal data 44 may include, for example, other distribution data DD.

In the control unit 41, various logical devices are configured by the combination of the hardware resource of the control unit 41 and the terminal program PG3 as the software resource. Then, various processes necessary for enjoying the video distribution service (providing the video display function) and the like are executed through these logical devices. In the example of FIG. 2, as a logical device related to the video distribution service. , Web service processing unit 46 is shown. The Web service processing unit 46 executes various processes for enjoying the above-mentioned Web service (including the video distribution service). Such a process includes, for example, a process for receiving and displaying a play moving image (moving image data) from the center server 2. In addition, for example, if the distribution of play videos (enjoyment of the video distribution service) or a part of the video distribution service is provided for a fee (in exchange for a predetermined consideration), such a fee (compensation) is collected. Includes well-known payment processing for.

Next, a gun shooting game will be described with reference to FIG. The gun shooting game is played through a game screen displayed on the monitor MO of the game machine 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a game screen for a gun shooting game. As shown in FIG. 3, the game screen 50 includes a player character 51 and a game field 52. The player character 51 is a character whose operation or the like is operated according to the user's play action. The game field 52 is a space for the player character 51 to advance and fight against the enemy. The player character 51 and the game field 52 may be represented by an appropriate image such as a two-dimensional image, but as an example, they are represented as an image that creates a virtual three-dimensional space. That is, the gun shooting game is played so as to operate the player character 51 that progresses three-dimensionally in the game field 52 that expresses the virtual three-dimensional space through the game screen 50.

Further, on the game screen 50, the position of the player character 51 is always fixed at a predetermined position so as to produce a subjective viewpoint. Such a predetermined position may be an appropriate position, but in the example of FIG. 3, the player character 51 is arranged slightly to the left of the center of the game screen 50, and corresponds to an image taken by a virtual camera located behind the player character 51. It is expressed in. In the game screen 50, such an arrangement is maintained in principle, and the progress of the player character 51 is represented by the movement of various objects existing in the game field 52. Specifically, when the player character 51 advances forward, the advance is expressed by gradually approaching the object in front and increasing its size. The game field 52 includes various types of enemy characters such as non-player characters (hereinafter, may be referred to as NPCs) or player characters operated by other users (including both in the case of enemies and in the case of allies). Characters may appear, but their appearance and movement are also expressed in the same way. As a result, the back (back portion) of the player character 51 is always displayed in the vicinity of the center of the game screen 50 so as to be the largest and conspicuous. As an example, a gun shooting game is played so as to fight various enemy characters through such a game screen 50.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, details of the video distribution service will be described by taking as an example a case where a mobile terminal device 4B is used as the user terminal device 4 and an arcade game machine 3A is used as the game machine 3. do. The video distribution service is a service for distributing a game play video provided by the game machine 3 to the user terminal device 4 as described above. Further, the video distribution service includes a support service in which a viewer of the play video (hereinafter, a user who views the play video via the user terminal device 4 may be referred to as a viewer) participates in the game as a supporter. There is. The support service may be configured to realize appropriate support, but as an example, the supporter is displayed on the game screen 50 by displaying various messages (information including various symbols as well as characters) by the viewer. It is configured as a service to participate in the game. That is, the viewer of the play video can display various messages (not necessarily limited to the content to be supported, and appropriate content may be allowed) on the game screen 50 displayed by the game machine 3 through the support service. ..

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the flow for realizing the support service. As shown in FIG. 4, the support service includes five procedures from F1 to F5. Then, through these five steps, various messages by the viewer of the play video are displayed on the game screen 50. Specifically, first, data for displaying a play video including the game screen 50 is transmitted from the arcade game machine 3A to the center server 2 (F1). The moving image data for displaying the play moving image may be appropriately generated. For example, such moving image data may be generated on the arcade game machine 3A side based on the game screen 50 captured at any time, or image data corresponding to such captured images is transmitted to the center server 2. It may be generated on the center server 2 side, but as an example, it is generated on the arcade game machine 3A side. Therefore, the arcade game machine 3A transmits the moving image data to the center server 2 as the data for displaying the play moving image.

On the other hand, when the center server 2 acquires the video data from the arcade game machine 3A, the center server 2 distributes the video data to the mobile terminal device 4B (F2). This delivery is executed so as to realize streaming delivery by packet communication. As a result, the play moving image 60 corresponding to the game screen 50 is displayed on the mobile terminal device 4B at any time (almost in real time) to indicate the progress of the game. The play video 60 may be appropriately distributed through a website or the like, and the mobile terminal device 4B also distributes the play video 60 through an appropriate application (function) such as an application (program) for browsing the website according to the distribution method. It may be displayed, but as an example, the play video 60 is displayed through a dedicated application (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as a dedicated application).

The dedicated application may be appropriately configured and may have various functions other than the function of displaying the play moving image 60, but has a function of displaying the ticket screen 70 as an example. Therefore, the ticket screen 70 is displayed on the mobile terminal device 4B at an appropriate time while viewing the play moving image 60 via the dedicated application. The ticket screen 70 may be displayed according to an appropriate condition such as a predetermined time, a user's selection, or a game situation, but is displayed as an example when the user executes a predetermined selection operation in the dedicated application. The ticket screen 70 may be displayed at the same time as the play video 60 (for example, to divide the display area or one of them includes the other), or the ticket screen 70 may be displayed at a time different from that of the play video 60. It may be displayed in.

The ticket screen 70 may display various options for supporting the user who plays the game on the game machine 3 (hereinafter, the user who plays the game on the game machine 3 may be referred to as a player). In the example of FIG. 4, the option OP for "signage MSG ticket" is displayed as such an option. The option OP for "signage MSG ticket" is an option for using the signage MSG ticket. The signage MSG ticket is a ticket for displaying a message by the viewer P on the game screen 50. More specifically, with the use of the signage MSG ticket, the message of the viewer P is displayed on the character included in the game (in other words, the character that can be displayed on the game screen 50). The signage MSG ticket may be used free of charge or charged (in exchange for a predetermined consideration), but is executed in exchange for a predetermined consideration as an example. Further, the signage MSG ticket may be purchased as appropriate, for example, it has been purchased and purchased in advance (before the display of the ticket screen 70) through a purchase screen (not shown) or the like (when the user P owns the ticket). The option OP for "signage MSG ticket" is displayed on the ticket screen 70 and may be selectable, but as an example, it is purchased after selecting the option OP for "signage MSG ticket" and is used immediately with the purchase. Similarly, the message associated with the use of the signage MSG ticket is set by an appropriate method such as fixed (for example, a fixed phrase or the amount of consideration paid), arbitrary (free input), and designation (selection from multiple candidates). However, as an example, it is arbitrarily set by the free input (sentence, symbol, etc.) of the user P. Then, the mobile terminal device 4B transmits the purchase result (in other words, the result of using the signage MSG ticket) and the input result to the center server 2 (F3).

When the center server 2 acquires information such as a purchase result, it transmits the information to the arcade game machine 3A (F4). If there is only one arcade game machine 3A targeted by the video distribution service, it is not necessary to make a distinction, but if there are multiple arcade game machine 3A targeted by the video distribution service (in other words, multiple plays). (When the moving image 60 is distributed by the center server 2), the center server 2 determines the arcade game machine 3A (or other game machine 3) to which information such as the purchase result should be sent. The center server 2 may refer to various information and execute such determination as appropriate, but it is realized by referring to the distribution data DD as an example. Specifically, the distribution data DD is data that manages information unique to each play video 60 as described above, and such unique information is played in order to identify each play video 60 to be distributed. Information of a unique distribution ID is included for each video 60. Similarly, a housing ID for identifying each game machine 3 is also included, and the distribution ID and the information of the housing ID are described so as to be associated with each other. Based on such distribution data DD, the arcade game machine 3A (game machine 3) to which information such as the purchase result should be sent is determined.

Specifically, the center server 2 first specifies a distribution ID corresponding to information such as a purchase result. Such a distribution ID may be appropriately acquired. For example, when the distribution ID is provided to the mobile terminal device 4B together with the video data of the play video 60, information such as a purchase result including the information of such distribution ID is mobile. It may be transmitted and acquired from the terminal device 4B, but as an example, it is acquired through identification of the play video 60 being distributed to the mobile terminal device 4B that has transmitted information such as a purchase result. Then, the center server 2 refers to the distribution data DD and identifies the arcade game machine 3A corresponding to the acquired distribution ID. As an example, the destination of information such as the purchase result is determined in this way. Information such as the purchase result may be delivered to the arcade game machine 3A by an appropriate method. For example, the arcade game machine 3A may acquire the information from the center server 2 by an inquiry from the arcade game machine 3A. Specifically, for example, the arcade game machine 3A provides information such as a purchase result corresponding to the distribution ID at an appropriate time such as a predetermined cycle based on the distribution ID corresponding to the play video 60 being distributed to the center server 2. You may contact and get it. The same applies to such distribution ID information. For example, the arcade game machine 3A may inquire and acquire the distribution ID from the center server 2 at the time of sending the video data corresponding to the play video 60 or at an appropriate time thereafter. ..

On the other hand, when the arcade game machine 3A acquires information such as a purchase result, the arcade game machine 3A displays a message (information corresponding to the input result) on the game screen 50. As a result, the selection of the option OP for the "signage MSG ticket" (use of the signage MSG ticket) in the mobile terminal device 4B is reflected on the game screen 50 of the arcade game machine 3A of the distribution source, and is linked with the display (F5). As an example, the support service is realized in this way.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a game screen 50 when a message is displayed with the use of a signage MSG ticket. As shown in FIG. 5, a message display area 53 is added to the player character 51 as compared with the example of FIG. The message display area 53 is an area for displaying a message input by the viewer P of the play video through the support service. When the game includes a plurality of characters, the message display area 53 may be appropriately set for a specific character (including an NPC such as an enemy character) among those characters, and may be variable or fixed. Further, when a specific character is variable (changes), such a specific character may be appropriately set according to various conditions such as setting conditions. Specifically, such a specific character is designated by the viewer P (for example, when the information of those characters is provided to the mobile terminal device 4B through the distribution data DD or the like), the game situation (for example, the game situation). It may be appropriately set according to various setting conditions such as (when the character changes conspicuously according to the situation) or random, but in the example of FIG. 5, it is fixedly set to the player character 51.

Similarly, the message display area 53 may be set to an appropriate area (including a position, a range, and a size) in each character, but in the example of FIG. 5, it is set to the back of the player character 51. Further, the position, range, and size of such a message display area 53 may be fixed or variable. In the case of variable (change), the change (at least one of them) is when the situation of viewer P, a predetermined rule (for example, the most prominent position that changes according to the game development, etc.) is specified in advance. It may change appropriately according to various conditions such as (rules for setting such a prominent position), game play status, timing, or randomness, but in the example of FIG. 5, the amount of consideration (viewer). An example of the situation of P), in other words, the position, range, and size all change according to the amount (charged amount) paid for the purchase of the signage MSG ticket. The amount of consideration for the signage MSG ticket may be set as appropriate, such as being arbitrarily input by the viewer P on the ticket screen 70, but as an example, a plurality of candidates for consideration (types of tickets) are prepared, and from there. Be selected. Then, the position, range, and size are set in the message display area 53 so as to correspond to each of these candidates, and the message display area 53 is set to the position, range, and size corresponding to those candidates. ..

In addition, since the message is freely input by the viewer P as described above, a comment to the player, an advertisement for himself / herself, a viewer name (when his / her own is automatically set, for example, friend registration, etc.) (Including both cases where other candidates corresponding to appropriate conditions are presented and other viewer names selected from them are set), or various symbols related to viewer P such as emblems, etc., as appropriate. Information can be displayed in the message display area 53, but in the example of FIG. 5, the support message "I support you!" Is displayed. In FPS-type games, the position of the player character 51 is often fixed and the back of the player character 51 is displayed so as to be most noticeable. Therefore, such a cheering message is displayed in the most visible place of the player. As an example, the message of the viewer P is reflected on the game screen 50 through such a support service. In this example, the information of the message (supporting message "supporting!") Functions as the viewer information of the present invention.

Next, the details of the distribution data DD will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the distribution data DD. In the example of FIG. 6, as information unique to the play video 60, the purchase record of the signage MSG ticket and the message corresponding to the signage MSG ticket (for example, the information of the support message "I support you!" In the example of FIG. 5). ) Is managed by the distribution data DD. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the distribution data DD includes a distribution record DDR for managing the purchase record and the message in association with the housing ID for each distribution ID. Further, in order to realize such management, the distribution record DDR stores information of "distribution ID", "housing ID", "game ID", "user ID", "purchase record", and "message". Includes. The "delivery ID", "housing ID", and "user ID" are information indicating the above-mentioned delivery ID, housing ID, and user ID, respectively. For example, in the "user ID", information on the user ID of each viewer P corresponding to the purchase record is described.

Further, the "game ID" is information on a game ID unique to each game in order to identify each game. When the number of games provided by each game machine 3 is one, the information of "game ID" may be omitted. "Purchase record" is information indicating the purchase record of the signage MSG ticket. In the "purchase record", for example, information indicating the purchase when the signage MSG ticket is purchased (used) and information on the purchase amount (amount of consideration) are described as the purchase record. The "message" is information indicating a message input by the viewer P in connection with the purchase of the signage MSG ticket (for example, information of the support message "supporting!" In the example of FIG. 5). The distribution record DDR records such information so as to be related to each other. The distribution data DD is not limited to these information, and appropriate information may be managed according to the characteristics of the play video 60, the characteristics of the game, the characteristics of the signage MSG ticket, and the like. For example, the distribution data DD (or distribution record DDR) may include information on a user ID (distributor ID) corresponding to the player as information on the player (distributor of the play moving image 60). Such distribution ID information may be used, for example, to distribute the amount of consideration associated with the purchase of a signage MSG ticket. That is, the amount of such consideration may be distributed to the distributor by an appropriate method based on the distributor ID.

Next, the information addition process will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The information addition process is a process for realizing a support service. More specifically, it is a process for adding a message (information) by the viewer of the play video 60 to the game screen 50 with the purchase (use) of the signage MSG ticket. When the information such as the purchase result is transmitted from the center server 2 due to the use of the signage MSG ticket in the user terminal device 4, the image control unit 36 starts the information addition process of FIG. 8, and is first transmitted from the center server 2. Obtain information such as the purchase result (step S201). This acquisition may be realized as appropriate, but as an example, it is realized by the acquisition of the distribution data DD. Specifically, when the center server 2 acquires information such as a purchase result from the user terminal device 4, it identifies a distribution record DDR including a distribution ID corresponding to the play video 60 being distributed to the user terminal device 4. Further, in the center server 2, the purchase result is reflected in the "purchase record", and the input result (for example, the information of the support message "supporting!" In the example of FIG. 5) is reflected in the "message". , Update the "purchase record" and "message" information included in the distribution record DDR. Then, the center server 2 transmits the distribution data DD including the updated distribution record DDR to the game machine 3 as information such as a purchase result. The image control unit 36 acquires such distribution data DD in step S201. In this example, the purchase result information (or the "purchase record" information of the distribution data DD) functions as the consideration information of the present invention.

Subsequently, the image control unit 36 specifies a character to reflect the information such as the purchase result acquired in step S201 (step S202). As described above, as a character (specific character) to which the message display area 53 should be set, an appropriate character displayed on the game screen 50 may be specified according to setting conditions and the like. Therefore, the image control unit 36 may specify an appropriate character as a specific character in step S202 according to such setting conditions, but as an example, as described above, the player character 51 is fixedly designated as a specific character. When used, such a player character 51 is specified as a specific character. In the FPS type gun shooting game, since the game screen 50 includes the player character 51 in principle, the image control unit 36 can fixly specify the player character 51 as the setting destination of the message display area 53 in step S202.

Next, the image control unit 36 sets the message display area 53 for the character specified in step S202 (step S203). The message display area 53 may be fixedly set for each character as described above, but as an example, it is set according to the amount of consideration collected with the use of the signage MSG ticket. Therefore, the image control unit 36 sets the message display area 53 in the player character 51 so that the position, range, and size change according to the amount of such consideration (purchase amount). Specifically, the image control unit 36 first identifies the back of the player character 51 as a position where the message display area 53 should be set, regardless of the purchase price. On the other hand, the image control unit 36 has a higher position behind the player character 51 as the purchase price increases for each candidate prepared as the purchase price of the signage MSG ticket (a range in which an appropriate range behind the player character 51 can set the message display area 53). However, as an example, a range excluding the head including the neck is used, and the message display area 53 is set at a high position in the range). Further, the image control unit 36 becomes wider both left and right and up and down as the purchase amount increases for each candidate prepared as the purchase amount of the signage MSG ticket (in principle, a range that fits within the range of the back of the player character 51 is used. , When characters are displayed in the horizontal direction, a slightly wider range may be used to the left and right), and the message display area 53 is set. As an example, the image control unit 36 sets the message display area 53 in the player character 51 so that the position, range, and size change according to the purchase price in this way.

Subsequently, the image control unit 36 displays a message corresponding to the input result information acquired in step S201 in the message display area 53 set in step S203 (step S204). That is, the image control unit 36 controls the display of the monitor MO so that such a message is displayed in the message display area 53. In this case, the image control unit 36 displays a message so that the characters (or symbols) become large enough to fit in the message display area 53 (as a result, the characters become larger as the purchase price increases). .. Then, after such a display, the image control unit 36 ends the information addition process this time. As a result, with the purchase (use) of the signage MSG ticket, the message input by the purchaser (viewer P) is actually displayed behind the player character 51. Also, such messages change to increase (become more effective) in location, range, and size as the purchase price increases.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the viewer P of the play video 60 uses the signage MSG ticket (a predetermined consideration for the message is collected from the viewer P via the user terminal device 4). ), The message from the viewer P is displayed on the player character 51 of the game screen 50. The game screen 50 is the destination where the player's consciousness is directed during the play of the game, and even in such a game screen 50, the player's consciousness tends to concentrate on the characters included therein. Therefore, by using such a player character 51 as a message display destination, such a message can be displayed before the player's consciousness is directed. As a result, for example, the message of the viewer P of the play video 60 configured as a video including the game screen 50 is transmitted to the game as compared with the case where such a message is delivered through a chat screen or the like different from the game screen 50. It can be reliably delivered by the player who plays the game via the screen.

In particular, the player's consciousness is most likely to be directed to the player character 51, which is the operation target, but by displaying the player character 51, a message can be displayed to the character most likely to be conscious. can. Further, in the case of an FPS type game, the player character 51 is displayed in the largest position at a substantially fixed position. Therefore, when a message is displayed behind such a player character 51, such a message can be made more conspicuous. As a result, the message of the viewer P can be delivered to the player more reliably. As a result, for example, when a support message for supporting the player is presented as a message, such support can be more reliably delivered to the player. Further, not only the player but also the game screen 50 including such a message reaches another viewer P (a viewer P different from the sender of the message) via the distribution of the play moving image 60. Therefore, such a message can be more reliably delivered to another viewer P (which often functions in the same manner as a player's fan club). Thereby, through such a message, the support of the viewer P and the like can be appealed to other viewers P. As a result, it is possible to promote the transmission of further messages from the other viewer P.

In the above embodiment, the image control unit 36 of the game machine 3 functions as the information acquisition means, the display control means, and the character identification means of the present invention by executing the process of FIG. 7. Specifically, the image control unit 36 of the game machine 3 executes the process of step S201, the process of step S202, and the process of step S204 of FIG. 7, so that the information acquisition means and the display control means of the present invention can be used. And as a character identification means, respectively.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned form, and may be carried out in a form in which appropriate modifications or changes are made. For example, in the above-mentioned form, the play moving image 60 is composed of only the game screen 50. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the play moving image 60 may be a moving image composed of a composite image in which a game screen 50 and a shooting result obtained by appropriately shooting a face or the like of a player who plays the game screen 50 are combined. Alternatively, the game machine 3 may be installed at an appropriate place, but may be installed at an event venue, for example. In such a case, the play moving image 60 may be configured as a moving image corresponding to the shooting result taken by the camera so as to include the game screen 50, instead of the moving image obtained by capturing the game screen 50. As described above, the play moving image 60 may include various other images as long as the game screen 50 is included, and may be appropriately configured.

In the above-described form, with the use of the signage MSG ticket, the process of FIG. 7 is started, and a message is displayed immediately after the process is completed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, such a ticket (for example, a signage MSG ticket) does not have to intervene. Further, for example, the display time of the message may be appropriately determined according to various conditions such as the designation of the viewer P, a predetermined time, a game situation, or randomness. The same applies to the message display period. That is, the display period of the message also depends on the designation of the viewer P, a predetermined period (for example, the period until the play of the game corresponding to the consideration such as so-called one play ends), and the amount of consideration (for example, the amount of consideration). The display period becomes longer), the game situation (for example, when one life is lost when there are a plurality of lives), or various conditions such as randomness may be appropriately determined. Therefore, for example, a message by the viewer P may be displayed on a monthly basis, and when the message is an advertisement, the viewer P may function as a monthly sponsor (monthly sponsor).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the message display area 53 is set behind the player character 51. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. As described above, various characters may function as play characters, and the message display area 53 may be appropriately set according to such various player characters. Specifically, for example, when the player character is a team composed of a plurality of player characters, the message display area 53 (may be the back side, the front side, or the sleeve portion) indicating such a team. It may be common for each team or different for each team). Alternatively, if various equipments are present, the message display area 53 may be set in such equipments. Further, the message display area 53 may be configured as a sticker attached at an appropriate position by the designation of the viewer P or the like.

In the above-described form, the message display area 53 is displayed behind the player character 51 as an image of another layer (so as to float away from the player character 51). However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. The message display area 53 may be appropriately displayed on the player character 51, for example, a part of the clothes of the player character 51 (for example, characters such as an advertisement or a team name drawn on a uniform), or a part of the body. It may be displayed as (for example, a design corresponding to a tattoo). In this case, the message display area 53 may be appropriately changed to follow such a change as the state of clothes or the like changes (for example, the change due to the operation of the player character 51). This makes it possible to increase reality. Similarly, in the above-described form, the position, range, and size of the message display area 53 and the size of the characters displayed on the message display area 53 change according to the purchase price. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, various visual effects such as character fonts, colors, or animation effects may be appropriately changed depending on the purchase price. Such changes may be appropriately set in the same manner as the position of the message display area 53, and for example, candidates (ticket types) corresponding to these modes (font, color, animation effect, etc.) are prepared. It may be determined through their selection (purchase).

Further, the center server 2 may execute all or part of the roles (various processes, etc.) of the game machine 3 in the above-described form. That is, the game system of the present invention may be configured so that the center server 2 and the game machine 3 appropriately cooperate with each other to realize each function of the game machine 3 and the center server 2 of the present embodiment. Specifically, for example, when the center server 2 executes all the roles (various processes, etc.) of the game machine 3, the game of the present invention is a single center server 2 (including a case where the center server 2 is composed of a plurality of server devices). It may function as a system.

Various embodiments of the present invention derived from each of the above-described embodiments and modifications are described below. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, the corresponding members shown in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, whereby the present invention is limited to the illustrated form. It's not a thing.

The game system of the present invention is connected to a display device (MO) that displays a game screen (50) including a character (51), and a play video (60) configured as a video including the game screen is connected to a network (NT). ) Is a game system (1) distributed to a display terminal (4) connected via), and a consideration for adding viewer information related to the viewer (P) of the play video to the game screen. When a predetermined consideration is collected from the viewer via the display terminal, the consideration information as information indicating the collection of the predetermined consideration is acquired from the display terminal in accordance with the collection of the predetermined consideration. The information acquisition means (36) is provided, and the display control means (36) for controlling the display device so that the viewer information is displayed on the character based on the consideration information.

According to the present invention, when a predetermined consideration is collected from a viewer of a play moving image via a display terminal, viewer information related to the viewer is displayed on a character on the game screen. The game screen is the destination where the player's consciousness goes while playing the game, and even in such a game screen, the player's consciousness tends to concentrate on the characters included therein. Therefore, by using such a character as a display destination of the viewer information, the viewer information can be displayed before the player's consciousness is directed. As a result, for example, as compared with the case where such viewer information is delivered through a chat screen different from the game screen, viewer information related to the viewer of the play video configured as a video including the game screen can be obtained. It can be reliably delivered to the player who plays the game through the game screen. As a result, for example, when information for supporting the player is presented as viewer information, such support can be more reliably delivered to the player.

The character on which the viewer information is displayed may be set as appropriate. For example, various characters such as a player character operated by a player or a non-player character (for example, a character operated by a computer such as an enemy character) that is not an operation target of the player may appear on the game screen. Viewer information may be displayed on these various characters. In this case, the character to be displayed in the viewer information is appropriately specified according to the designation of the viewer, the game situation such as the most conspicuous character on the game screen, the amount of consideration, the timing, or various setting conditions such as randomness. It's okay. Specifically, for example, as one aspect of the game system of the present invention, when the play video includes a plurality of characters via the game screen, the specific character to which the viewer information should be displayed as the character. An embodiment including a character specifying means (36) for specifying the character from the plurality of characters may be adopted. Further, in this aspect, when the game screen includes a player character (51) that operates according to the play action of a user who plays a game through the game screen, the character specifying means is the player as the specific character. You may specify the character. The player's consciousness is most likely to be directed toward the player character to be operated, and in this case, the viewer information can be displayed to such a character most likely to be conscious. This makes it possible to more reliably deliver viewer information such as support to the player.

The method of displaying the viewer information may be fixed or variable. That is, the display method of the viewer information may or may not be changed according to appropriate conditions. Further, as such conditions, various conditions such as viewer attributes, viewer-specific information such as viewing results, game status, timing, amount of consideration, or randomness may be used. For example, in an embodiment in which the viewer information is displayed on the player character, the display control means may set at least one of a position, a range, and a size in which the viewer information should be displayed on the player character. It may be changed according to a predetermined amount of consideration.

Various types of information may function as viewer information. For example, support messages (comments) to support the player, viewer advertisements, amount of consideration, viewer name (sponsor name), or various images (symbols, pictures, etc.) related to the viewer such as emblems. (Including) may be adopted as viewer information. Further, these viewer information may be fixed information using a fixed phrase or the like, or may be selective information selected from a plurality of candidates such as fixed phrases. Alternatively, the viewer information may be arbitrarily (freely) input by the viewer. For example, in one aspect of the game system of the present invention, the information acquisition means obtains the viewer information via the display terminal when the viewer information is input by the viewer through the display terminal. You may get it.

On the other hand, the computer program (PG2) of the present invention is configured to make the display device and the computer (31) connected to the display terminal function as each means of the above-mentioned game system.

Further, in the control method of the present invention, a play moving image (60) connected to a display device (MO) for displaying a game screen (50) including a character (51) and configured as a moving image including the game screen is connected to a network. The computer (31) incorporated in the game system (1) distributed to the display terminal (4) connected via (NT) is provided with viewer information related to the viewer (P) of the play video in the game. When a predetermined consideration is collected from the viewer via the display terminal as a consideration to be added to the screen, the consideration information as information indicating the collection of the predetermined consideration accompanying the collection of the predetermined consideration. The information acquisition procedure for acquiring the information from the display terminal and the display control procedure for controlling the display device so that the viewer information is displayed on the character based on the consideration information are executed. The game system of the present invention can be realized by executing the computer program or the control method of the present invention.

1 Game system 3 Game machine 4 User terminal device (display terminal)
31 Control unit (computer)
33 Image control unit (information acquisition means, display control means, character identification means)
50 Game screen 51 Player character (character)
60 Play video P Viewer MO monitor (display device)
NT network PG2 program (computer program)

Claims (1)

A game system that is connected to a display device that displays a game screen including characters and distributes a play video configured as a video including the game screen to a display terminal connected via a network.
Collection of the predetermined consideration when a predetermined consideration is collected from the viewer via the display terminal as a consideration for adding the viewer information related to the viewer of the play video to the game screen. Along with this, an information acquisition means for acquiring consideration information as information indicating the collection of the predetermined consideration from the display terminal, and
A display control means for controlling the display device so that the viewer information is displayed on the character based on the consideration information.
A game system equipped with.

Images