JP2023016054A - computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology to enhance interest in a music game.

SOLUTION: A processing unit 100 of a terminal device includes a game execution part 120 and a change instruction part 128. The game execution part 120 executes a music game in which content including a character is displayed to output of music, and a score according to a first operation of a player to the displayed content is granted. The change instruction part 128 changes an item put on by the character when a second operation of the player is input while the music game is executed.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to data processing technology, and more particularly to a computer program for realizing music games.

BACKGROUND ART Many computer games (hereinafter also referred to as "music games") are provided in which a player takes actions (for example, inputs operations on a controller or a screen) in time with music.

Conventionally, the player selects a character's costume before the music game starts, and after the music game starts, the character wearing the costume pre-selected by the player is displayed until the end of the music game. rice field. The inventor of the present invention thought that increasing the degree of freedom in character display during a music game would make the music game more interesting.

The present invention has been made based on the above idea of the inventor, and one object thereof is to provide a technique for enhancing interest in music games.

In order to solve the above problems, a computer program according to one aspect of the present invention provides a music game in which content including characters is displayed in time with music output and a score is given according to a player's first operation on the content. A computer is made to implement a function to execute and a function to change an item worn by a character when a player inputs a second operation during execution of a music game.

It should be noted that any combination of the above-described components and expressions of the present invention converted between devices, methods, systems, recording media storing computer programs, etc. are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

According to the present invention, interest in music games can be enhanced.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the game system of an Example. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a terminal device. 4 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a processing unit; FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the computer game of an Example. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the computer game of an Example. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the computer game of an Example. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the computer game of an Example. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the computer game of an Example.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a game system 1 of an embodiment. A game system 1 includes a server 3 connected to a network 2 such as the Internet, and a plurality of terminal devices 10 . The terminal device 10 of the embodiment has a function of wirelessly communicating with a wireless station 4, which is a mobile phone base station or a wireless LAN router, and can be communicatively connected to a server 3 via a network 2. FIG. The terminal device 10 is an information processing device in which a game program is installed, and is operated by a game player (also referred to as a user). The terminal device 10 of the embodiment is a portable electronic device such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal. As a modification, the terminal device 10 may be a stationary electronic device such as a personal computer, or a home or business game device.

The server 3 is an information processing device that supports the progress of the game in the game system 1 and provides the terminal device 10 with data requested by the terminal device 10 . In the game system 1 of the embodiment, the data processing related to the music game is mainly performed by the terminal device 10, but as a modified example, the server 3 may perform part of the data processing related to the music game.

FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the terminal device 10. As shown in FIG. The terminal device 10 includes an input section 12 , a camera 14 , a processor 16 , a communication section 18 , a display section 20 , an audio output section 22 , a storage section 24 and a motion sensor 26 . These configurations are connected by a bus 28 .

The input unit 12 is a user interface for the player to input operations. If the terminal device 10 is a smartphone or tablet terminal, the input unit 12 may be a touch screen that enables touch input. If the terminal device 10 is a personal computer, the input unit 12 may be a keyboard or mouse. . In any case, the input unit 12 may be any device that allows the player to input operations to the game program.

The camera 14 is an imaging device that captures the real space around the terminal device 10 . The processor 16 is a unit that controls the overall operation of the terminal device 10, and implements a processing unit 100, which will be described later. The processor 16 typically includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 16 also reads and executes game software stored in the storage unit 24 to generate game images and game sounds. Therefore, the processor 16 preferably includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) specialized for image processing.

The communication unit 18 has a wireless communication function and connects with the server 3 via the wireless station 4 and the network 2 . For example, the communication unit 18 may download game software including a game program from the server 3 and store it in the storage unit 24 . In the embodiment, it is assumed that the communication unit 18 has a wireless communication function and is wirelessly connected to the wireless station 4, but the communication unit 18 is connected to a router or the like with a wired cable, You may connect so that communication is possible.

The display unit 20 is a display device that displays game images generated by the processor 16 . The terminal device 10 of the embodiment includes a touch panel in which a display unit 20, which is a display, and an input unit 12, which is a touch screen, are superimposed. can be operated directly by touch. The audio output unit 22 is a speaker that outputs game audio generated by the processor 16 .

The storage unit 24 is a storage device that stores various data referenced or updated by the processor 16 (processing unit 100 described later), and includes a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 24 stores game software downloaded from the server 3 . The motion sensor 26 may include a 3-axis acceleration sensor and a 3-axis gyro sensor. Sensor information detected by the motion sensor 26 is used to detect the position and orientation of the terminal device 10 .

A computer game of an embodiment will be described below. In the computer game of the embodiment, during execution of the music game in which the character is displayed in a manner that matches the music being played back, the player can change the items worn by the character (clothes in the embodiment) at any timing. can be done.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the processing unit 100. As shown in FIG. Each block shown in the block diagrams of this specification can be implemented by computer processors, CPUs, memory and other elements, electronic circuits, and mechanical devices in terms of hardware, and can be implemented by computer programs and the like in terms of software. However, here, the functional blocks realized by their cooperation are drawn. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways by combining hardware and software. The processing unit 100 of the embodiment is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 24 by the processor 16 of the terminal device 10 .

The storage unit 24 has a game software storage unit 30 and an item data storage unit 32 . The game software storage unit 30 stores game software in which a music game is implemented. The item data storage unit 32 stores data (hereinafter also referred to as "item data") relating to items (a plurality of costumes in the embodiment) that can be worn by the character in the music game.

The item data of the embodiment includes (1) effect in the music game, (2) validity period, (3) operation for changing to the costume (hereinafter also referred to as "change operation") as data related to each of a plurality of costumes. call). The effect of (1) may be, for example, an effect of increasing the score increase rate. (2) Valid period is the period during which the costume can be worn. The validity period may be set in beats of the music or may be set in seconds (hours). When the validity period is set by the number of beats of music, the length of the validity period differs for each piece of music. The change operation (3) may be, for example, inputting an upward flick operation three times or inputting a rightward flick operation three times.

The processing unit 100 includes an operation accepting unit 102 and a game control unit 110 . The operation reception unit 102 receives the player's operation for the game input to the input unit 12, and passes the player's operation information to other functional blocks. For example, when the input unit 12 is a touch screen, the operation reception unit 102 acquires coordinate values (xy coordinate values) indicating a touch position on the touch screen from the input unit 12, and sends the coordinate values to the game control unit 110. can be entered in

The game control unit 110 is implemented, for example, by the processor 16 reading game software stored in the game software storage unit 30 into the main memory and executing the game software. Game control unit 110 includes game execution unit 120 , score determination unit 126 , and change instruction unit 128 .

The game executing unit 120 executes a music game in which content including a character is displayed in accordance with the output of music, and a score is given according to the player's first operation on the displayed content. The first operation in the embodiment is a tap operation on the touch panel on which the music game is displayed. The game execution section 120 includes a game image generation section 122 and a game sound generation section 124 . The game image generation unit 122 generates game image data relating to the music game, and causes the display unit 20 to display the game image. The game sound generation unit 124 generates game sound data related to the music game, and causes the sound output unit 22 to output the game sound.

When the operation reception unit 102 receives a touch operation (for example, a tap operation or a flick operation) on the touch panel on which the music game is displayed, the score determination unit 126 calculates the score obtained by the player according to the touch operation. . The score determination unit 126 passes the score calculation result to the game execution unit 120 .

The change instructing unit 128 changes an item (clothes in the embodiment) worn by the character displayed in the music game when the player inputs the second operation during execution of the music game. The second operation is the change operation described above, and is an operation different from the tap operation. For example, the second operation may be inputting an upward flick operation three times, or may be inputting a rightward flick operation three times. Note that the second operation may include an operation other than the flick operation, and may include a long press operation or a pinch operation, for example.

Specifically, the change instruction unit 128 refers to the change operation of each costume stored in the item data storage unit 32 during execution of the music game, and inputs a change operation corresponding to a specific costume (sub-dress described later). If so, detect that. The change instruction unit 128 instructs the game execution unit 120 (game image generation unit 122) to change the costume of the character in motion in the music game to the costume corresponding to the input change operation. The game execution unit 120 (game image generation unit 122) generates a game image in which the character's costume is changed to the costume corresponding to the input change operation according to this instruction.

According to the computer game of the embodiment, during execution of the music game, the player can change the costume worn by the character to a desired costume at any timing. In this way, by increasing the degree of freedom (in other words, customizability) in character display during the music game, the interest in the music game can be enhanced. Currently, it is widely practiced to publish game play videos on video sharing sites. It can also contribute to creation.

In addition, by making the first operation mainly aimed at obtaining a score and the second operation mainly aimed at changing costumes different, confusion between the two operations can be prevented, and the display mode of the character can be changed by the player. It becomes easier to prevent it from becoming unintended.

In the computer game of the embodiment, a music game is executed as one quest (in other words, mission) within the game. Hereinafter, the processing of the processing unit 100 will be described in more detail while showing screen examples of the computer game of the embodiment.

Before the start of the music game, the game execution unit 120 presents the player with information on a plurality of types of change operations corresponding to a plurality of candidates for changing the costume worn by the character. In the embodiment, the game image generation unit 122 generates a game image (setting confirmation screen 40 described later) including information on the plurality of types of change operations, and causes the display unit 20 to display the game image. As a modified example, the game sound generation section 124 may generate a game sound containing information about the above-described multiple types of change operations, and cause the sound output section 22 to output the game sound.

FIG. 4 shows an example screen of the computer game of the embodiment. This figure shows a setting confirmation screen 40 before starting the music game. The setting confirmation screen 40 includes main dress information 42 regarding the default costume (main dress) worn by the character and a plurality of sub-dress information 44 regarding a plurality of costumes (sub-dresses) that are candidates for changing from the main dress.

The game image generation unit 122 sets information about the main dress stored in the item data storage unit 32 as the main dress information 42, specifically, sets information indicating the effect of the main dress in the music game. . In addition, the game image generation unit 122 sets information about the main dress stored in the item data storage unit 32 as the sub-dress information 44. Specifically, information indicating the effect of the sub-dress in the music game and Set information indicating the operation. In FIG. 4, the upper sub-dress information 44 indicates three right flick operations as change operations, and the lower sub-dress information 44 indicates three up flick operations as change operations.

By presenting the setting confirmation screen 40 to the player in this way, the player can grasp in advance the sub-dress that is a candidate for changing the costume of the character in the music game and the operation for changing to the sub-dress. It is possible to support the music game so that it can be played smoothly.

FIG. 5 also shows an example screen of the computer game of the embodiment. This figure shows the quest screen 50 at the start of the music game. The game image generator 122 arranges an image of the character 52 wearing the main dress 54 on the quest screen 50 at the start of the music game. In addition, the game image generation unit 122 arranges information (subdress information 56 a and subdress information 56b ) indicating the appearance and change operation of the two subdresses on the quest screen 50 .

Also, the game image generation unit 122 arranges score information 58 indicating the score (unison level, number of perfect operations, number of combos in the embodiment) obtained by the player in the music game on the quest screen 50 . In addition, the game image generation unit 122 arranges the clear condition 60 of the music game (quest) on the quest screen 50 .

FIG. 6 also shows an example screen of the computer game of the embodiment. This figure shows the basic aspect of the quest screen 50 during execution of the music game. The game sound generation unit 124 causes the sound output unit 22 to output predetermined music. The game image generator 122 generates a quest screen 50 in which the character 52 wearing the main dress 54 acts (for example, sings or dances) in time with the output music.

In addition, the game image generation unit 122 generates an object (hereinafter referred to as "notes input") indicating the position where the player should input the screen operation (tap operation or flick operation), in other words, the target position of the screen operation by the player, in accordance with the progress of the music. ) is placed on the quest screen 50 . In FIG. 6, the notes 62 are displayed on the middle left of the quest screen 50, but the display position of the notes 62 changes with the passage of time. In other words, the game image generator 122 sequentially displays the plurality of notes 62 at different positions as time passes.

The score determination unit 126 determines a score to be given to the player according to the player's screen operation (tap operation or flick operation) during execution of the music game. The score determination unit 126 gives the player a higher score as the input position of the tap operation or flick operation is closer to the center of the notes 62 . Further, when a tap operation or a flick operation is continuously input to a plurality of continuously displayed notes 62, the score determining unit 126 recognizes that the tap operation or flick operation has been continuously successful. to add the number of combos, which is one of the scores. The game image generation unit 122 sets the value of the score given to the player by the score determination unit 126 to the score information 58 .

FIG. 7 also shows an example screen of the computer game of the embodiment. This figure shows a state in which the costume of the character 52 is changed from the main dress 54 to the sub dress 64 on the quest screen 50 during execution of the music game. The subdress information 56a prescribes three upward flick operations as the change operation, and the subdress information 56b prescribes three right flick operations as the change operation. The change instruction unit 128 changes the costume of the character 52 to the sub-dress 64 corresponding to the sub-dress information 56a upon detecting that the upward flick operation has been input three times during execution of the music game.

As with the tap operation, the closer the input position of the flick operation is to the center of the notes 62, the higher the score is given to the player. Also, when the costume of the character 52 is changed, the score determination unit 126 reflects the effect of the changed costume to determine the score to be given to the player.

In the music game of the embodiment, each subdress is set with a predetermined validity period. When the game image generation unit 122 detects that the character is wearing a sub-dress and that the valid period of the sub-dress stored in the item data storage unit 32 has expired, the game image generation unit 122 returns the character's costume to the main dress. A quest screen 50 is generated.

Once the expiration date of the sub-dress expires and the character's costume returns to the main dress, the change instructing unit 128 changes the player's first dress if a predetermined condition is satisfied by the player's first operation (for example, a tap operation). 2. The costume of the character is changed again according to the operation (for example, flick operation). In the embodiment, the change instructing unit 128 changes the costume of the character again according to the player's second operation when the degree of success of the player's first operation reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold. Thus, by making the first operation, whose main purpose is to obtain a score in the music game, the condition for changing the costume of the character, the player is required to perform both the first operation and the second operation. Makes it easier to prevent the game from becoming monotonous. In addition, the better the result (score) of the first operation, the faster the costume can be changed again. Therefore, it is possible to motivate the player whose main purpose is to change the character's costume to obtain a score.

FIG. 8 also shows an example screen of the computer game of the embodiment. This figure shows a state in which the costume of the character has returned from the sub dress 64 corresponding to the sub dress information 56a to the main dress 54 on the quest screen 50 during execution of the music game. The game image generation unit 122 sets a condition for wearing the subdress 64 corresponding to the subdress information 56a again (corresponding to the above-described threshold value, also referred to herein as a "return condition") to the subdress information 56a. do.

The return condition in the embodiment is that the player obtains a predetermined score in the music game. Specifically, the return condition is the number of combos obtained by successfully tapping a plurality of notes 62 a plurality of times in succession. For example, if the return condition is the number of combo wins of 20, the game image generator 122 sets the initial value of the return condition, ie, 20, to the subdress information 56a. The game image generator 122 subtracts the return condition value of the sub-dress information 56a each time a new combo is obtained (in FIG. 8, the subtracted value "17" is displayed). When the number of combo wins reaches 20 (that is, the return condition is satisfied), the game image generator 122 returns the mode of the subdress information 56a to the mode of the subdress information 56a of FIG. Further, when the up-flick operation is input three times after the return condition is satisfied, the change instructing unit 128 changes the costume of the character 52 to the sub-dress 64 corresponding to the sub-dress information 56a, as shown in FIG. change again.

The present invention has been described above based on the examples. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is merely an illustration, and that various modifications can be made to combinations of the constituent elements and processing processes described in the embodiment, and that such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. It is about

A first modified example will be described. The change instructing unit 128 may change the costume of the character when the player inputs a change operation during a predetermined part of the period during which the music game is running. The predetermined partial period may be a "costume change chance period" having a length of about several seconds to 10 seconds provided during the execution of the music game. The change instruction unit 128 may change the costume of the character from the main dress to a sub dress corresponding to the change operation when a change operation is input during the costume change chance period in the music game. On the other hand, if a change operation is input outside the costume change chance period during execution of the music game, the change instruction unit 128 does not change the character's costume from the main dress to the sub dress corresponding to the change operation. can be ignored.

A second modification will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the item worn by the character during the execution of the music game is an item that can be changed by the player's operation. For example, the change instruction unit 128 may change accessories, accessories, or weapons worn by the character in place of or in addition to the character's costume according to the player's operation during execution of the music game. good.

A third modification will be described. A game program was installed in the terminal device 10, and the game of the said Example was run as a so-called native application. As a modification, a game having the same content as the embodiment may be provided as a web application, or implemented as a browser game, for example. In this case, the server 3 may include at least part of the functional blocks of the processing unit 100 shown in FIG. may

Any combination of the above-described examples and modifications is also useful as an embodiment of the present invention. A new embodiment resulting from the combination has the effects of each combined embodiment and modified example. It should also be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be fulfilled by each constituent element described in the claims are realized by each constituent element shown in the embodiments and modified examples singly or in conjunction with each other.

1 game system, 10 terminal device, 102 operation reception unit, 120 game execution unit, 122 game image generation unit, 124 game sound generation unit, 128 change instruction unit.

Claims (6)

to the computer,
A function of executing a music game in which content including a character is displayed in accordance with music output, and a score is given according to a player's first operation on the content;
a function of changing an item worn by the character when the player inputs a second operation during execution of the music game;
A computer program for realizing 2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first operation and the second operation are different operations. 3. The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the changing function includes changing the item according to the second operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied by the first operation. 4. The computer program according to claim 3, wherein the changing function includes a function of changing the item according to the second operation when the degree of success of the first operation reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold. The function to be executed includes a function of presenting to the player, before the start of the music game, information on a plurality of types of second operations corresponding to a plurality of items that are candidates for change,
5. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the changing function includes a function of changing the item worn by the character to an item corresponding to the type of the second operation input. 6. Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the changing function includes a function of changing the item when the second operation is input during a predetermined part of a period during which the music game is being executed. The computer program described.

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