JP4579272B2 - Item selection device, method for selecting items displayed on screen, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to screen control for selecting an arbitrary item by a user's operation from a plurality of items each assigned a unique process.

  In computer apparatuses, a desired item is frequently selected by a user operation from a plurality of items displayed on a display device, and subsequent processing is performed in accordance with the selected item. For example, when a menu screen including a plurality of items each assigned a unique process is displayed on the display device, and the selection of the item is confirmed by the user's operation of the input device from among the plurality of items in the menu screen In other cases, the process jumps to and executes the process assigned to the item.

  In a computer device that can use a pointing device such as a mouse or touch panel as an input device, for example, objects such as icons corresponding to each item are displayed side by side in a menu screen, and an arbitrary object is touched with a mouse click or a stylus. In some cases, the user can select a desired item by an intuitive operation. Also, for example, if it is intended to express some relationship between items, it is better to use a menu screen arranged in three dimensions rather than arranging the objects corresponding to each item in two dimensions. The user can intuitively grasp each item, and the interest in selecting an item from the menu screen also increases.

  However, in the case of a mobile phone or a portable game machine in which the types of input devices that can be used are limited, for example, in order to execute processing according to a desired item from a menu screen in which objects corresponding to each item are arranged in this way In addition, the cursor is moved between objects (function buttons) according to the direction input, and the selection is confirmed by the object to which the cursor is attached by the confirmation input (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-131119

  In the method of Patent Document 1, when a user's desired object is displayed at a position away from the object to which the cursor is currently attached, the user has to perform input from the input device many times. It is difficult to select a desired item intuitively. In addition, if you lose sight of the object with the cursor while performing many inputs from the input device, you must start by searching for the object with the cursor. This is a great hindrance to the operation.

  In addition, a method such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used for a menu screen in which objects corresponding to each item are three-dimensionally arranged, and objects corresponding to each item are regularly displayed as in a pseudo three-dimensional display even if the object is not three-dimensionally arranged. If it is not arranged, it will be difficult for the user to understand how the cursor moves according to the direction input. For this reason, it becomes easy to lose sight of the object with the cursor while operating the input device. Then, it becomes more difficult to realize intuitive operability. As described above, in a mobile phone or a portable game machine that cannot use a conventional pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel as an input device, the menu can be intuitively operated by a user with a three-dimensional display in which the relationship between items is easy to understand. It was difficult to realize the screen.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an item selection screen that allows a user to select a desired item with a user's intuitive operational feeling from a plurality of items each assigned a unique process.

In order to achieve the above object, an item selection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an item selection device for selecting an arbitrary item by a user operation from a plurality of items each assigned a unique process. The plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to the selection of the item by the user , and another character other than the user character are arranged at predetermined positions, and any one of the user characters Display means for displaying an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating the direction to the item, and an instruction for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items displayed on the display means by a user operation Selection instruction input means for inputting, and an item for sequentially selecting any of the plurality of items in accordance with the instruction input from the selection instruction input means Selection means, a confirmation instruction input means for inputting an instruction for confirming selection of an item selected by the item selection means, and an instruction from the confirmation instruction input means are input by a user operation. A selection item transition unit that shifts to a process assigned to the item selected by the item selection unit, and a display mode of the user character is changed according to the item selected by the item selection unit. And an item selection screen control means for changing the direction of the selection direction line in a direction from the user character to the item selected by the item selection means, and the display means includes eyes of the user character, The item selection screen is displayed so that the eyes of the other characters are displayed, and the item selection screen control means is configured to display the user character. The line of sight of the other character is changed to face the item selected by the item selection means, and when the specific item of the plurality of items is selected by the item selection means, The line of sight from is also changed to face the specific item .

In the item selection screen displayed on the display means in the item selection device, in addition to a plurality of items that can be selected by the user's operation , any item from the user character , other characters other than the user character , and the user character A selection direction line indicating the direction to is arranged. In this item selection screen, when the user inputs an instruction for selecting a desired item from the selection instruction input means by his / her own operation, a plurality of items arranged on the item selection screen according to the input instruction are displayed. One of the items is sequentially selected by the item selection means.

Here, when a new item is selected by the item selection means, the display form of the user character and the display form of another character change according to the newly selected item, and the selected item is displayed. The direction of the selected direction line also changes in this direction. As a result, the user can grasp the currently selected item by changing the display form of the user character and the direction of the selection direction line, thereby preventing the user from losing sight of the currently selected item. It is not hindered to select a desired item. Further, the display form of the user character's eyes is changed according to the item selected by the item selection means, and the user character can be said to be his or her own body by displaying the line of sight from the user character's eyes. The user character can have an impression that he / she sees the item selected by his / her own operation, and the selection of the item can be grasped intuitively.
Furthermore, since the currently selected item can be captured by a change in the line of sight from the eyes of another character, it is further prevented that the currently selected item is lost. In addition, the user can have an impression that other people (other characters) are also paying attention to the item viewed by the user character, which can be said to be his or herself, and the presence of the user is enhanced.

  Here, when the item selection device transmits / receives information to / from a server device that provides an online game via the network and receives the item selection screen from the server device, the display unit includes: An item selection screen that displays other participants in the online game as the other characters and includes a display during the battle indicating that other participants in the online game are playing a battle among the plurality of items And when the instruction from the confirmation instruction means is input in a state where the display during battle is selected by the item selection means, the selection item control means It is possible to shift to a process of displaying a game played by the participant on the display means.

  In this case, if the participants corresponding to the other characters displayed on the item selection screen are competing in the online game, the display during the battle is displayed as an item included in the plurality of items. And when viewing a match between other participants, the user only has to select this in-match display, so he intuitively instructs to view a match in an online game between other participants. Will be able to.

In the above item selection device,
The display means may display an item selection screen in which item characters are arranged as the predetermined items for the predetermined items of the plurality of items. In this case,
The item selection screen control means may further change the display form of the item character when the predetermined item is selected by the item selection means.

  In this case, when a predetermined item in which the item character is arranged is selected, the user can also determine the current predetermined character by changing the display form of the item character in addition to the display form of the user character and the direction of the selection direction line. It can capture that an item is selected. This further prevents losing sight of the currently selected item.

  Here, when the item selection device transmits / receives information to / from a server device that provides an online game via the network and receives the item selection screen from the server device, the display unit includes: An item selection screen in which item characters corresponding to waiting participants who are waiting for a match in the online game are arranged as the predetermined item is displayed, and the item selection screen transition unit is configured to wait for participation by the item selection unit. When the person's item character is selected, an item selection screen with a predetermined battle display can be displayed on the display means.

  In this case, the user can intuitively find and search for other users who are opponents of the online game by regarding the item character as a substitute. In addition, when a predetermined item in which an item character that can be said to be a substitute for a participant who can be an online game opponent is arranged is selected, a predetermined battle display is added, so that the user can further participate It becomes possible to easily find other users who actually compete in the online game from among the waiters.

In the above item selection device,
The display means may display an arrow from the user character to an item selected by the item selection means on the item selection screen as the selection direction line.

  In this case, since the user can grasp the currently selected item according to the direction indicated by the arrow of the selection direction line, the currently selected item becomes very easy to understand, and the selected item is lost. This is further prevented. In particular, when the eyes of the user character are displayed, the direction of the arrow of the selection direction line can indicate the direction of the line of sight, and the user can see the item in which the user character that can be said to be his / her own is currently selected. You can have an impression that you are feeling, and a sense of reality will increase.

  In the item selection device, the selection instruction input means is constituted by an instruction direction input means capable of inputting an instruction indicating a predetermined direction as an instruction for selecting a desired item from the plurality of items. Also good. In this case, the item selection unit may sequentially select the plurality of items in accordance with an instruction indicating a direction input from the direction input unit.

  Here, the instruction direction input means may input an instruction indicating a direction of 2 or less. In this case, even if the selection instruction input means is composed of a direction input means capable of inputting only two or less directions, two or less directions among the direction input means capable of inputting three or more directions are selected. You may use for the input of the instruction | indication for selecting a desired item.

  In this way, when the selection instruction input means is constituted by an instruction direction input means capable of inputting an instruction indicating a predetermined direction, each of the items on the item selection screen is different from a coordinate position input means such as a mouse or a touch panel. The user cannot input the position on the display means where the item is arranged. That is, with the selection instruction input means having such a configuration, it becomes difficult to input directly and intuitively than when the coordinate position input means is used. However, in the item selection device according to the present invention, the user can intuitively grasp the currently selected item according to the change in the display form of the user character and the direction of the selection direction line. It becomes possible to do it fully intuitively.

  Further, if the direction that can be input from the selection instruction input unit is limited to 2 or less, the user can be notified of the direction indicated by the instruction input from the selection instruction input unit and a plurality of items arranged on the item selection screen. The relationship with the item selected in accordance with the input instruction becomes difficult to understand (even if the input direction is not 2 or less, it is difficult to understand, but if it is 2 or less, it is very difficult to understand). Even in this case, the user can surely grasp the currently selected item by the change in the display form of the user character and the change in the direction of the selection direction line.

  In the item selection device, the display means may display an item selection screen in which the plurality of items, the user character, and the selection direction line are arranged in a two-dimensional space.

  Thus, even in the item selection screen in which a plurality of items are arranged in a two-dimensional space, the user can select each item sufficiently intuitively by the change in the display form of the user character and the change in the direction of the selection direction line. A desired item can be selected by an intuitive operation.

  The item selection device may be configured by a mobile phone, for example.

  Most mobile phones are not equipped with a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel as an input device, and cannot be externally connected, and restrictions are imposed on input from the input device. The processing capacity of the processing means (CPU), the storage capacity of the storage means (main storage device, auxiliary storage device), and the resolution of the display means are limited, and there are restrictions on three-dimensional display. Therefore, the present invention is particularly effective when the mobile phone is realized as a platform.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for selecting items displayed on a screen according to a second aspect of the present invention is a user's input device from a plurality of items displayed on a display device and assigned with unique processing. A plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to the selection of the item by the user , and a character other than the user character , respectively. And an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating a direction from the user character to any item is displayed on the display device, and displayed on the display device according to a user operation. Inputting a selection instruction for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items from the input device, and according to the input selection instruction, A step of sequentially selecting any one of the plurality of items and displaying on the display device that the item is selected, and displaying that the display device is selected according to a user operation. A step of inputting a confirmation instruction for confirming the selection of the item from the input device, and that the selection is displayed on the display device when the confirmation instruction is input. A step of transferring processing executed by the processing device to processing assigned to the item, and displaying that the item is selected is displayed on the display device according to the item selected according to the selection instruction. Changing the display form of the displayed user character, and displaying on the display device in a direction from the user character to an item selected according to the selection instruction. Are seen including the step of said changing the direction of the selected direction line is, the step of displaying the item selection screen on the display device, so that the eyes of the user character, the eyes of the other characters is displayed Displaying the item selection screen and changing the display form of the user character and the display form of the other character so that the line of sight from the eyes of the user character is directed to the item selected in accordance with the selection instruction. In addition, when a specific item of the plurality of items is selected by the item selection unit, the line of sight from the eyes of the other character is also changed to face the specific item .

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the third aspect of the present invention displays an arbitrary item by operating a user's input device from a plurality of items that are displayed on a display device and each assigned a unique process. A program for causing a computer device to execute a process for selection, wherein the plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to selection of an item by the user , and a character other than the user character are respectively predetermined And an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating a direction from the user character to any item is displayed on the display device, and displayed on the display device according to a user operation. Inputting a selection instruction for selecting a desired item from the plurality of items from the input device; and In response to the selection instruction, one of the plurality of items is sequentially selected, and a message indicating that the item is selected is displayed on the display device. A step of inputting a confirmation instruction for confirming selection of an item from the input device with an item indicating that the item is selected, and when the confirmation instruction is input, the item is selected by the display device. Causing the computer device to execute a step of transferring the processing executed by the processing device included in the computer device to the processing assigned to the item indicating that the item is displayed, and displays that the item is selected A step of changing a display form of the user character displayed on the display device according to an item selected according to the selection instruction; And a step from The character to change the direction of the selected direction line being displayed on the display device in the direction of the item selected in accordance with the selection instruction seen including the step of displaying the item selection screen on the display device Displaying the item selection screen so that the eyes of the user character and the eyes of the other character are displayed, and changing the display form of the user character and the display form of the other character, The line of sight from the eyes of the user character is changed to face the item selected according to the selection instruction, and when a specific item of the plurality of items is selected by the item selection unit, The line of sight is also changed to face the specific item .

  The program according to the third aspect can be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be a recording medium configured to be detachable from the computer device and provided separately from the computer device. The computer-readable recording medium may be a recording medium such as a fixed disk device provided in the computer device and provided together with the computer device. The program according to the third aspect can be distributed from the server device existing on the network to the computer device through the network by superimposing the data signal on a carrier wave.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system applied to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this network system includes a server device 2 and a plurality of mobile phones 1 (1-1 to 1-n) connected to the server device 2 via a network 3 including a mobile phone network and the Internet. Consists of

  The server device 2 provides a function of playing a network game among users of a plurality of mobile phones 1. The mobile phone 1 has a function as a computer device including a network connection function, and in order to play a network game provided by the server device 2, the server device 2 is accessed via the network 3 to be described later. The selection menu needs to be acquired and displayed on the display device.

  In the network game service provided by the server device 2, the item selection menu is a process of browsing a game score table, browsing a battle between other users, or selecting another user who will be his opponent. This is a menu for selecting an item. When the item selected by the user is confirmed in the item selection menu, the game results table can be viewed according to the confirmed item, the battle between other users can be viewed, and the game with other users can be viewed. You will be able to go.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile phone 1 of FIG. As shown in the figure, a cellular phone 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a flash memory 14, an input device 15, and a display device 16. And a communication device 17. The mobile phone 1 includes a camera that captures an image and other components necessary for making a call, but is omitted in FIG. 2 because it is not directly related to the present invention.

  The CPU 11 executes a program stored in the program area of the RAM 13 and performs processing necessary for the progress of the game. The ROM 12 is a storage device in which an OS program of the CPU 11, application programs bundled in the mobile phone 1, fixed data used in these programs, sample data, and the like are stored in advance.

  An application program bundled with the cellular phone 1 and stored in advance in the ROM 12 is a browser for accessing the server device 2 to obtain an item selection menu and operating the network game in accordance with the item selection in the item selection menu. The program is included. That is, an item selection menu, which will be described later, or a network game screen acquired from the server device 2 by confirming selection of an item in the item selection menu, operates on a browser stored in advance in the ROM 12 and is displayed on the display device. 16 is displayed.

  The RAM 13 is a storage device used as the main memory of the CPU 11. The stored contents of the RAM 13 are erased when the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned off. The flash memory 14 is a storage device that can be electrically written / erased, but does not lose its stored contents even when the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned off, and is a storage device used as an auxiliary memory of the CPU 11.

  The input device 15 includes numeric keys from “1” to “0”, a “*” key, a “#” key, a direction key, a confirmation key, and the like, and inputs necessary information to the CPU 11 by a user operation. The direction keys of the input device 15 can perform input in four directions, but the left direction key and the right direction key are used for instructing to return to the display page and to advance by the browser. An item selection menu, which will be described later, operates on the browser, but the left and right keys are used for browser page operations.

  Only the up and down keys of the four direction keys can be used for operations in the item selection menu described later. That is, the item selected in the item selection menu described later is changed by an input from the up key or the down key. The confirmation key of the input device 15 is used for confirming an item selected in an item selection menu described later and instructing execution of processing corresponding to the item.

  The display device 16 is configured by a liquid crystal display device or the like, and includes an item selection menu acquired by accessing the server device 2, a screen of a network game corresponding to an item confirmed to be selected according to the item selection menu, or a network game score table Etc. are displayed. The communication device 17 transmits and receives information to and from the server device 2 via the network 3. Information transmitted to and received from the server device 2 includes an item selection menu, a network game screen, and the like, which will be described later.

  The mobile phone 1 can be equipped with a memory card such as an SD card to increase the memory capacity, or can be connected to an external earphone microphone for calling, and has a camera for taking images. However, in addition to the input device 15 including a plurality of keys described above, a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel is not provided, and such a pointing device cannot be externally connected.

  Hereinafter, an item selection menu displayed on the display device 16 of the mobile phone 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an item selection menu displayed on the display device 16 of the mobile phone 1 by operating on the browser. In the item selection menu shown in FIG. 3, the user character 100 including the eyes 101, the line-of-sight arrow 102, the gradebook entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, and the exit from the room 115 and a battle display mark 116 are included.

  The user character 100 represents the user of the mobile phone 1 and changes the display form by the operation of the up key or the down key of the input device 15 by the user. The line-of-sight arrow 102 represents the direction in which the line of sight of the eye 101 of the user character 100 is facing, and the direction is changed by the user operating the up key or the down key of the input device 15.

  The fighting characters 111 and 112 and the non-matching characters 113 and 114 represent users who are participating in (or are going to) participate in the game provided by the server device 2. The characters corresponding to the user who is actually playing the game become the fighting characters 111 and 112, and the characters corresponding to the user waiting for the opponent user to appear are the non-matching characters 113 and 114.

  In the selection item menu, the user character 100, the line-of-sight arrow 102, the score table entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and the battle display mark 116 are other than the line-of-sight arrow 102 Are arranged in a two-dimensional space so as not to overlap each other, and are displayed on the display device 16 as a two-dimensional image as they are.

  Since the direction of the gaze direction arrow 102 changes as will be described later, the user character 100, the score table entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and / or the battle In some cases, the line of sight direction arrow 102 is displayed on the front side. The battle display mark 116 is a mark indicating that the user corresponding to the battle character 111 and the user corresponding to the battle character 112 are fighting in the game, and the battle character 111 and the battle character 112 are mutually connected. It is displayed at the middle position of the appropriate line of sight.

  In addition, the user selects a desired item from the item selection menu, plays a network game with another user, browses a match between others, or browses a game result table. There are five items that can be selected as items from the selection menu: a gradebook entrance 110, non-matching characters 113, 114, an exit exit 115, and a battle display mark 116. Since the user character 100 represents the user himself, the user character 100 cannot be selected as an item.

  The fighting characters 111 and 112 cannot be selected as an item from the item selection menu because the user cannot play against other users corresponding to this at the present time, but the user can play a match between other users corresponding to this. Since it can be browsed, the battle display mark 116 can be selected as an item from the item selection menu instead. Note that the fighting characters 111 and 112 also have eyes similar to the user character 100 and the non-matching characters 113 and 114, but the line of sight changes while the matching characters 111 and 112 match each other. There is no.

  In the item selection menu, only one of the selectable items (the gradebook entrance 110, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and the battle display mark 116) is selected. . In FIG. 3, the gradebook entrance 110 is in a selected state. The item to be selected can be changed clockwise or counterclockwise with the position of the eyes of the user character 100 as the center position when the up key or down key of the input device 15 is input.

  For example, when the up key of the input device 15 is input in the state of FIG. 3, the exit exit 115 displayed at the next position in the clockwise direction is newly selected as an item in the selected state. On the other hand, when the down key of the input device 15 is input in the state of FIG. 3, the non-matching character 113 displayed at the next position in the counterclockwise direction is newly selected as an item in the selected state.

  In addition, the display form of the user character 100 is changed so that the line of sight of the eye 101 is directed to the selected item, and the starting point (the direction without the arrow) of the line-of-sight arrow 102 is always the user character 100. Although it is placed at the tip of the eye 101, the direction of the arrow is directed to the selected item. Further, the non-matching characters 113 and 114 among the characters other than the user character 100 are also changed in display form so that the line of sight is directed to the selected item. The fighting characters 111 and 112 are always displayed with each other regardless of the selected item.

  When the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 are themselves selected items, the display mode is changed so that the eyes are directed toward the user character 100, both hands are raised, and sparks are scattered around. It is done. In addition, when the battle display mark indicating that the user corresponding to these is in a battle is an item of the selected state, the fighting characters 111 and 112 are raised so that sparks are scattered around. The display form can be changed.

  When there is no other user who is currently playing the network game provided by the server device 2, the battle characters 111 and 112 do not exist and the battle display mark 116 does not exist in the item selection menu. . Further, when there is no other user waiting for the opponent in the network game provided by the server device 2, the non-matching characters 113 and 114 do not exist in the item selection menu.

  Hereinafter, processing in the network game according to this embodiment will be described. The processing executed in the server device 2 is the same as the conventional processing except for the item selection menu format provided to the mobile phone 1. In addition, the process for providing a network game according to the item for which selection has been confirmed in the item selection menu is the same as the conventional process. The processing executed in the mobile phone 1 is the same as that in the prior art except for the display of the item selection menu and the selection of an item from the item selection menu. Hereinafter, a process performed when the item selection menu is displayed on the mobile phone 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing performed when the item selection menu is displayed in the mobile phone 1 according to this embodiment. Since the item selection menu operates on the browser, this processing is executed in cooperation with the browser program by a program described in a predetermined description language such as Java (registered trademark) in the item selection menu. It is a process performed by.

  Also, as a premise for executing this processing, a browser program is started in the mobile phone 1, and the user designates the URL of the item selection menu by an input from the input device 15, etc. Send a send request. In the server device 2, an item selection menu is generated according to other players currently playing the game and other players waiting for the game, and is transmitted and displayed on the display device 16 of the mobile phone 1. It is something to be made.

  In the mobile phone 1, when the item selection menu is displayed on the display device 16, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the up direction key or the down direction key among the four direction keys of the input device 15 has been input (step). S101). When the up direction key is input, the item in the selected state is switched to the item displayed at the next position in the clockwise direction with respect to the item currently in the selected state. On the other hand, when the down key is input, the item in the selected state is changed to the item displayed at the next position counterclockwise with respect to the item currently in the selected state (step S102).

  Next, the CPU 11 changes the display mode of the eyes 101 of the user character 100 so that the line of sight is directed to the newly selected item, and the direction of the line-of-sight direction arrow 102 is also set to the newly selected item. It changes so that it may face, and it displays on the display apparatus 16 (step S103). The CPU 11 further changes the display mode of the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 so that the line of sight faces the newly selected item, and causes the display device 16 to display it. The display mode of the fighting characters 111 and 112 is not changed here. If there is no non-matching character 113, 114 in the item selection menu, nothing is performed here (step S104).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the newly selected item is any of the non-matching characters 113 and 114 (step S105). If the character is one of the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the CPU 11 displays the display form of the non-matching character 113 or 114 as an item in the selected state, with the line of sight facing the user character 100 and surroundings. The state is changed to a state in which sparks are scattered and the hand is raised and displayed on the display device 16 (step S106). Then, the process returns to step S101.

  If the newly selected item is not the non-matching character 113 or 114, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the newly selected item is the battle display mark 116 (step S107). If it is the battle display mark 116, the CPU 11 changes the display form of the fighting characters 111 and 112 corresponding to the battle display mark 116 to a state in which sparks are scattered around and the hands are raised. It is displayed on the device 16 (step S108). Then, the process returns to step S101. If the newly selected item is not the battle display mark 116, the process directly returns to step S101.

  If the up key or down key is not input in step S101, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the enter key of the input device 15 has been input (step S109). If there is no confirmation key input, the process directly returns to the process of step S101, and the CPU 11 waits for an up key, down key, or confirmation key input. When there is an input from the left direction key or the right direction key of the input device 15, processing for returning / advancing the display page is performed as a browser function instead of the processing of this flowchart. Other key operations are ignored when the item selection menu is displayed.

  When the confirmation key is input, the CPU 11 determines whether the currently selected item is the exit exit 115 (step S110). When the currently selected item is the exit exit 115, the process of this flowchart is ended here.

  If the currently selected item is not the exit exit 115, the CPU 11 transmits a screen download request corresponding to the selected item to the server device 2 (step S111). The CPU 11 then waits for the download to be completed (step S113) while downloading the screen information sent from the server device 2 to the communication device 17 and temporarily storing it in the RAM 13 (step S112). When the download is completed, the process proceeds to a process corresponding to the downloaded screen, and the process of this flowchart is terminated.

  Hereinafter, when the item selection menu is displayed on the mobile phone 1, a change in the display mode of the item selection menu according to the input from the input device 15 will be described in detail based on a specific example. FIGS. 5A to 5E are diagrams showing specific examples of how the display mode of the item selection menu changes according to the input from the input device 15.

  In these item selection menus, as in the item selection menu of FIG. 3, the user character 100, the line-of-sight arrow 102, the score table entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, and the non-matching characters 113 and 114 are displayed. The exit exit 115 and the battle display mark 116 are included. Further, in the item selection menu in the initial state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the gradebook entrance 114 is the selected item.

  When the down key of the input device 15 is input in this state, the non-fighting character 113 is newly selected as an item in the selected state, as shown in FIG. At this time, the direction of the eye 101 of the user character 100 is directed to the non-matching character 113, which is the selected item, and the arrow of the line-of-sight arrow 102 is also directed to the non-matching character 113. The line of sight of the non-matching character 114 that is not the selected item also faces the non-matching character 113 that is the selected item. Furthermore, the non-matching character 113 that is the selected item changes its display form so that the user character 100 is pointed toward the user character 100, both hands are raised, and sparks are scattered around. Certain fighting characters 111 and 112 do not change the display form.

  When the confirmation key of the input device 15 is input in the state of FIG. 5B, the selection as the item of the non-competitive character 113 is confirmed. As a result, a request to play a game with the user corresponding to the non-matching character 113 is transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the server device 2, and in response to this request, as shown in FIG. A screen for playing a game with the user corresponding to the character 113 in battle is displayed on the display device 16.

  Further, when the downward key of the input device 15 is input in the state of FIG. 5B, the battle display mark 116 is newly selected as an item in the selected state, as shown in FIG. 5D. At this time, the direction of the eye 101 of the user character 100 faces the battle display mark 116 which is the selected item, and the arrow of the line-of-sight direction arrow 102 also faces the battle display mark 116. Further, the eyes of the non-matching characters 113 and 114 that are not selected items also face the battle display mark 116 that is the selected item. Furthermore, the battle characters 111 and 112 whose battle display marks 116 that are selected items indicate that they are fighting raise their hands and change the display form so that sparks are scattered around.

  As described above, in the network system according to this embodiment, when using the network game service provided by the server device 2, the user of the mobile phone 1 first accesses the server device 2 from the mobile phone 1. The item selection menu needs to be acquired and displayed on the display device 16.

  Items that can be selected from this item selection menu include a score table entrance 110 for viewing a game score table, and a non-matching character 113 representing another user waiting for the game to participate, 114, an exit exit 115 for leaving the game, and a battle display mark 116 for the fighting characters 111 and 112 that represent other users who are already fighting in the game (that is, the user can no longer play) It is arranged in a state that is not regular on the top, bottom, left and right. In addition, the item selection menu includes a user character 100 representing the user himself and displaying at least the eyes 101, and a line-of-sight arrow 102 indicating the direction of the line of sight.

  In a state where the item selection menu is displayed, when the user inputs the up key or the down key of the input device 15, selectable items (grading table entrance 110, non-matching characters 113 and 114, leaving the room) Any item is sequentially selected from the exit 115 and the battle display mark 116). When the user inputs the confirmation key of the input device 15, processing corresponding to the item in the selected state is performed.

  Here, when the selected item is changed by the input of the up key or the down key of the input device 15, the direction of the line of sight of the user character 100 and the line of sight arrow 102 are pointed accordingly. The direction changes. As a result, the user can easily grasp which item is currently selected from the selectable items by looking at the line of sight of the user character 100 and the direction indicated by the line-of-sight arrow 102. It is possible to prevent the user from losing sight of which item is in the selected state, and to prevent intuitive operation when selecting a desired item. Further, the gaze direction arrow 101 is not a simple line but an arrow, which makes it easier to understand the item currently selected, and prevents the user from losing sight of which item is selected. Is done.

  In addition, the line of sight of the user character 100 and the direction of the line-of-sight direction arrow 102 are changed according to the user's own operation of inputting the up key or the down key of the input device 15. In this way, the user character 100 is displayed on the item selection menu as if it is his or herself, and the user's own operation is displayed so that the line of sight of the eye 101 and the direction of the line-of-sight arrow 101 indicate the selected item. Thus, the user can have an impression of following the selected item with his / her eyes, which increases the sense of reality and intuitively captures the selection of a desired item from a plurality of items by his / her own operation. Will be able to.

  In addition to the user character 100, the item selection menu includes the fighting characters 111 and 112 and the non-matching characters 113 and 114. Of these, the direction of the line of sight of the non-matching characters 113 and 114 is When the item in the selected state is changed by the input of the up key or the down key of the input device 15, the item is changed accordingly. Thereby, since the user can catch the item in the selected state also by the eyes of the non-matching characters 113 and 114, it is further prevented that the user loses sight of the item in the selected state.

  In addition, the user is paying attention to the non-matching characters 113 and 114 that can be said to be the other user's alternation with respect to the item that the user character 100 that can be said to be his / her own (that is, the item in the selected state). And the presence of the item in the item selection menu is further enhanced.

  Further, the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 themselves are items that can be selected in the item selection menu. When the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 are in the selected state as items, a change in the display form appears such that the line of sight faces the user character 100, raises both hands, and sparks are scattered around. As a result, the user can easily grasp that the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 are items that are in the selected state by themselves, and thus lose sight of which items are in the selected state. This is further prevented.

  Furthermore, the non-competitive characters 113 and 114 represent other users who are waiting for online game battles, and intuitively search for online game opponents by capturing them as other users. Will be able to. Further, the non-matching characters 113 and 114 are distinguished from the fighting characters 111 and 112, which cannot be played by the user, due to a change in the display form in which the eyes of the non-matching characters 113 and 114 face the user character 100, raise both hands, and sparks are scattered around. Will be easily attached, and it will be possible to easily search for online game opponents. In addition, by searching for opponents in this way, the sense of reality is further enhanced.

  In addition, since the item selection menu also indicates the service state of the network game provided by the server device 2, a battle that represents another user who has already played an online game and cannot be newly played by the user. Middle characters 111 and 112 are also included. However, the fighting characters 111 and 112 cannot be items selected by operating the input device 15. In addition, the fighting characters 111 and 112 do not change the line of sight regardless of the selected item, and a battle display mark 116 is added between the two lines of sight. Thereby, the user can easily identify that it is not possible to play against other users corresponding to the fighting characters 111 and 112.

  While the fighting characters 111 and 112 cannot be an opponent of the user of the mobile phone 1 and are not selected as items, it is not possible to view online game matches between other users corresponding to these characters it can. Since the battle display mark 116 can be selected as an item for browsing the battle between other users, the user can intuitively instruct the browsing of the battle between other users. .

  Further, when the battle display mark 116 is selected as an item according to the input of the up key or the down key of the input device 15, the battle characters 111 and 112 corresponding to the battle display mark 116 raise both hands, Sparks are scattered around it. For this reason, the user of the mobile phone 1 can intuitively grasp which users are competing in the online game.

  By the way, in the network system according to this embodiment, the mobile phone 1 is a platform that performs processing for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items in accordance with the item selection menu described above. The cellular phone 1 does not include a pointing device for inputting a coordinate position on the display device 16 such as a mouse or a touch panel, and such a pointing device cannot be externally connected. Selection of an item in the item selection menu can only be performed by input from any key, but a direction key is assigned as a key for performing the input. Even with the arrow keys, the left arrow key and right arrow key are assigned for browser page operations, so only the up and down keys can be used to select items. It is.

  Since the mobile phone 1 does not include a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, it is not possible to directly input a position where an item that can be selected in the item selection menu displayed on the display device 16 is arranged. That is, it is difficult for the direction key to input directly and intuitively than the pointing device. However, in the item selection menu of this embodiment, even if an item is selected by inputting a direction key, the display form of the user character 100, the direction of the line-of-sight arrow 102, and the display of the non-matching characters 113 and 114 are displayed. Since the user can intuitively grasp the item in the selected state due to a change in form or the like, as a result, the input for selecting the item can be performed sufficiently intuitively.

  Furthermore, even if all four directions of the direction key are assigned to the input for selecting an item, it is not easy to understand the relationship between the input direction and the item selected in accordance with the input direction. Since only the key and the down arrow key are assigned to the input for selecting an item, the relationship between the input direction and the item selected in accordance with the input direction becomes more difficult to understand. Even in this case, the user can surely grasp the item currently selected by the change of the display form of the user character 100, the direction of the line-of-sight arrow 102, the display form of the non-competitive characters 113 and 114, and the like. become able to.

  The item selection menu includes the user character 100, the line-of-sight arrow 102, the score table entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and the battle display. The marks 116 are two-dimensionally arranged, and among these, the gradebook entrance 110, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and the battle display mark 116 are selectable items. It is. Thus, even if the plurality of selectable items are not three-dimensionally arranged but only two-dimensionally arranged, the user can display the display form of the user character 100, the direction of the line-of-sight arrow 102, and the non-competitive character. It is possible to select each desired item by an intuitive operation by capturing each item sufficiently intuitively by changing the display form of 113 and 114.

  Since the platform is the mobile phone 1, the processing capacity of the CPU 11, the storage capacity of the RAM 13 and the flash memory 14, and the resolution of the display device 16 are limited. Even if it is difficult to generate and display an item selection menu, it is possible to provide an item selection menu that can capture each item sufficiently intuitively and select a desired item with an intuitive operation. It has become.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the item selection menu, as characters other than the user character 100, the characters 111 and 112 that are in the battle of the online game and the users who are waiting for the online game are displayed. The non-matching characters 113 and 114 to be formed were included. However, other characters that are not related to the online game match and that are not selectable items may be included. The display form such as the line of sight of other characters can also be changed according to the item selected by the user's operation of the up key or down key of the input device 15.

  In the above embodiment, the item selection menu includes the user character 100, the line-of-sight arrow 102, the score table entrance 110, the fighting characters 111 and 112, the non-matching characters 113 and 114, and the exit exit 115. The battle display mark 116 is two-dimensionally arranged. However, these items may be arranged three-dimensionally and displayed on the display device 16 by perspective transformation. Further, only the gradebook entrance 110, the non-competitive characters 113 and 114, the exit exit 115, and the battle display mark 116, which are selectable items, may be three-dimensionally arranged. However, it goes without saying that the item selection menu of the above-described embodiment has a remarkable effect when a sufficiently intuitive operation is possible even if selectable items are two-dimensionally arranged. Yes.

  In the above embodiment, the item selection menu is desired by the user in the online game service provided by the server device 2 (viewing the results table, playing against other users, and viewing other users' battles). An item was selected and specified to specify a service. However, the format of the item selection menu described above is not limited to a menu for selecting a service provided by the server device 2, but selects a command of a player character (corresponding to the user character 100) in the game. You may apply to the menu for. This game may be a stand-alone game instead of an online game.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the item selection menu as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is displayed on the display device 16 in the mobile phone 1 having the network connection function and the computer device function has been described as an example. However, since there are few restrictions on the system, the demand for using such a user interface is small. However, in a computer device other than a mobile phone such as a personal computer or a dedicated game machine, the above item selection menu is displayed on the display device. The present invention can also be applied to display.

  In the above embodiment, the item selection menu as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 operates on the browser stored in advance in the ROM 12, and the flowchart of the figure for controlling the display of the item selection menu is shown in FIG. A program that realizes the processing shown is described in a predetermined description language in the item selection menu. That is, the fact that the item selection menu is transmitted to the mobile phone 1 from the server device 2 is acquired by transmitting a program for controlling the display of the item selection menu.

  However, the item selection menu as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 can be operated independently without using a browser. In this case, the processing of FIG. 4 for operating the item selection menu is performed. The program for realizing the above may be stored in advance in the ROM 12 and distributed together with the mobile phone 1. In addition, the recording medium for storing these programs is not limited to the ROM 12. For example, when the mobile phone 1 includes a card slot into which a memory card such as an SD card is mounted, the program is stored and provided in the memory card. be able to

  Further, when an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a game dedicated machine other than the mobile phone 1 is applied as a platform to which the present invention is applied, an optical and / or is used according to the form of the information processing apparatus serving as the platform. A magnetic disk device (flexible disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.) can also be applied. When an information processing apparatus including a fixed disk device is used as a platform, these programs may be stored in a fixed disk device in advance and distributed.

  In addition, even when the item processing menu operates independently of the browser, the program for controlling the display of the item processing menu is a server device that exists on the network 3 (the item whose selection has been confirmed in the item selection menu). It may be stored in a fixed disk device included in the server device 2 that provides the network game service according to the network game 3 and distributed via the network 3.

It is a block diagram which shows the network system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the item selection menu displayed on the display apparatus of FIG. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is a flowchart showing processing performed in the mobile phone when the item selection menu is displayed. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display mode of the item selection menu according to the input from an input device.

Explanation of symbols

1 cellular phone 2 server device 3 network 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Flash memory 15 Input device 16 Display device 17 Communication device 100 User character 101 Eye 102 Gaze direction arrow 110 Gradebook entrance 111, 112 Competing character 113, 114 Non-competitive character 115 Exit exit 116 Competitive display mark

Claims (13)

An item selection device for selecting an arbitrary item by a user operation from a plurality of items each assigned a unique process,
The plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to the selection of the item by the user , and other characters other than the user character are arranged at predetermined positions, and from the user character to any item Display means for displaying an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating the direction of
A selection instruction input means for inputting an instruction for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items displayed on the display means by a user operation;
Item selection means for sequentially selecting any one of the plurality of items in accordance with an instruction input from the selection instruction input means;
A confirmation instruction input means for inputting an instruction for confirming selection of an item selected by the item selection means by a user operation;
When an instruction from the confirmation instruction input unit is input, a selection item transfer unit that shifts to a process assigned to the item selected by the item selection unit;
The display mode of the user character is changed according to the item selected by the item selection means, and the direction of the selection direction line is changed from the user character to the item selected by the item selection means. And an item selection screen control means for causing
The display means displays the item selection screen so that the eyes of the user character and the eyes of the other character are displayed,
The item selection screen control means changes the line of sight from the eyes of the user character so as to face the item selected by the item selection means, and a specific item of the plurality of items is changed by the item selection means. An item selection device characterized in that, when selected, the line of sight from the eyes of the other character is also changed to face the specific item .   The item selection means selects the other character as an item that is not the specific item,
  The item selection screen control means changes the line of sight from the eyes of the other character so as to face the user character when the other character is selected by the item selection means.
  The item selection device according to claim 1. The item selection device transmits and receives information via a network with a server device that provides an online game, receives the item selection screen from the server device,
The display means displays other participants in the online game as the other characters, and displays a display during battle indicating that other participants in the online game are fighting among the plurality of items. Display the item selection screen included in
The selection item transfer means is performed by another participant corresponding to the display during battle when an instruction from the confirmation instruction means is input in a state where the display during battle is selected by the item selection means. and item selection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that migrating game to a process of displaying on the display means is. The display means displays an item selection screen in which item characters are arranged as the predetermined items for the predetermined items of the plurality of items,
The item selection screen control means, when the predetermined items is selected by the item selection means, any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to further change the display mode of the item character Item selection device described in 1. The item selection device transmits and receives information via a network with a server device that provides an online game, receives the item selection screen from the server device,
The display means displays an item selection screen in which item characters corresponding to participants who are waiting for a match in the online game are arranged as the predetermined items,
The item selection screen control unit causes the display unit to display an item selection screen with a predetermined battle possible display when the item character of the standby participant is selected by the item selection unit. The item selection device according to claim 4 . The display means, any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to display the arrow from the user character in the item selection screen to the item selected by the item selection means as said selection direction line Item selection device described in 1. The selection instruction input means is constituted by an instruction direction input means capable of inputting an instruction indicating a predetermined direction as an instruction for selecting a desired item from the plurality of items.
The item selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the item selection unit sequentially selects the plurality of items according to an instruction indicating a direction input from the direction input unit. . The item selection device according to claim 7 , wherein the instruction direction input unit inputs an instruction indicating a direction of 2 or less. The display means, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that displaying the item selection screen disposed the plurality of items and the user character and the selected directional line in a two-dimensional space Item selection device. The item selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the item selection device includes a mobile phone. A method for selecting an arbitrary item by operating a user's input device from a plurality of items that are displayed on a display device and each of which is assigned a unique process,
The plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to the selection of the item by the user , and other characters other than the user character are arranged at predetermined positions, and from the user character to any item Displaying on the display device an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating the direction of
In accordance with a user operation, inputting a selection instruction for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items displayed on the display device from the input device;
In response to the input selection instruction, sequentially selecting any of the plurality of items, and displaying on the display device that the item is selected;
In accordance with the operation of the user, in the item displayed to be selected on the display device, a confirmation instruction for confirming the selection of the item is input from the input device;
Transitioning the processing executed by the processing device to the processing assigned to the item displayed to be selected on the display device when the confirmation instruction is input,
The step of displaying that the item is selected includes
Changing the display form of the user character displayed on the display device according to the item selected according to the selection instruction;
Look including the step of changing the direction of the selected direction line from said user characters are displayed on the display device in the direction to the selected items according to the selection instruction,
The step of displaying the item selection screen on the display device displays the item selection screen so that the eyes of the user character and the eyes of the other character are displayed,
The step of changing the display form of the user character and the display form of the other character changes the line of sight from the eyes of the user character so as to face the item selected according to the selection instruction, and by the item selection means A method for selecting an item displayed on a screen , wherein when a specific item of the plurality of items is selected, the line of sight from the eyes of the other character is also changed to face the specific item . A program for causing a computer device to execute a process for selecting an arbitrary item by operating a user's input device from a plurality of items displayed on a display device and assigned a unique process to each of the items,
The plurality of items, a user character whose display form changes according to the selection of the item by the user , and other characters other than the user character are arranged at predetermined positions, and from the user character to any item Displaying on the display device an item selection screen including a selection direction line indicating the direction of
In accordance with a user operation, inputting a selection instruction for selecting a desired item from a plurality of items displayed on the display device from the input device;
In response to the input selection instruction, sequentially selecting any of the plurality of items, and displaying on the display device that the item is selected;
In accordance with the operation of the user, in the item displayed to be selected on the display device, a confirmation instruction for confirming the selection of the item is input from the input device;
Transitioning the processing executed by the processing device included in the computer device to the processing assigned to the item displayed to be selected on the display device when the confirmation instruction is input; Let the computer device run,
The step of displaying that the item is selected includes
Changing the display form of the user character displayed on the display device according to the item selected according to the selection instruction;
Look including the step of changing the direction of the selected direction line from said user characters are displayed on the display device in the direction to the selected items according to the selection instruction,
The step of displaying the item selection screen on the display device displays the item selection screen so that the eyes of the user character and the eyes of the other character are displayed,
The step of changing the display form of the user character and the display form of the other character changes the line of sight from the eyes of the user character so as to face the item selected according to the selection instruction, and by the item selection means When a specific item of the plurality of items is selected , the program changes the line of sight from the eyes of the other character so as to face the specific item . A computer-readable recording medium having the program according to claim 12 recorded thereon.

Images