JP5576061B2 - Program and game device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game apparatus or the like that includes a touch panel display and that controls display of a game image viewed from a given viewpoint to control a progress of a predetermined game.

  2. Description of the Related Art A portable game device equipped with a touch panel that enables touch operation input on a display screen is known. Games using such touch operation inputs are gaining popularity from users because they can perform more intuitive operation inputs than games that are input only by button operations. As a game using touch operation input, for example, a game that affects a moving path and a moving direction of a moving character by drawing (drawing) a line on a display screen is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Patent No. 3770499

  The touch operation input (trajectory input) for “drawing a line” in the above-described conventional game is performed on a game screen in progress of the game. In general, the game screen is displayed as an image of the state of the game space, which is a three-dimensional space, viewed from a given virtual viewpoint. However, depending on the setting of the viewpoint, it may be difficult to input a trajectory on the game screen. is there. For example, when the viewpoint is set so as to be viewed from the horizontal direction (or oblique direction), the range in which the locus is desired to be input may be hidden by other objects and cannot be seen on the game screen. In addition, when the viewpoint is approaching the operation target character, only the range near the character is displayed on the game screen, so there is a disadvantage that the range in which the locus can be input is narrow. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to facilitate the input of a trajectory for controlling the movement of a character by a player's touch operation.

The first invention for solving the above-described problems is
A game image (for example, the game screen in FIG. 2B) viewed from the first viewpoint (for example, the virtual viewpoint CM1 in FIG. 4) that is moved and controlled in accordance with the player's operation input on a computer having a touch panel display. W3) is a program for generating a predetermined game (for example, game program 410 in FIG. 17),
Overlooking the game space from a second viewpoint (for example, the virtual viewpoint CM2 in FIG. 4) that is a position overlooking the game space and has a wider shooting range than the first viewpoint and / or a field angle. A bird's-eye view image display control means (for example, the movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) for controlling display of the overhead image (for example, the movement setting screen W5 in FIG. 3) on the display,
Trajectory drawing means (for example, the movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) for drawing a trajectory (for example, the input trajectory 22 in FIG. 5) on the overhead view image according to the touch operation.
Based on the trajectory, a moving trajectory setting unit (for example, FIG. 7) sets a moving trajectory (for example, the moving trajectory 24 in FIG. 7) for a predetermined character (for example, the fellow character 12 in FIG. 7) to move in the game space. 17 movement setting unit 213),
Character control means (for example, fellow character control unit 212 in FIG. 17) for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory,
As a program for causing the computer to function.

As another invention,
A game device (for example, a portable device shown in FIGS. 1 and 17) that has a touch panel display and controls the display of a game image viewed from the first viewpoint that is controlled to move according to the player's operation input to control the progress of a predetermined game. Type game device 1000),
Controls display on the display of a bird's-eye view of the game space from a viewpoint and / or a second viewpoint that is defined as an angle of view that is a position overlooking the game space and has a wider shooting range than the first viewpoint. An overhead image display control means;
Locus drawing means for drawing a locus on the overhead image according to a touch operation;
A movement trajectory setting means for setting a movement trajectory for a predetermined character to move in the game space based on the trajectory;
Character control means for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory;
You may comprise the game device provided with.

  According to the first invention and the like, an image of the game space viewed from the first viewpoint is displayed on the touch panel display and the predetermined game is controlled to progress, but the display is different from the first viewpoint. An overhead image viewed from the second viewpoint is also displayed. Then, a trajectory is drawn on the bird's-eye view image according to the touch operation, and the character is controlled to move along the movement trajectory set based on the drawn trajectory. Here, the second viewpoint is defined as a viewpoint position and / or a field angle that has a wider shooting range than the first viewpoint. In other words, since a trajectory is drawn by a touch operation on an overhead image in which a wider range is captured than the game image, the player can more understand the state of the game space such as the positional relationship of the character, and the movement trajectory of the character can be determined. It is easy to input a trajectory for setting.

As a second invention, a program of the first invention,
Image switching control means (for example, movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) for switching an image to be displayed on the display to either the game image or the overhead image.
Game progress control means (for example, FIG. 17) that pauses the progress of the game when the image switching control means is switched to the bird's-eye view image and advances the game when the image switching control means is switched to the game image. Game calculation unit 210),
A program for causing the computer to function may be configured.

  According to the second aspect, the image displayed on the display is switched to either the game image or the bird's-eye view image, and when the image is switched to the bird's-eye view image, the progress of the game is paused. That is, a trajectory input by a touch operation can be performed on the bird's-eye view image with the game progress being paused. Therefore, the character does not move unscheduled before the trajectory input is completed, and the player can reliably input the trajectory of a desired shape without worrying about time. it can.

As a third invention, a program of the first or second invention,
Instruction icon superimposing display control means (for example, movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) for superimposing and controlling a predetermined instruction icon (for example, button display 20 in FIG. 3) on the overhead image.
When the instruction icon on the bird's-eye view image is touch-operated, icon instruction processing execution means (for example, the movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) that executes a predetermined process associated with the instruction icon in advance.
Instruction icon erasing means (for example, movement setting unit 213 in FIG. 17) for erasing the instruction icon when a portion other than the superimposed display portion of the instruction icon in the overhead image is touched;
A program for causing the computer to function may be configured.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, on the bird's-eye view image, the instruction icon previously associated with the predetermined process is superimposed and controlled, but a part other than the superimposed display part of the instruction icon is touch-operated. In this case, the instruction icon is deleted. Thereby, the locus input by the touch operation can be performed also on the portion hidden behind the instruction icon. Further, when the instruction icon is touched, a predetermined process associated with the instruction icon is executed.

As a fourth invention, there is provided a program according to any one of the first to third inventions,
The moving trajectory setting means sets a zigzag trajectory along the trajectory as the moving trajectory (for example, the moving trajectory 24 in FIG. 15),
The character control means applies a predetermined control according to the object to the character when the predetermined object is located within a search range predetermined for the character during the movement control of the character.
As described above, a program for causing the computer to function may be configured.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a zigzag trajectory along the trajectory drawn on the overhead image is set as the character trajectory. In this way, the movement trajectory of the character is not a drawn trajectory itself, but a zigzag trajectory along the trajectory, for example, compared to a case where the drawn trajectory itself is a movement trajectory. It is possible to obtain an effect that apparently widens the search range of the character when moving along.

As a fifth invention, there is provided a program according to any one of the first to fourth inventions,
The character control means
Means for controlling movement while changing the direction of the character (for example, fellow character control unit 212 in FIG. 17);
During the movement control of the character, when a predetermined object is located within a predetermined search range for the character, means for applying a predetermined control corresponding to the object to the character (for example, the fellow character of FIG. Control unit 212);
You may comprise the program for functioning the said computer so that it may have.

  According to the fifth aspect, movement control is performed while changing the direction of the character. As a result, when the character search range depends on the direction of the character, by moving along the movement path while changing the direction of the character, for example, compared to the case where the direction of the character is constant, An effect that apparently widens the search range of the character when moving along can be obtained.

As a sixth invention, there is provided a program according to any one of the first to fifth inventions,
The character control means
Appearance control means (for example, fellow character control unit 212 in FIG. 17) for causing the character to appear at the starting point of the movement trajectory,
An erasure control means for timing the existence time of the character in the game space and erasing the character from the game space when a given available time is reached (for example, a fellow character control unit 212 in FIG. 17). ,
Function the computer as
The trajectory drawing means causes the computer to function as a trajectory up to the drawable length when the length of the trajectory reaches a given drawable length according to the possible existence time;
A program may be configured.

  According to the sixth aspect, the character appears at the start point of the movement trajectory, and is erased from the game space when the existence time in the game space reaches a given possible existence time. Further, the trajectory drawn by the touch operation on the bird's-eye view screen is the trajectory up to the drawable length corresponding to the available time of the character in the game space. That is, the locus by the touch operation is drawn only up to the drawable length corresponding to the character's possible existence time. Thereby, the player can grasp the maximum distance that the character can move before the character is erased, based on the length of the locus drawn by the touch operation.

As a seventh invention, a program of the sixth invention,
A program for causing the computer to function so that the trajectory drawing means has drawable length determining means for determining the drawable length from the moving speed determined for the character and the possible existence time. good.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the drawable length is determined from the moving speed determined for the character and the possible existence time.

  As an eighth invention, a computer-readable information storage medium (for example, the storage unit 400 in FIG. 17) storing the program of any one of the first to seventh inventions may be configured. The “information storage medium” here includes, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an IC memory, and the like. According to the eighth aspect, by causing a computer to read and execute a program stored in the information storage medium, the same operational effects as any one of the first to seventh aspects can be exhibited.

An external appearance example of a portable game device. Example of display screen during play. An example of a movement setting screen. Explanatory drawing of the setting of a virtual camera. Explanatory drawing of the locus | trajectory input in a movement setting screen. Explanatory drawing of the locus | trajectory input in a movement setting screen. An example of a game screen. An example of a game screen. Explanatory drawing of the deletion of the button display in a movement setting screen. Explanatory drawing of the deletion of the button display in a movement setting screen. Explanatory drawing of the deletion of the button display in a movement setting screen. Explanatory drawing of the deletion of the button display in a movement setting screen. Setting example of search range for fellow characters. Explanatory drawing of control of a fellow character. Explanatory drawing of the setting of the movement track based on an input track. Explanatory drawing of the change of the search range by the difference in a movement track | orbit. The functional block diagram of a portable game device. The data structural example of player character data. Data structure example of fellow character data. The flowchart of a game process. The flowchart of the movement setting process performed during a game process. Another example of the movement setting screen.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, in an RPG (Role-Playing Game) executed by a portable game device having a touch panel, an input trajectory by a touch operation is used for movement control of a player character's fellow character. Will be explained.

[Configuration of game device]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable game apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment. According to FIG. 1, the portable game apparatus 1000 includes a direction input key 1004 and a button switch 1006 for a player to input a game operation, a first liquid crystal display 1008, a second liquid crystal display 1010, a speaker 1016, The control unit 1020 is provided in a foldable apparatus main body 1002 that can be opened and closed by a hinge. On the display surfaces of the first liquid crystal display 1008 and the second liquid crystal display 1010, touch panels 1012 and 1014 that can touch and input arbitrary positions on the display screen by touching with a stylus pen 1040 or the like are mounted, respectively. .

  In addition, the apparatus main body 1002 includes a memory card reader 1026 that can read and write data from and to a memory card 1030 that is a computer-readable information storage medium. The memory card 1030 stores programs and various setting data necessary for the control unit 1020 of the portable game apparatus 1000 to execute various arithmetic processes related to game play. In addition, the apparatus main body 1002 is provided with a built-in battery, a power button, a volume control button, etc., not shown.

  The touch panels 1012 and 1014 cover almost the entire display screen of the first liquid crystal display 1008 and the second liquid crystal display 1010 without shielding the display screen, respectively, and a touch operation that the player touches with the stylus pen 1040 (or a finger or the like). By doing so, the contact position coordinates in the orthogonal Xw, Yw axis coordinate system with the upper left as the origin can be output to the control unit 1020.

  The control unit 1020 corresponds to a control board of the game device, and includes various microprocessors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a VRAM, and the like. Various IC memories such as RAM and ROM are installed. The control unit 1020 includes a wireless communication module 1022, a triaxial acceleration sensor 1024, a driver circuit for the first liquid crystal display 1008 and the second liquid crystal display 1010, a driver circuit for the touch panels 1012 and 1014, a direction input key 1004, and a button switch 1006. A so-called I / F circuit (interface circuit) such as a circuit for receiving a signal from a signal, an amplifier circuit for outputting an audio signal to the speaker 1016, and a signal input / output circuit to the memory card reader 1026 is mounted. Each element mounted on the control unit 1020 is electrically connected via a bus circuit so that data can be read and written and signals can be transmitted and received.

  The triaxial acceleration sensor 1024 detects acceleration in the three axial directions of the X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to detect a change in posture or position of the portable game apparatus 1000 and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 1020. To do. In addition, it is good also as a structure provided with a gyro sensor as a function addition instead of an acceleration sensor. Alternatively, a function of a magnetic sensor that detects a change in position or posture with reference to geomagnetism may be added.

  Then, the control unit 1020 reads out programs and data stored in the memory card 1030 by the memory card reader 1026 and temporarily stores them in the IC memory to be mounted. Then, the read program is executed to execute arithmetic processing, and each part of the portable game apparatus 1000 is controlled in accordance with operation inputs from the direction input key 1004, the button switch 1006, and the touch panels 1012 and 1014, and a given game Execute.

  In the present embodiment, the portable game apparatus 1000 is configured to read out necessary programs and various setting data from the memory card 1030, but via the wireless communication module 1022, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), WAN ( It is also possible to connect to a wired / wireless communication line N such as Wide Area Network and download from an external device.

[Game Overview]
FIG. 2 is an example of a display screen during play. FIG. 2A shows the information screen W1 displayed on the first liquid crystal display 1008, and FIG. 2B shows the game screen W3 displayed on the second liquid crystal display 1010.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the information screen W1 of the first liquid crystal display 1008 includes an outline 1 of the current game stage, an approximate current position 3 of the player character 10 on the game stage, and a player appearing in the game. Various types of information for reference of the game play such as the status 5 of the character 10 and the fellow character 12 are displayed.

  The status 5a of the player character 10 includes its portrait, name, current level, and physical strength value. The status 5b of each fellow character 12 includes its portrait, name, attribute, and possession time. The “time remaining” of the fellow character 12 is the remaining time that the character can exist in the game space, and a different upper limit (existable time) is defined for each character. That is, the possession time decreases with time when the character appears in the game space, and when the character reaches zero, the character disappears from the game space. However, this holding time increases (recovers) over time when the character does not appear in the game space.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the game screen W3 of the second liquid crystal display 1010 displays the state of the game stage centered on the player character 10. In this game screen W3, various button displays 20 and the like corresponding to the current game situation are superimposed on a 3DCG game image obtained by viewing the state of the game space from a given virtual viewpoint (virtual camera). Generated. The virtual viewpoint is set so as to follow the player character 10, and on the game screen W3, the player character 10 is displayed so that it is always located at substantially the center thereof.

  While viewing these display screens, the player performs operations using the direction input key 1004, the button switch 1006, and the touch panels 1012 and 1014 to move the player character 10 and battle the enemy character 14 to play the game. Aim for the goal point set on the stage. The game is cleared if the goal point can be reached within the time limit, and the game is over if the time cannot be reached within the time limit or if the HP (HP) becomes zero due to the attack of the enemy character.

  In the game of the present embodiment, a fellow character 12 appears in addition to the player character 10 as a character that can be involved in the control of the player by operation input.

  The game screen W3 in FIG. 2B shows a situation when the fellow character 12 does not appear. The player can set a path (movement trajectory) on which the character moves as an operation input to the fellow character 12. Specifically, on the game screen W3, the “Namama” button display 20a for starting the movement setting of the fellow character 12 is selected by touching. Then, the game progress is temporarily stopped, and the display screen of the second liquid crystal display 1010 is switched from the game screen W3 to the movement setting screen W5.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the movement setting screen W5. As shown in FIG. 3, on the movement setting screen W5, the state of the game space viewed from a different viewpoint from the game screen W3 is displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the virtual viewpoint CM1 (first viewpoint) for the game screen is set so as to look down on the player character 10 from obliquely above, and the virtual viewpoint CM2 (second viewpoint) for the movement setting screen is The player character 10 is set to look down from above. Further, the virtual viewpoint CM2 is arranged at a position farther from the player character 10 than the virtual viewpoint CM1 (D1 <D2). That is, the virtual viewpoint CM2 is a viewpoint that is subtracted from the virtual viewpoint CM1, and on the movement setting screen W5, a state outside the screen that is not displayed on the game screen W3 is also displayed. Since the game progress is temporarily stopped, the image (overhead image) based on the virtual viewpoint CM2 is a still image.

  Then, various button displays 20b and 20c for player operation input and a character icon 18 representing the fellow character 12 are displayed superimposed on the game space image (overhead image) viewed from the virtual viewpoint CM2. The movement setting screen W5 is generated.

  On the movement setting screen W5, movement setting can be made for the fellow character 12 that does not appear in the game space at the present time, and a character icon 18 for the character for which movement setting is possible is displayed. The character icon 18 is displayed in the vicinity of the player character 10, and the display position is the appearance position of the corresponding fellow character 12 in the game space.

  In the movement setting screen W5, the player selects a fellow character to appear (appears) in the game space and performs a movement setting for inputting the movement trajectory. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the character icon 18 of the fellow character 12 that is desired to appear is selected by touching with the stylus pen 1040, and a slide operation is performed so as to draw a route to be moved while touching. Here, the “slide operation” is an operation of moving while touching the display screen. An operation for starting touching the display screen is referred to as “touch-in”, and an operation for releasing the display screen is referred to as “touch-out”. Then, the locus (input locus) 22 of the touch position accompanying the slide operation is displayed (drawn). As shown in FIG. 6, the input locus 22 remains displayed even when touched out. In FIG. 6, an input locus 22 from the character icon 18a toward the enemy character 14a is displayed.

  After completing the trajectory input, the button display 20b of “Totsugeki!” For completing the movement setting of the fellow character 12 is selected by touching. Then, the display screen of the second liquid crystal display 1010 is switched from the movement setting screen W5 to the game screen W7 shown in FIG. 7, and the game progress that has been paused is resumed.

  On the game screen W7 immediately after the game progress is resumed, the fellow character 12 corresponding to the character icon 18 selected on the movement setting screen W5 appears at a position corresponding to the display position of the icon 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the fellow character 12 moves along a movement trajectory 24 corresponding to the input trajectory 22 input on the movement setting screen W5. The movement trajectory 24 is obtained by converting the two-dimensional input trajectory 22 drawn on the movement setting screen W5 into a three-dimensional trajectory in the game space. The moving trajectory 24 is not displayed on the game screen W7, but is shown for convenience of explanation.

  In addition, on the movement setting screen W5, the input locus 22 once drawn can be redrawn. That is, for example, as in the movement setting screen W5 shown in FIG. 6, when the character icon 18a on which the input locus 22 is already drawn is touched again and selected, the input locus 22 drawn with the character icon 18a as the starting point is erased. Since it is (cleared), a new input locus 22 can be drawn by performing the slide operation as it is.

  By the way, when the character icon 18 is touched on the movement setting screen W5 shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 9, the button displays 20b and 20c move to the outside of the screen (or gradually become thinner). ) Erased (slide off). As a result, the locus can be input also for the portion hidden by the button displays 20b and 20c. The erased button displays 20b and 20c are redisplayed when touched out, as shown in FIG. The deletion / redisplay of the button displays 20b and 20c is performed when a part other than the button displays 20b and 20c is touched. For example, as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the touch button is touched, the button displays 20b and 20c are erased and redisplayed when touched out.

  Further, as shown in the game screen W7 of FIG. 8, when the “Namama” button display 20a is selected in a state where the fellow character 12 has already appeared, the movement setting screen W11 that is subsequently displayed is as shown in FIG. In addition, the character icon 18 of only the fellow character 12 that does not appear in the game space is displayed. That is, in this case, only the fellow character 12 that does not appear in the game space can be set to move.

  When it is desired to perform the movement setting for such an appearing fellow character 12, the button display 20c of “Motoru!” Which makes the appearing fellow character 12 disappear and can be designated is selected. Then, the fellow character 12 appearing in the game space disappears and can be set for movement, and the character icon 18 corresponding to the character is displayed.

  As described above, the fellow character 12 is controlled to move along the set movement trajectory 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the fellow character 12 has a circular search range 30 centered on the character. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, when a predetermined object (for example, a character such as the enemy character 14 or an item such as the treasure box 16) is located in the search range 30, a predetermined process (for example, an enemy character) for the object is performed. 14 and the operation of opening the treasure chest 16).

  That is, the companion character 12 basically moves along the movement trajectory 24, but during movement, when a predetermined object is located within the search range 30 defined for the character, the fellow character 12 moves along the movement trajectory 24. Once interrupted, a predetermined process is performed on the object, and when the process ends, the movement along the movement track 24 is controlled to resume. This movement and operation control is realized by a known NPC automatic control technique called AI control.

  Note that the shape of the search range 30 is not limited to a circular shape, and may be a sector shape centered on the front direction of the fellow character 12 as shown in FIG. In this case, when moving along the movement trajectory 24, the direction of the fellow character 12 is changed to a direction different from the movement direction (direction along the movement trajectory 24) (for example, moving while performing a swing motion). It may be moved while changing the front direction to the left and right as if).

  Further, as described above, the movement trajectory 24 of the fellow character 12 is set based on the input trajectory 22 on the movement setting screen W5, but the set movement trajectory 24 is not a trajectory that substantially matches the input trajectory 22. As shown in FIG. 15, it is set as a zigzag trajectory along the input trajectory 22 (that is, a trajectory that periodically approaches and separates from the input trajectory 22). Thereby, the apparent search range 30 can be expanded.

  That is, in the game scene as shown in FIG. 16A, when the movement trajectory 24 is a trajectory that substantially matches the input trajectory 22, the enemy character 14 has the radius R of the search range 30 of the fellow character 12 from the input trajectory 22. Since it is located at a further distance, it is not located within the search range 30 of the fellow character 12 that moves along the movement trajectory 24. However, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the movement trajectory is a zigzag trajectory along the input trajectory 22, an enemy character can be located in the search range 30 of the character. The moving track 24 is a track from the start point to the end point of the input track 22.

[Function configuration]
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the portable game apparatus 1000. According to FIG. 17, the portable game apparatus 1000 functionally includes an operation input unit 100, a processing unit 200, an image display unit 320, a sound output unit 330, a communication unit 340, and a storage unit 400. It is configured with.

  The operation input unit 100 receives an operation input from the player, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation to the processing unit 200. The function input unit 100 is realized by a button switch, a joystick, a touch pad, a trackball, an acceleration sensor unit, an inclination sensor unit, or the like. In FIG. 1, the direction input key 1004 and the button switch 1006 correspond to this.

  The operation input unit 100 includes a touch position detection unit 110. The touch position detection unit 110 detects a contact position (touch position) to the display screen range, and the detected contact position is, for example, coordinates expressed in an orthogonal Xw, Yw coordinate system with the origin O at the upper left of the display screen. Output as a value (Xt, Yt). In FIG. 1, touch panels 1012 and 1014 correspond to this.

  The processing unit 200 is implemented by electronic components such as a microprocessor such as a CPU and a GPU, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and an IC memory, and includes the operation input unit 100 and the storage unit 400. Input / output data to / from each functional unit. Then, various arithmetic processes are executed based on predetermined programs and data, and operation input signals from the operation input unit 100 to control the operation of the portable game apparatus 1000. In FIG. 1, the control unit 1020 corresponds to this. The processing unit 200 includes a game calculation unit 210 that mainly performs calculation processing related to game execution, an image generation unit 220 that generates a game image based on data obtained by the processing of the game calculation unit 210, and sound effects. And a sound generator 230 for generating game sounds such as BGM.

  The game calculation unit 210 includes a player character control unit 211, a fellow character control unit 212, and a movement setting unit 213, and executes game processing according to the game program 410.

  The player character control unit 211 controls the player character 10 in accordance with the player's operation input from the operation input unit 100.

  Here, data on the player character 10 is stored as player character data 430. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the player character data 430. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the player character data 430 stores the name 431 of the player character 10, the current level 432, the physical strength value 433 and the position 434, model data 435, and control data 436 such as motion data. ing.

  The fellow character control unit 212 controls the fellow character 12.

  Here, data about the fellow character 12 is stored as fellow character data 440. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the fellow character data 440. As shown in FIG. 19, the fellow character data 440 is generated for each fellow character 12 appearing in the game, and the name 441, the attribute 442, the movement speed 443, the search range 444, and the trajectory of the corresponding fellow character 12. The setting parameter 445, the current position 446, the current holding time 447, the appearance flag 448, the moving trajectory data 449, the model data 450, and control data 451 such as motion data are stored.

  For example, in the case where the search range 444 has a circular shape centered on the fellow character 12, as shown in FIG. 13A, a radius R of the circular shape is set. The trajectory setting parameter 445 is a parameter that determines the shape of the moving trajectory 24 set for the character. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, when the moving trajectory 24 is a zigzag-shaped trajectory along the input trajectory 22, the amplitude H and period W when this zigzag shape is regarded as a periodic triangular wave are Is set. The appearing flag 448 is a flag that indicates whether or not it appears in the game space. The moving trajectory data 449 is the moving trajectory 24 set for the character.

  The fellow character control unit 212 causes the fellow character 12 selected as newly appearing by the movement setting unit 213 to appear at the start position of the movement trajectory 24 set for the character. And it controls so that this fellow character may move along the movement track | orbit 24 set to this character. In addition, when a predetermined object (for example, a character such as the enemy character 14 or an item such as the treasure box 16) is located within the search range 30 defined for the character during the movement, it depends on the type of the object. A predetermined process (for example, a battle with the enemy character 14 or an operation of opening a treasure chest) is performed. At this time, the position of the character when a predetermined object is detected is stored. When the process is completed, the movement along the movement path 24 is resumed after performing a return trajectory movement that moves to the character position stored when the process is started. This movement and operation control is realized by a known NPC automatic control technique called AI control.

  Moreover, the fellow character control part 212 reduces the time of each fellow character 12 appearing in the game space with the passage of time. Then, the fellow character 12 whose time has become zero disappears from the game space. Moreover, about the fellow character 12 which has not appeared in the game space, the possession time is recovered as time passes.

  The movement setting unit 213 performs movement setting of the fellow character 12 according to the player's operation input from the operation input unit 100.

  Specifically, when a movement setting start operation is performed on the fellow character 12 by selecting the “Nakama” button display 20a on the game screen W3 while the game is in progress, the game progress is temporarily stopped. Then, the fellow character 12 that does not appear in the game space at this time is set as a character that can be moved. Next, the display is switched from the game screen W3 to the movement setting screen W5. In other words, the viewpoint is switched from the virtual viewpoint CM1 to the virtual viewpoint CM2, and an image (overhead image) of the game space based on the virtual viewpoint CM2 is generated. The movement setting screen W5 is generated by superimposing the character icons 18 corresponding to the twelve. At this time, the character icon 18 is arranged in the vicinity of the player character 10.

  Subsequently, when the character icon 18 is touched on the movement setting screen W5, the fellow character 12 corresponding to the touched character icon 18 is a character that newly appears in the game space. Then, the input trajectory 22 by the slide operation performed following the touch is converted into a three-dimensional trajectory in the game space and set as the movement trajectory 24 of the character. At this time, the moving trajectory 24 is set as a zigzag trajectory along the input trajectory 22 as shown in FIG. The amplitude H and period W that determine the zigzag shape are defined as the trajectory setting parameter 445 in the corresponding fellow character data 440.

  When the movement setting completion operation is performed by selecting the “Totsugeki!” Button display 20b, the display is switched from the movement setting screen to the game screen, and the progress of the game that has been paused is resumed.

  Furthermore, when a part other than the button display 20 is touched on the movement setting screen W5, the movement setting unit 213 deletes the button display 20. Thereafter, when a touch-out is detected, the erased button display 20 is displayed again.

  The image generation unit 220 is realized by, for example, a processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a digital signal processor (DSP), a drawing signal IC memory such as a video signal IC, a video codec, or a frame buffer. The image generation unit 220 generates one game image in one frame time (for example, 1/60 seconds) based on the processing result by the game calculation unit 210, and outputs an image signal of the generated game image to the image display unit 320. To do.

  The image display unit 320 displays various game images based on the image signal input from the image generation unit 220. For example, it can be realized by an image display device such as a flat panel display or a cathode ray tube (CRT). In FIG. 1, the first liquid crystal display 1008 and the second liquid crystal display 1010 correspond to this.

  The sound generation unit 230 is realized by a processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a voice synthesis IC, or an audio codec capable of playing back an audio file, for example. Based on the processing result by the game calculation unit 210, sound effects and BGM related to the game Then, sound signals of various operation sounds are generated and output to the sound output unit 330.

  The sound output unit 330 is realized by a device that outputs sound effects, BGM, and the like based on the sound signal input from the sound generation unit 230. In FIG. 1, the speaker 1016 corresponds to this.

  The communication unit 340 is connected to the communication line N to realize communication. For example, a wireless communication device, a modem, a TA (terminal adapter), a wired communication cable jack, a control circuit, and the like are realized, and the wireless communication module 1022 in FIG. 1 corresponds to this.

  The storage unit 400 stores a system program for realizing various functions for causing the processing unit 200 to control the portable game apparatus 1000 in an integrated manner, a game program necessary for executing the game, various data, and the like. . Further, it is used as a work area of the processing unit 200, and temporarily stores calculation results executed by the processing unit 200 according to various programs, input data input from the operation input unit 100, and the like. This function is realized by, for example, an IC memory such as a RAM and a ROM, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM and DVD. In FIG. 1, the IC memory and the memory card 1030 mounted on the control unit 1020 correspond to this. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 400 stores a game program 410 as a program, and stores stage data 420, player character data 430, and fellow character data 440 as data. The stage data 420 is data for constructing a game stage, and includes data such as enemy characters arranged on the game stage.

[Process flow]
FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the game process. According to FIG. 20, the game calculation unit 210 first constructs a game space based on the stage data 420 as an initial setting (step A1). Then, the progress of the game is started (step A3). Subsequently, a game screen based on the virtual viewpoint CM1 is generated and displayed (step A5). Further, the player character control unit 211 controls movement and movement of the player character 10 in accordance with an operation input by the player (step A7).

  Then, if the “Nakama” button display 20a is selected while the game is in progress and an operation for starting the movement setting of the fellow character is performed (step A9: YES), after the game progress is paused (step A11), The movement setting unit 213 performs movement setting processing (step A13).

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the movement setting process. According to FIG. 21, the movement setting unit 213 first sets the fellow character 12 that does not appear in the game space at the present time as a movement trajectory settable character (step B1). Next, the viewpoint is switched from the virtual viewpoint CM1 to the virtual viewpoint CM2, and a movement setting screen in which the character icon 18 of the settable character and various button displays are superimposed on the game space image (overhead image) based on the virtual viewpoint CM2 is generated. Then, the display is switched from the game screen to the movement setting screen (step B3).

  Subsequently, if a touch-in on the movement setting screen is detected (step B5: YES), it is determined whether or not the touch position is a display part of the button display 20, that is, whether or not the button display 20 is touched. If it is a touch to a part other than the button display 20 (step B7: NO), a slide-out for erasing the button display 20 toward the outside of the screen is performed (step B9).

  Further, it is determined whether or not the touch position is the display portion of the character icon 18, that is, whether or not the character icon 18 is touched. If the character icon 18 is touched (step B11: YES), the touch is made. The fellow character 12 corresponding to the character icon 18 is a character that newly appears (step B13).

  Until the touch-out is detected (step B17: NO), the touch position locus is drawn as the input locus 22 (step B15). When the touch-out is detected (step B17: YES), the movement trajectory of the fellow character 12 is set based on the input trajectory 22 (step B19). At the same time, slide-in for redisplaying the button display 20 is performed (step B23). Then, it returns to step B5 and performs the same process.

  On the other hand, if the touch position is neither the display part of the button display 20 nor the display part of the character icon 18 (step B11: NO), it waits for the detection of the touchout, and when the touchout is detected (step B21: YES). Then, a slide-in for redisplaying the button display 20 is performed (step B23). Then, it returns to step B5 and performs the same process.

  On the other hand, if the button display 20 is touched (step B7: YES), processing corresponding to the touched button display 20 is performed. In other words, if the button display 20b of “MORE which!” Is touched (step B25: “MORE!”), All the fellow characters 12 appearing in the game space are lost (step B27), and these are lost. The movement trajectory 24 set for the fellow character 12 is cleared (step B29). Then, these disappeared fellow characters 12 are set as movement trajectory settable characters, and the corresponding character icons 18 are displayed on the movement setting screen (step B31). Then, it returns to step B5 and performs the same process.

  On the other hand, if the button display 20 of “Totsugeki!” Is touched and a movement setting end operation is input (step B25: “Totsugeki!”), The start point is switched from the virtual viewpoint CM2 to the virtual viewpoint CM1. The display is switched from the movement setting screen to the game screen (step B33). When the above process is performed, the movement setting unit 213 ends the movement setting process.

  When the movement setting process ends, the game calculation unit 210 resumes the progress of the paused game (step A15). Next, the fellow character control unit 212 causes each of the fellow characters 12 selected as newly appearing in this movement setting process to appear at the start position of the movement trajectory 24 set for the character (step A17). Then, for each friend character 12 that has appeared, the countdown of the possession time is started (step A19).

  Subsequently, the fellow character control unit 212 performs a loop A process for each fellow character 12 appearing in the game space. In the loop A, AI control is performed on the target fellow character 12 including movement control along the set movement trajectory 24 and predetermined processing for a predetermined object located in the search range 30 (step A23). Further, the time of the target fellow character 12 is determined, and if the time of possession becomes zero (step A25: YES), the fellow character 12 disappears from the game space (step A27). Then, the moving trajectory 24 set for the character is cleared (step A29). The process of loop A is performed in this way.

  When the loop A for all the fellow characters 12 existing in the game space is completed, the game calculation unit 210 determines whether or not the game end condition is satisfied. (A31: NO), returning to step A5, the same processing is performed. On the other hand, if the game end condition is satisfied (step A31: YES), the game in progress is ended and the present game process is ended.

[Action / Effect]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, when the “Nakama” button display 20a is touched and selected on the game screen W3, the ongoing game is paused and the movement trajectory 24 of the fellow character 12 is set. The movement setting screen W5 is displayed. On the movement setting screen W5, a character icon 18 representing a friend character that can appear in the game space is superimposed on the overhead image of the game space, and a slide operation along the path to be moved by touching the character icon 18 is performed. I do. When the game progress is resumed and the game screen W3 is displayed again, the fellow character 12 appears at the start point of the moving trajectory 24 set based on the input trajectory 22 by the slide operation, and the fellow character 12 It moves along the moving track 24.

  On the movement setting screen W5, a wider game space range than the game screen W3 is displayed. Further, when the display is switched from the game screen W3 to the movement setting screen W5, the game progress is temporarily stopped. That is, the movement setting screen W5 is a still image of the game space. Thereby, it becomes easy to input a locus by a touch operation on the movement setting screen W5.

[Modification]
It should be noted that embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(A) Drawing of Input Trajectory 22 For example, in the movement setting screen W5, the input trajectory 22 drawn by the slide operation may be a finite length. That is, for the fellow character 12, a moving speed and a holding time in the game space are determined. That is, the fellow character 12 has an upper limit on the distance that it can move from the appearance to the disappearance in the game space, and this maximum movement distance Lm is calculated as a value obtained by multiplying the movement speed V by the time T. Is done.

  For this reason, when the length of the input trajectory 22 by the slide operation reaches a length corresponding to the maximum movement distance Lm of the corresponding fellow character 12, the drawing of the input trajectory 22 by the subsequent slide operation is not performed. The length from the starting point of the input trajectory 22 is set so as not to exceed the length corresponding to the maximum movement distance Lm.

(B) Movement setting of fellow character 12 Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in the movement setting screen W5 immediately after switching, only the character icon 18 of the fellow character 12 which does not appear in the game space is displayed, and these fellow characters. 12, it is possible to set the movement for 12 characters. As shown in the movement setting screen W <b> 11 of FIG. 22, this is the character of all the fellow characters 12 regardless of whether or not they appear in the game space. The icon 18 may be displayed.

  In this case, when the character icon 18a of the fellow character 12a appearing in the game space is touched, the fellow character 12 corresponding to the character icon 18a disappears from the game space and the movement setting is made possible again. Also in this case, by touching and selecting the button display 20c of “MORE!”, All of the fellow characters 12 appearing in the game space can be collectively lost and set for movement. Thereby, when a plurality of fellow characters 12 appear in the game space, it becomes possible to select the fellow characters 12 that are set to move one by one.

(C) Display of Movement Setting Screen W5 In the above-described embodiment, the game screen W3 and the movement setting screen W5 are switched and displayed on the same display screen (second liquid crystal display 1010). It may be displayed on a different screen. Specifically, for example, in the portable game apparatus 1000, the game screen W3 remains displayed on the second liquid crystal display 1010, and the movement setting screen W5 is displayed on the first liquid crystal display 1008. Further, the display screen of the second liquid crystal display 1010 may be divided into two, the game screen W3 is displayed on one side, and the movement setting screen W5 is displayed on the other side.

(D) Game Device In the above-described embodiment, the case of the portable game device 1000 has been described. However, the game device may be a device corresponding to a computer having a touch panel display, such as a home game device or an arcade game device. In the same manner, it can be implemented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1000 Portable game device 100 Operation input part, 110 Touch position detection part 200 Processing part 210 Game calculating part 211 Player character control part, 212 Companion character control part 213 Movement setting part 400 Storage part 410 Game program, 420 Stage data 430 Player character Data, 440 Companion character data W1 Information screen W3, W7 Game screen 10 Player character 12 Companion character, 30 Search range 14 Enemy character 20 Button display 24 Movement trajectory W5, W9 Movement setting screen 18 Character icon 22 Input trajectory CM1, CM2 Virtual camera

Claims (5)

A program for causing a computer equipped with a touch panel display to generate a game image in which a game space is viewed from a given viewpoint and to advance a predetermined game,
Overhead image display control means for display control in said display an overhead image looking down the game space from the viewpoint you overhead the game space,
Instruction icon superimposing display control means for superimposing and displaying a predetermined instruction icon on the overhead image;
Icon instruction processing execution means for executing a predetermined process associated with the instruction icon in advance when the instruction icon on the overhead image is touch-operated;
Instruction icon erasing means for erasing the instruction icon when a portion other than the superimposed display portion of the instruction icon in the overhead image is touch-operated;
Locus drawing means for drawing a locus on the overhead image according to a touch operation;
A movement trajectory setting means for setting a movement trajectory for a predetermined character to move in the game space based on the trajectory;
Character control means for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory;
A program for causing the computer to function as A program for causing a computer equipped with a touch panel display to generate a game image in which a game space is viewed from a given viewpoint and to advance a predetermined game,
Overhead image display control means for display control in said display an overhead image looking down the game space from the viewpoint you overhead the game space,
Locus drawing means for drawing a locus on the overhead image according to a touch operation;
A movement trajectory setting means for setting a movement trajectory for a predetermined character to move in the game space based on the trajectory;
Character control means for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory;
It makes the computer function as,
The character control means
Appearance control means for causing the character to appear at the start point of the moving trajectory;
An erasure control means for timing the existence time of the character in the game space and erasing the character from the game space when a given possible existence time is reached;
Have
The trajectory drawing means, when the length of the trajectory reaches a given drawable length according to the possible existence time, is a trajectory up to the drawable length,
program. The trajectory drawing means includes a drawable length determining means for determining the drawable length from the moving speed determined for the character and the possible existence time .
The program according to claim 2 . A game device that includes a touch panel display, controls display of a game image viewed from a given viewpoint, and controls the progress of a predetermined game.
A bird's eye image display control means for displaying control the overhead image looking down the game space from the viewpoint you overhead the game space on the display,
Instruction icon superposition display control means for superimposing and displaying a predetermined instruction icon on the overhead image;
Icon instruction processing execution means for executing a predetermined process previously associated with the instruction icon when the instruction icon on the overhead image is touch-operated;
Instruction icon erasing means for erasing the instruction icon when a portion other than the superimposed display portion of the instruction icon in the overhead image is touch-operated;
Locus drawing means for drawing a locus on the overhead image according to a touch operation;
A movement trajectory setting means for setting a movement trajectory for a predetermined character to move in the game space based on the trajectory;
Character control means for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory;
A game device comprising: A game device that includes a touch panel display, controls display of a game image viewed from a given viewpoint, and controls the progress of a predetermined game.
A bird's eye image display control means for displaying control the overhead image looking down the game space from the viewpoint you overhead the game space on the display,
Locus drawing means for drawing a locus on the overhead image according to a touch operation;
A movement trajectory setting means for setting a movement trajectory for a predetermined character to move in the game space based on the trajectory;
Character control means for controlling movement of the character along the movement trajectory;
Equipped with a,
The character control means
Appearance control means for causing the character to appear at the start point of the moving trajectory;
An erasure control means for timing the existence time of the character in the game space and erasing the character from the game space when a given possible existence time is reached;
Have
The trajectory drawing means, when the length of the trajectory reaches a given drawable length according to the possible existence time, is a trajectory up to the drawable length,
Game device.

Images