JP2010068817A - Server, method and program for video game control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform the moving operation of an avatar to be operated by a player within a game screen without taking large processing loads. <P>SOLUTION: A video game control server 10 includes a game DB 11 for storing area information including area display scale information indicating the display scale of a two-dimensional area (virtual area) displayed at a player terminal 21 where the avatar operated by the player is movable, receives a scale change designation indicating a request to change the display scale of the two-dimensional area from the player terminal 21, updates the area display scale information as the scale change designation is received, generates game image control information for displaying a game image indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information at every prescribed interval of time, and successively provides the player terminal 21 with the game image control information generated at every prescribed interval of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a video game to a player terminal operated by a player via a communication network and controlling the progress of the video game.

  In recent years, each player can communicate with other players on the web through his / her own avatar (characters such as animals and robots that appear on the screen as a part of the player in a communication tool such as chat) created by each player. Various network services for communication via their avatars are provided (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  In such network services, there are generally services that can change the avatar's clothes and ornaments, and can move avatars created by three-dimensional data such as polygons in a virtual space.

“SECOND LIFE”, [online], [searched on August 20, 2008], Internet <URL: http: // jp. secondlife. com />

  However, in the conventional network service described above, since a moving operation can be performed only by an avatar created from three-dimensional data, a high-performance terminal device is required, and many players cannot participate. was there.

  In addition, the conventional network service has a problem in that the avatar moving operation cannot be easily performed because the screen can only be scrolled.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention makes it possible for a player terminal operated by a player to easily perform an avatar moving operation operated by the player within a game screen without incurring a large processing load. For the purpose.

  A video game control device according to the present invention is a video game control server that provides a video game to a player terminal operated by a player via a communication network and controls the progress of the video game. An area information storage means for storing area information including area display scale information indicating a display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar to be moved can be displayed, and a display scale of the two-dimensional area from the player terminal. A scale change designation receiving means for receiving a scale change designation indicating a change request; an area display size updating means for updating the area display scale information in response to the scale change designation being accepted by the scale change designation accepting means; The area display scale information indicates every predetermined time. The game screen control information generating means for generating game screen control information for controlling the game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the indicated scale, and the game screen control information generating means generated at predetermined intervals. Game screen control information providing means for sequentially providing the game screen control information to the player terminal.

  With the above configuration, the moving operation of the avatar operated by the player can be easily performed in the game screen at the player terminal operated by the player without incurring a large processing load.

  The area information is information including avatar position information indicating a display position of the avatar in the two-dimensional area, and movement designation receiving means for receiving movement designation of the avatar in the two-dimensional area from the player terminal; And a position information update unit that updates the avatar position information in response to the movement designation received by the movement designation receiving unit. The game screen control information generating unit is located at the display position indicated by the avatar position information. You may be set as the structure which produces | generates the game screen control information for displaying the game screen which shows the said two-dimensional area where the avatar was displayed on the said player terminal.

  The scale change designation accepting unit may be configured to accept the scale change designation only when the movement designation is not accepted by the movement designation accepting unit.

  The area information is information associated with a plurality of two-dimensional areas where the avatar can enter and exit, and the game screen control information generating means is associated with a two-dimensional area where the avatar exists. In accordance with the area information, game screen control information for causing the player terminal to display a game screen indicating the two-dimensional area may be generated.

  The video game control method of the present invention is a video game control method for providing a video game to a player terminal operated by a player via a communication network and controlling the progress of the video game, wherein the player A scale change designation accepting process for accepting a scale change designation from the player terminal indicating a request to change the display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar operated by the user can move, and the scale change designation accepting process The area for updating the area display scale information indicating the display scale of the two-dimensional area included in the area information stored in the area information storage means for storing the area information in response to receiving the scale change designation. The display size update process and the area display scale information are displayed every predetermined time. A game screen control information generation process for generating game screen control information for controlling a game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale, and a game screen control information generation process at predetermined intervals. And a game screen control information providing process for sequentially providing the generated game screen control information to the player terminal.

  Furthermore, the video game control program of the present invention is a video game control program for causing a player terminal operated by a player to provide a video game via a communication network and controlling the progress of the video game, A scale change designation accepting process for accepting a scale change designation from the player terminal indicating a request to change a display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar operated by the player can move; An area display scale indicating the display scale of the two-dimensional area included in the area information stored in the area information storage means for storing the area information in response to receiving the scale change specification in the change specification receiving process. Area display size update processing for updating information, and predetermined A game screen control information generating process for generating game screen control information for controlling a game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information; This is for executing a game screen control information providing process for sequentially providing game screen control information generated at predetermined time intervals in the screen control information generating process to the player terminal.

  According to the present invention, in the player terminal operated by the player, the moving operation of the avatar operated by the player can be easily performed in the game screen without incurring a large processing load.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a video game control system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The video game control system 100 includes a video game control server 10 and a plurality of player terminals 21 to 2N (N = 1, 2,...). The video game control server 10 and the player terminals 21 to 2N are each connected to a communication network 30 such as the Internet.

  The video game control server 10 is an information processing apparatus such as a WWW server, for example, and is managed by a system administrator. The video game control server 10 has a function of providing a video game to the plurality of player terminals 21 to 2N via the communication network 30. The video game control server 10 includes a game DB 11 that is a storage medium in which game information indicating various types of information used for providing a game is stored.

  Each of the player terminals 21 to 2N is managed by each player, and is configured by various information processing devices such as a portable game device, a stationary game device, a computer device, and a mobile phone.

  Here, the video game executed in this example will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display device included in each of the player terminals 21 to 2N in the video game of this example. On this display screen, as shown in FIG. 2, a button group display for displaying a game screen display area 100 for displaying a game screen showing a virtual area in the game, and a button group including a zoom-in button 201 and a zoom-out button 202. A region 200 is provided. The game screen shown in FIG. 2 shows a virtual area indicating a virtually created area such as a town and avatars P1 to P4 operated by each player. An avatar that is not operated by a player may be displayed.

  The virtual area is created as two-dimensional data by a bitmap, for example. In this example, it is assumed that the avatars P1 to P4 are created as two-dimensional data using sprite images (vector format images).

  In the video game of this example, avatars P1 to P4 operated by each player in a city or house prepared in advance as a virtual area are active, and communication between avatars (chat etc.) is equivalent to money. A virtual life is made by earning points and entering the store and buying clothes and other items. The “video game” in this example is a game for enjoying a virtual life using an avatar as a player's alternation, and the video game control server 10 has a virtual field and various contents for proceeding with the “video game” in this example. Is provided to each of the player terminals 21 to 2N.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of game information. The game information is information in which a player name of each player, a player ID that can uniquely identify each player, avatar information indicating an avatar that the corresponding player operates as his / her own alternation, area information for each player described later, and the like are associated with each other. including. The game information includes other information such as virtual area information indicating a virtual area indicating a town or a house prepared in advance.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of area information for each player. The player-specific area information is generated and managed separately for each player. FIG. 4 shows player-specific area information of player A. As shown in FIG. 4, the player-specific area information includes an area name indicating the name of the corresponding virtual area, a presence / absence flag indicating whether or not the corresponding avatar exists in the corresponding virtual area, and within the corresponding virtual area. Various information such as an avatar display position indicating the display position of the avatar and an area display scale indicating the display scale of the corresponding virtual area are associated with each other. The “avatar display position” is represented by a horizontal axis coordinate and a vertical axis coordinate in the virtual area in this example.

Next, the operation of the video game control server 10 of this example will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a game screen control information providing process executed by the video game control server 10. Here, it is game screen control information (information for displaying a game screen) for performing display control of the game screen for the player terminal 21 managed by the player A who operates the avatar P1. An example will be described in which a display position and information including information indicating the display size of the game screen are provided. The player terminal 21 controls the display content of the game screen displayed on the display device included in the player terminal 21 according to the game screen control information transmitted from the video game control server 10. The game screen control information providing process shown in FIG. 5 is executed at every update interval time of the game screen on the player terminal 21 (for example, every 1/15 second or every 1/10 second). Note that detailed descriptions of processes not particularly related to the present invention may be omitted.

  In the game screen control information providing process, the video game control server 10 first checks whether or not an avatar movement designation from the player terminal 21 has been received (step S101). In the player terminal 21, when a movement instruction of the avatar P1 in the current virtual area is received by a predetermined operation by the player A of an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) included in the player terminal 21, the video game control server 10 is instructed. An avatar movement designation is transmitted via the communication network 30. This avatar movement designation includes information indicating the moving direction and moving speed of the avatar P1.

  When the avatar movement designation is accepted, the video game control server 10 determines a movement position indicating the display position of the avatar P1 after being moved according to the accepted avatar movement designation (step S102), and the player A's The avatar display position of the virtual area where the avatar P1 currently exists in the player-specific area information (see FIG. 4) (for example, the area 1 where the presence / absence flag is “1”) is set as the movement position determined in step S102. Update (step S103).

  If the avatar movement designation has not been accepted, the video game control server 10 checks whether or not a scale change designation from the player terminal 21 has been accepted (step S104). When the player terminal 21 receives an instruction to change the display scale of the currently displayed virtual area by pressing the zoom-in button 201 or the zoom-out button 202 by the player A, the player terminal 21 communicates with the video game control server 10 via a communication network. The scale change designation is transmitted via 30.

  When the scale change designation is received, the video game control server 10 determines the scale after changing the virtual area in which the avatar P1 currently exists according to the accepted scale change designation (step S105). The area display scale of the virtual area where the avatar P1 currently exists in the player-specific area information of the player A is updated to the scale determined in step S105 (step S106).

  Specifically, for example, when a scale change designation by pressing the zoom-in button 201 is accepted, the video game control server 10 determines to use a scale that is one step larger than the current scale. The area display scale information in the player-specific area information is updated to a scale enlarged by one step. The “one stage” may have any size. Further, it may be expanded every multiple stages such as every two stages or every three stages.

  Next, the video game control server 10 updates the player-specific area information and game information as necessary (step S107), and the virtual area in which the avatar P1 exists according to the contents of the player-specific area information and game information. Is generated on the player terminal 21 (step S108), and the generated game screen is transmitted to the player terminal 21 via the communication network 30 (step S109). When the game screen control information is received, the player terminal 21 generates a game screen in accordance with the received game screen control information, and displays the game screen on its own display device (including update of the game screen).

  In step S108, the video game control server 10 is a virtual area where the avatar P1 specified by the player-specific area information is present, and the avatar is displayed at the display position indicated by the avatar display position registered as the player-specific area information. P1 is displayed, and game screen control information for causing the player terminal 21 to display a game screen indicating a virtual area of the scale indicated by the area display scale registered as the player-specific area information is generated.

  By repeatedly executing steps S101 to S109 described above, a game image in which the avatar P1 is moving in the virtual area or the scale of the virtual area is gradually changed with respect to the player terminal 21 is displayed. Game screen control information for display is provided. Specifically, for example, when the scale change designation by pressing the zoom-in button 201 is continuously received, the video game control server 10 displays a game screen on which the virtual area is expanded by one stage. After providing the control information, game screen control information for displaying a game screen in which the virtual area is further expanded by two stages is provided. In this case, for example, after the game image indicating the virtual area shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the player terminal 21, a game screen in which the virtual area shown in FIG. 6 is enlarged by one stage is displayed. A game screen in which the virtual area as shown in FIG. 7 is further expanded by one stage is displayed.

  In the above example, the game screen control information for displaying the game image indicating the virtual area has a predetermined display size that is substantially centered on the position where the avatar P1 operated by the corresponding player A is displayed. Is generated as follows. However, when the avatar P1 is located at the end of the virtual area, game screen control information for displaying a game image that does not cut the end of the virtual area is generated.

  In the above example, it is assumed that each virtual area can be entered and exited. When the avatar enters a virtual area, the video game control server 10 sets the presence / absence flag of the virtual area to “1” indicating that the avatar is present. Further, when the avatar goes out from a certain virtual area, the video game control server 10 sets the presence / absence flag of the virtual area to “0” indicating absence. Even if the avatar leaves the virtual area, the video game control server 10 holds the avatar display position and the area display scale setting information of the corresponding virtual area without clearing them. Therefore, when the avatar goes out of the virtual area and then enters the virtual area again, the video game control server 10 displays the virtual area on the same scale as when the avatar goes out and goes out. The avatar can be displayed at the same position as when the

  In this example, the video game control server 10 does not transmit the image data of the drawn game screen to the player terminals 21 to 2N, but specifies designation information from each player terminal 21 to 2N (avatar movement designation information, The game terminal control information is generated by performing calculation processing based on the scale change designation information, etc., and generating game screen control information for controlling each frame image of the game screen that can specify the moved avatar position and the scale after the change. Provide to 2N. The game screen control information includes, for example, Bezier format data (Bezier curve data) for drawing an avatar. In addition, the video game control server 10 generates background image data in which a background image is drawn with bitmap data, and provides the background image data to the player terminals 21 to 2N.

  Each of the player terminals 21 to 2N receives the game screen control information and the background image data, and is based on the background indicated by the background image data based on the Bezier format data at the display position and display scale indicated by the game screen control information. A game screen on which two or more avatars are drawn is generated and displayed. Since the video game control server 10 provides Bezier format data indicating each avatar existing in the target virtual area, and the player terminals 21 to 2N draw the respective avatars indicated by the Bezier format data. It becomes easy to link a large number of avatars simultaneously in the same virtual area. Further, since the video game control server 10 provides game screen control information including Bezier format data for drawing an avatar to the player terminals 21 to 2N, the video game control server 10 generates image data. And compared with the case where the produced | generated image data is transmitted to each player terminal 21-2N, it becomes possible to reduce significantly the communication amount from the video game control server 10 to each player terminal 21-2N.

  Each of the player terminals 21 to 2N may convert a part of the avatar image indicated by the Bezier format data into a raster format and draw it. That is, the avatar image indicated by the Bezier format data, the avatar image in which a part of the avatar image indicated by the Bezier format data is converted into the raster format, or both avatar images are superimposed on the background image indicated by the background image data. It may be displayed.

  Each player terminal 21 to 2N draws an avatar image indicated by the Bezier format data and then superimposes it on the background image indicated by the background image data (before final drawing) (partial change (change) of the avatar image indicated by the Bezier format data. It is only necessary to generate a part of the raster avatar image by converting the portion) to the raster format. In this way, the avatar is drawn in advance in parts, and the changed part is redrawn in parts (for example, hands, feet, torso) to generate an avatar image to be displayed. Is possible. Therefore, the amount of calculation can be greatly reduced compared to the amount of drawing calculation of all received Bezier format data each time. Thereby, even if the player terminals 21 to 2N have low specifications, it is possible to display the avatar smoothly.

  As described above, the video game control server 10 that provides the video game to the player terminals 21 to 2N operated by the player via the communication network 30 and controls the progress of the video game is operated by the player. A game DB 11 for storing area information including area display scale information indicating a display scale of a two-dimensional area (virtual area) displayed on the player terminal 21 on which the avatar to be moved can be displayed. A player who receives a scale change designation indicating a scale change request, updates area display scale information in response to accepting the scale change designation, and indicates a two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information at predetermined time intervals. Game screen control for controlling the game screen displayed on the terminal 21 Since the game screen control information generated every predetermined time is sequentially provided to the player terminal 21, the player terminal 21 operated by the player performs a large process for moving the avatar operated by the player. The game screen can be easily performed without incurring a load.

  That is, the area display scale information is updated in response to accepting the scale change designation, and the game screen displayed on the player terminal 21 indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information is displayed every predetermined time. Since the game screen control information to be controlled is generated and the game screen control information generated every predetermined time is sequentially provided to the player terminal 21, the game terminal control information is sequentially provided at the player terminal 21. In the displayed game screen, the display scale of the virtual area can be gradually enlarged or reduced, and the game screen can be displayed on the player terminal 21 at the optimum scale for the player. So that you can easily move the avatar operated by It's that.

  In addition, since game screen control information for controlling the game screen indicating the two-dimensional area is provided, it is possible to display the game screen on the player terminal 21 without incurring a large processing load. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, since the avatar is created from the two-dimensional sprite image, the processing load on the player terminal 21 can be further reduced.

  In the embodiment described above, various information (game information, player-specific area information, etc.) is held on the video game control server 10 side, and the video game control server 10 specifies designation information from the player terminals 21 to 2N. Game screen control information for controlling each frame image of the game screen displayed as a moving image by arithmetic processing based on (avatar movement designation information, scale change designation information, etc.) is sequentially generated and provided to the player terminals 21 to 2N. Therefore, the processing on the player terminals 21 to 2N side is reduced, and the game screen can be displayed smoothly.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, area information is information also including the avatar positional information which shows the display position of the avatar in a two-dimensional area, and the video game control server 10 is an avatar in a two-dimensional area from the player terminal 21. FIG. Game screen control information for accepting movement designation, updating avatar position information in response to accepting movement designation, and displaying a game screen showing a two-dimensional area in which the avatar is displayed at the display position indicated by the avatar position information The player terminal 21 operated by the player can easily move the avatar operated by the player in the game screen.

  In the above-described embodiment, since the video game control server 10 is configured to accept the scale change designation only when the movement designation is not accepted, the scale change is performed only when the avatar is stopped. It becomes possible to prevent the game screen from being disturbed and difficult to see. Therefore, it is possible to change the scale without degrading the image quality of the game screen, and it is possible to provide a video game without causing the player to feel uncomfortable.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, area information shall be the information matched with each two-dimensional area where an avatar can enter / exit, and the video game control server 10 is 2D in which an avatar exists. Since the game screen control information for displaying the game screen indicating the two-dimensional area is generated according to the area information associated with the area, the area information is held when the avatar enters and exits the two-dimensional area. Thus, when the player re-enters the two-dimensional area, the game can be restarted from the state in which the two-dimensional area was previously exited (the display position of the avatar and the display scale of the area).

  The system 100 described above can be applied to any video game as long as it provides a game screen for performing a virtual life with an avatar.

  Although not specifically mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the video game control server 10 executes the various processes described above according to a control program (video game control program) stored in a storage device included in the video game control server 10. .

  According to the present invention, it is useful to easily perform an avatar moving operation operated by a player on a game screen without incurring a large processing load.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the video game control system in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the display screen in a game. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of game information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of area information according to player. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a game screen control information provision process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the display screen containing the game screen in which the scale of the virtual area was expanded. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the display screen containing the game screen in which the scale of the virtual area was further expanded.

Explanation of symbols

10 Video game control server 11 Game DB
21 to 2N player terminal 30 communication network 100 video game control system

Claims (6)

A video game control server that provides a video game to a player terminal operated by a player via a communication network and controls the progress of the video game,
Area information storage means for storing area information including area display scale information indicating a display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar operated by the player is movable;
Scale change designation accepting means for accepting a scale change designation indicating a request to change the display scale of the two-dimensional area from the player terminal;
An area display size updating means for updating the area display scale information in response to the scale change designation being accepted by the scale change designation accepting means;
Game screen control information generating means for generating game screen control information for controlling a game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information at predetermined time intervals;
A video game control server, comprising: game screen control information providing means for sequentially providing game screen control information generated every predetermined time by the game screen control information generating means to the player terminal. The area information is information including avatar position information indicating a display position of the avatar in the two-dimensional area,
Movement designation accepting means for accepting movement designation of the avatar in the two-dimensional area from the player terminal;
Position information updating means for updating the avatar position information in response to the movement designation being accepted by the movement designation accepting means,
The game screen control information generation unit generates game screen control information for causing the player terminal to display a game screen indicating the two-dimensional area in which the avatar is displayed at a display position indicated by the avatar position information. The video game control server according to 1. The video game control server according to claim 1, wherein the scale change designation accepting unit accepts the scale change designation only when the movement designation is not accepted by the movement designation accepting unit. The area information is information associated with each two-dimensional area where the avatar can enter and exit,
The game screen control information generating means generates game screen control information for causing the player terminal to display a game screen indicating the two-dimensional area according to area information associated with the two-dimensional area where the avatar exists. The video game control server according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A video game control method for providing a video game to a player terminal operated by a player via a communication network and controlling the progress of the video game,
A scale change designation accepting process for accepting a scale change designation from the player terminal indicating a change request for a display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar operated by the player is movable;
An area indicating the display scale of the two-dimensional area included in the area information stored in the area information storage means for storing the area information in response to receiving the scale change specification in the scale change specification receiving process Area display size update processing for updating display scale information;
A game screen control information generation process for generating game screen control information for controlling a game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information at predetermined time intervals;
A video game control method comprising: game screen control information provision processing for sequentially providing game screen control information generated at predetermined time intervals in the game screen control information generation processing to the player terminal. A video game control program for causing a player terminal operated by a player to provide a video game via a communication network and controlling the progress of the video game,
On the computer,
A scale change designation accepting process for accepting a scale change designation from the player terminal indicating a change request for a display scale of a two-dimensional area displayed on the player terminal to which the avatar operated by the player is movable;
An area indicating the display scale of the two-dimensional area included in the area information stored in the area information storage means for storing the area information in response to receiving the scale change specification in the scale change specification receiving process Area display size update processing for updating display scale information;
A game screen control information generation process for generating game screen control information for controlling a game screen displayed on the player terminal indicating the two-dimensional area of the display scale indicated by the area display scale information at predetermined time intervals;
A video game control program for executing game screen control information provision processing for sequentially providing game screen control information generated at predetermined time intervals in the game screen control information generation processing to the player terminal.

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