JP6475816B2 - Network game system, game device, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network game in which a game progresses with participation of a plurality of players, and in particular, a network that shifts to execution of an event after displaying an event preparation image that can be ended by a player at a desired timing in each terminal device. It is about games.

  With the recent advancement of network technology, network games (online games) in which a plurality of players participate and the game progresses have been actively performed. A system for playing a network game includes a server device managed by a person who operates the network game, and client devices of each player that can be connected to the server device via a network such as the Internet. Yes.

  Among the above-mentioned network games, in RPG (Role Playing Game), a large number of players participate at the same time, so that the player characters cooperate with each other in battle with enemy characters, or the players are player characters. It is something that will progress by letting you conduct battles. In particular, recently, MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online RPG) that allows more players to participate has also been performed.

  In such a network game in which a plurality of players participate at the same time, in order to ensure that the movement of the player character is transmitted to the client devices operated by all the participating players without contradiction, the server device is integrated. It manages the movement and processing timing of the player character.

  When playing a network game, the server device periodically synchronizes with each client device, and unifies the timing of the processing in the game progress of each common client device. As a result, in the progress of the game executed in cooperation with each client device, the time-series information is processed with a shift and the like is prevented from causing traps in the progress of the game (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-99906 A (paragraph 0008 and the like)

  Thus, by synchronizing with each client device, the event processing related to the progress of the cooperative game can be executed on each client device. It is possible to play the movie and allow each player to watch the movie at the same time. However, in a network game such as MMORPG in which a large number of players participate, there are a wide variety of advanced players and beginners among the players, and when advanced players and beginners advance the cooperative game. Even if the playback of a movie executed in the course of the game is something that a beginner will appreciate for the first time, but if it has already been experienced for an advanced user, the advanced player will not be able to watch such a movie for a long time. It may feel annoying to be restrained.

  If this movie is to be played back, it may be possible to cause the player to release the player from restraint for a long time by freely skipping it with their own client device as in the case of a stand-alone game. However, if an event such as a battle occurs after the end of the movie, etc., considering the possibility of a flaw in the processing timing related to the event in each client device in the subsequent game progress, Then, it is not preferable that the player character starts a battle without permission while other players are not yet ready (watching a movie).

  An object of the present invention is to provide a network game system or the like that guarantees that only a part of players do not perform an event in a game that should be performed by a plurality of players.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, the program according to the present invention is a program executed on a computer device, and can be played back on the computer device without waiting for a certain period of time in response to an input from a user of the computer device. In a plurality of computer devices, including a playback function for causing a display means included in the computer device to play a movie that can be terminated, and a computer device of another user who forms a party with the computer device and a user of the computer device When a predetermined event including the playback of a movie is executed, after the playback of the movie is finished in each computer device, a transition function for shifting to a process for performing the same event in each computer device is realized, and In the playback function, the other user's computer device An image indicating the end of reproduction situation or reproduction of Bi is intended for realizing the function of displaying on the display means.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, the computer device according to the present invention is a computer device that constitutes a network system with another computer device, and plays back without waiting for a certain period in response to an input from a user of the computer device. A plurality of computer devices including a playback unit that causes a display unit included in the computer device to play a movie that can be terminated, and a computer device of another user who forms a party with the computer device and a user of the computer device When a predetermined event including the playback of the movie is executed, a transition means for shifting to a process for performing the same event in each computer device after the movie playback ends in each computer device, The reproducing means is a front unit in the computer device of the other user. Characterized in that to display an image representing the end of the movie playing state or playback on the display means.

  According to a non-limiting aspect, the network system according to the present invention is a network system comprising a plurality of computer devices including a computer device and a computer device of another user who has a party with a user of the computer device, the computer Reproduction means for causing a display means included in the computer apparatus to reproduce a movie that can be reproduced without waiting for a certain period of time in response to an input from a user of the apparatus, and reproduction of the movie by the plurality of computer apparatuses When the predetermined event including the following is executed, after the playback of the movie is finished in each computer device, the transition means to move to processing for performing the same event in each computer device, the playback means, The movie on the other user's computer device. An image representing the end of the raw state or reproduction, characterized in that to be displayed on the display means.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network game system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the video game apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the table managed in the server apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the data memorize | stored in the video game device of FIG. 1, FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the progress of the network game concerning embodiment of this invention, and the flow of the data concerning it. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed in a server apparatus and a video game apparatus. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen which concerns on each video game device before the battle.

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

  In the network game according to this embodiment, a plurality of players who simultaneously participate in the network game have their own player character perform a battle (battle) with an enemy character existing in the field in a virtual space field. It is a MMORPG that progresses. In this network game, a player can form a party composed of a plurality of player characters with his player character and another player character, and can perform a battle with the party as one unit.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system in which a network game according to this embodiment is performed. As shown in the figure, this network system is configured by connecting a plurality of video game apparatuses 100 to a server apparatus 200 via the Internet 151.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the video game apparatus 100 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the video game apparatus 100 is built around the apparatus main body 101. The apparatus main body 101 includes a control unit 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 105, a hard disk drive (HDD) 107, a sound processing unit 109, a graphic processing unit 111, a DVD / CD-ROM drive connected to the internal bus 119. 113, a communication interface 115, and an interface unit 117.

  The sound processing unit 109 of the apparatus main body 101 is connected to a sound output device 125 that is a speaker, and the graphic processing unit 111 is connected to a display device 121 having a display screen 122. A recording medium (DVD-ROM or CD-ROM in this embodiment) 131 can be mounted on the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151. A light emitting unit 160, a receiving unit 161, and a memory card 162 are connected to the interface unit 117.

  The control unit 103 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, executes programs stored on the HDD 107 and the recording medium 131, and controls the apparatus main body 101. The control unit 103 includes an internal timer. The RAM 105 is a work area of the control unit 103, and information related to the position of a player character, HP (hit points, which will be described later), which will be described later, is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. The HDD 107 is a storage area for storing programs and data. When the program executed by the control unit 103 instructs to output sound, the sound processing unit 109 interprets the instruction and outputs a sound signal to the sound output device 125.

  The graphic processing unit 111 is drawn in the frame memory 112 (in the figure, outside the graphic processing unit 111, but in a RAM included in a chip constituting the graphic processing unit 111 in accordance with a drawing command output from the control unit 103. The image data is developed and a video signal for displaying the image on the display screen 122 of the display device 121 is output. One frame time of an image included in the video signal output from the graphic processing unit 111 is, for example, 1/30 second. Two sets of the frame memory 112 are provided, and data writing and reading are switched for each frame period.

  The DVD / CD-ROM drive 113 reads programs and data from the recording medium 131. The communication interface 115 is connected to the network 151 and communicates with other computers. The light emitting unit 160 includes a plurality of LEDs having different light irradiation directions, and is installed at a position (upper or lower portion of the display device 121) having a predetermined relationship with the display device 121.

  The input device 163 includes a light receiving unit 163a, an acceleration sensor 163b, and a transmission unit 163c. The light receiving unit 163 a receives light emitted from each LED included in the light emitting unit 160. Depending on the orientation of the input device 163, the number and position of LEDs that the light receiving unit 163a can receive light varies. The acceleration sensor 163b is a multi-axis acceleration sensor having three or more axes, and detects the inclination and three-dimensional movement of the input device 163. The input device 163 also includes a direction key and a plurality of operation buttons.

  The transmission unit 163c is an infrared signal corresponding to the state of the input device 163. More specifically, the light receiving state of the light receiving unit 163a, the inclination of the input device 163 detected by the acceleration sensor 163b, and the moving direction and speed of the input device 163, An infrared signal corresponding to the input from the direction key and the operation button is transmitted. The infrared signal transmitted from the transmission unit 163 c is received by the reception unit 161 as input data from the input device 163.

  The interface unit 117 outputs the input data received by the receiving unit 161 to the RAM 105, and the control unit 103 interprets it and performs arithmetic processing. The interface unit 117 also stores data indicating the progress of the game stored in the RAM 105 in the memory card 162 based on an instruction from the control unit 103, and the interrupted game stored in the memory card 162. Are read out and transferred to the RAM 105. Although not shown, a keyboard is used as an input device for inputting characters in the chat function described later. The keyboard may be input to the interface unit 117 via the input device 163 or may be input directly.

  A program for playing a game on the video game apparatus 100, data, data of the movie itself, and the like are first stored in a recording medium 131, for example. The program, data, data of the movie itself, and the like stored in the recording medium 131 are read out by the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113 and loaded into the RAM 105 at the time of execution. The control unit 103 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 105, outputs a drawing command to the graphic processing unit 111, and outputs a sound output instruction to the sound processing unit 109. Intermediate data while the control unit 103 is performing processing is stored in the RAM 105.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server apparatus 200 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the server device 200 is built around a server main body 201. The server main body 201 includes a control unit 203, a RAM 205, a hard disk drive (HDD) 207, a DVD / CD-ROM drive 213, and a communication interface 215 connected to the internal bus 219. A recording medium (DVD-ROM or CD-ROM) 231 can be attached to the DVD / CD-ROM drive 213.

  The control unit 203 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, executes programs stored on the HDD 207 and the recording medium 231, and controls the game server device 200. The control unit 203 includes an internal timer that measures the current time. A RAM 205 is a work area of the control unit 203. The HDD 207 is a storage area for storing programs and data. The communication interface 215 is connected to the network 151 and communicates with each of the video game apparatuses 100.

  A program and data for performing a network game on the game server device 200 are first stored in, for example, the recording medium 231 and installed in the HDD 207 from here. The program and data are read from the HDD 207 at the time of execution and loaded into the RAM 205. The control unit 203 processes the program and data loaded in the RAM 205, and advances the network game based on the data sent from each of the video game apparatuses 100. Intermediate data while the control unit 203 is performing processing is stored in the RAM 205.

  Next, a battle on the field in the network game according to this embodiment will be described. In the field of this network game, there are a plurality of player characters that form a plurality of parties, and a plurality of enemy characters. In particular, a battle between the player character and the enemy characters (hereinafter referred to as one battle in this embodiment). (The number of enemy characters in the explanation is 1) is performed in the battle field. When a party is formed by a plurality of player characters, a battle with the enemy character is performed between the party and the enemy character.

  In the battle, the player character and the enemy character attack each other, and their HP (hit points, which will be described later) decreases each time the attack is made, and the player character and enemy character whose HP becomes 0 cannot move. It becomes. If the enemy character's HP becomes 0 and the action becomes impossible, the player character wins in the battle and a battle with the next new enemy character can be performed.

  In addition, this battle may be performed through movie playback executed over a certain period. This movie is related to a battle to be started thereafter, and the player views the movie on his / her video game apparatus 100. After the movie ends, each player character is placed in the battle field and battles with the enemy character.

  On the other hand, such a movie can be ended (skip) without waiting for a certain period by the player himself / herself operating the input device 163. At this time, the player character of the player who performed the skip operation of the movie is placed in the battle field before the player character that has not finished playing the movie. On the other hand, if there is a player character for which the movie has not ended, the player character remains placed outside the battle field, and the state is displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 of the player who has finished the movie first. It is supposed to be.

  That is, the player character related to the video game apparatus 100 that has finished playing the movie appears in the battle field from outside the battle field. At this time, the player who finishes playing the movie first and then finishes playing the movie later and moves to the battle field from the outside of the battle field is displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player character already placed in the battle field. The appearance of the character is displayed. The difference in display and movement of the player character in the battle field on the display screen 122 and the player character outside the battle field and the manner of movement will be described in detail in the description of a specific example of the display screen 122 described later.

  Next, the arrangement of player characters on the battle field in the battle (hereinafter referred to as “battle arrangement”) will be described. The battle arrangement is determined in the order in which the movie ends in each video game apparatus 100 (specifically, the order in which the server apparatus 200 receives information related to the end of the movie described later (skip input, movie last information)). It has become a thing. This battle arrangement will be described below for a party formed from three player characters.

  In this case, in the video game apparatus 100, the player character (first) whose movie ends most quickly and the player character (third) whose movie ends most recently have a distance from the enemy character. It will be placed in a distant battle arrangement. On the other hand, the player character (second) whose movie ends as the next point is placed in a battle arrangement that is close to the enemy character.

  As described above, in the battle arrangement in which the distance from the enemy character is different, there is a difference in the frequency of attacks from the enemy character in the actual battle and the power of the attack (a reduction amount of HP with respect to one attack). For the battle arrangement at the short distance (second), the enemy character's attack frequency and attack power are high, and for the battle arrangement at the long distance (first and third), the enemy character's attack frequency, The attack power is low.

  In other words, when a player ends a movie, the player character can be placed in a battle arrangement advantageous to the enemy character if the movie is finished earliest or the movie is finished earliest. When the movie is ended, the player character is placed in a battle arrangement that is disadvantageous compared to other battle arrangements.

  However, the advantage / disadvantage in the battle may be determined depending on whether each player character and enemy character has the fire, water, or wind attribute. For example, an enemy character having a fire attribute has a high attack power against a player character having a water attribute, and has a low attack power against a player character having a wind attribute. Further, an enemy character having a wind attribute has a high attack power against a player character having a fire attribute, and a low attack power against a player character having a water attribute. The same applies to the attack power of the player character against the enemy character.

  That is, the so-called three-shrinking relationship (a relationship in which each has one advantageous attribute and one unfavorable attribute) is established for the fire, water, and wind attributes. For this reason, even if the battle arrangement at a short distance in the battle is disadvantageous for the enemy character, the player character has an advantageous attribute for the attribute of the enemy character due to the three-way structure (for example, the player character If the attribute of the enemy character is fire and the attribute of the enemy character is water), the placement of the player character in the battle arrangement at a short distance from the enemy character is not necessarily disadvantageous.

  The attributes of such an enemy character can be understood by actually performing a battle with the enemy character when the battle with the enemy character is the first time, and each player character having a single attribute attacking the enemy character. Sometimes (because of the strength of the attack), you can not know until the battle begins. However, in the playback of a movie executed on each video game device 100 before the battle, the player may be able to visually recognize a video (hint) that indicates which attribute the enemy character has.

  In other words, the hint in this movie cannot be visually recognized if the player performs a skip operation before being displayed in the middle of the movie. For example, an attempt to obtain an advantageous battle arrangement is made. An early skip operation to do this leads to missing a hint, and if he / she skips the hint if he / she misses the hint, an advantageous battle arrangement may be missed. A specific example of timing for displaying the hint will be described in a specific example of a display screen described later.

  In addition, the player character that has finished playing the movie first and the player character placed in the battle field finishes playing the movie in the video game apparatus 100 related to all the player characters that form the party, and all the player characters are placed in the battle field. It is in a standby state until it is placed in In this standby state, the player can perform a chat using the chat function of the network game by operating the input device.

  In addition, it is possible to change the equipment (for example, weapons and armor) of the player character, and to practice the action of the player character in the battle (for example, practice of so-called special techniques). By changing the equipment of the player character, it is possible to suppress the decrease amount of the HP of the enemy character due to one attack of the enemy character, or to increase the decrease amount of the enemy character's HP. Also, in a party formed with three or more player characters, two player characters may be in a standby state at the same time before the battle is started. Operations other than the movement to the battle field are controlled by the video game apparatus 100 of the player, and are not affected by the operations of the players related to other player characters in the standby state.

  Next, data managed in the server device 200 and data stored in the video game device 100 in order to advance the network game according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a table group managed in the server device 200 in order to execute the network game according to this embodiment.

  FIG. 4A is a party management table 400 that manages the state of each party existing in the network game according to this embodiment. FIG. 4B shows a character management table 410 that is generated for each party and manages information related to the position and appearance of characters forming the party.

  First, in the party management table 400 shown in FIG. 4A, a party ID 401, a participating character ID 402, a battle flag 403, and a pre-battle flag 404 are stored for each party. The party ID 401 is identification information for uniquely identifying each party existing in the field. In addition, as the participating character ID 402, all character IDs (described later) forming the party are stored. The battle flag 403 indicates whether or not the party is restricted by battle-related processing (including battle itself and movie playback). The battle flag 403 is ON (1) during the battle, and is OFF (0) when the battle is not in progress. )

  The pre-battle flag 404 indicates whether or not a player character related to the video game apparatus 100 that is playing a movie exists among the player characters that form a party, and such a player character exists. If it does not exist, it is turned ON (1). Of course, since the movie is played back as the previous stage of the battle, when the pre-battle flag 404 is ON, the battle flag 403 is always ON and the battle flag 403 is OFF. At that time, the pre-battle flag 404 is not turned ON.

  Subsequently, in the character management table 410 shown in FIG. 4B, the character ID 411, the transmission destination address 412, the name information 413, the form information 414, the attribute information 415, the position for each character forming the party. Information 416, HP information 417, equipment information 418, and movie flag 419 are stored.

  The character ID 411 is identification information for uniquely identifying each player character existing in the field. The transmission destination address 412 stores an IP address that is allocated to specify the video game apparatus 100 that operates each player character. The name information 413 is used as information for displaying the name of the player character on the display screen 122. The form information 414 is information used to represent the appearance (physique, facial appearance, etc.) of the player character on the field.

  The attribute information 415 is information indicating whether the attribute of the player character is fire, water, or wind. The position information 416 is information indicating the position of the player character on the field or battle field. The HP information 417 is information indicating the HP value of the player character.

  The equipment information 418 indicates information on weapons and the like that the player character is equipped with, so that the player character in a state of wearing the weapons (a state of holding a sword, a state of wearing a spear, etc.). Are visible to the player on the display screen 122. The in-movie flag 419 is information indicating whether or not a movie is being reproduced in the video game apparatus 100 that operates each player character. ON (1) if the movie is being played, and OFF (0) if the movie has ended.

  By transmitting information for playing a movie on each video game apparatus 100, which will be described later, the in-movie flag 419 relating to all the video game apparatuses 100 is updated to 1, and there is a skip input from each video game apparatus 100. Or when the server device 200 receives information indicating that the movie has been played to the end, the in-movie flag 419 of each video game device 100 is updated to 0.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the video game apparatus 100. The video game apparatus 100 includes a character ID 501, a party ID 502, name information 503, form information 504, attribute information 505, position information 506, HP information 507, equipment information 508, and a movie flag 509. The other player character information 510 is stored.

  The character ID 501 is unique to the player character operated in the video game apparatus 100 in which the character ID 501 is stored, and is the same as that stored in the character management table 410 as the character ID 411. The character ID 501 and the character ID 411 uniquely identify the player character on the field and the battle field and the video game apparatus 100 that operates the player character.

  The party ID 502 is an ID of a party formed with a player character operated by the video game apparatus 100 as a member, and corresponds to the party ID 401 stored in the party management table 400. This correspondence makes it possible to uniquely identify to which party the player character of the video game apparatus 100 belongs. The name information 503, the form information 504, the attribute information 505, the position information 506, the HP information 507, and the equipment information 508 are information having the same contents as those stored in the character management table 410, and the video game device 100, By transmitting and receiving information between the server apparatuses 200, the information is kept consistent with the progress of the game.

  The in-movie flag 509 is updated to 1 by receiving information for playing back the movie transmitted from the server device 200, and information indicating that the movie is to be played has been skipped, or until the movie has reached the end. It is updated to 0 when it is played back.

  The other player character information 510 stores data necessary for displaying a player character other than the player character in the video game apparatus 100 on the display screen 122 in each video game apparatus 100, and other players transmitted from the server apparatus 200. Character information is stored. Information on other player characters forming the same party is managed as the other player character information 510 for each player character in the character management table 410 transmitted from the server device 200. The character ID 411, the transmission destination address 412, the name information 413, form information 414, position information 416, equipment information 418, and movie flag 419 are included.

  Next, the progress of the network game and the data flow according to this embodiment will be described. In this network game, a party formed by a plurality of player characters battles with enemy characters on the battle field. In this battle, the video game device 100 operated by each player character may start a battle after playing a movie. However, the player can skip this movie with each video game device 100. .

  However, even when the player skips the movie with his / her video game apparatus 100, the movie may still be played on the video game apparatus 100 in which the player character forming the party is operated. Then, in the video game devices 100 of all the player characters that form the party, the battle after the movie is not started until the movie is finished (not limited to the case of skipping or watching to the end). The player character of the video game apparatus 100 that has finished the movie is placed in a standby state.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a data flow from the playback of the movie before the battle to the end of the playback of the movie on the video game devices 100 of all player characters that finally form a party. Here, it is assumed that in a party formed by three player characters, each video game apparatus 100 ends a movie in order (not simultaneously).

  First, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, information for causing a movie to be played in each video game apparatus 100 (hereinafter, movie playback information) is transmitted from the server apparatus 200. As a result, after a movie is played on each video game apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the playback of this movie, the player in one video game apparatus 100 skips the first movie. Then, first, skip input information (hereinafter, skip input information) by the operation is transmitted from the video game device 100 to the server device 200.

  Subsequently, when the server apparatus 200 receives the skip input information of the first movie, the other player characters that form the same party with respect to the video game apparatus 100 that transmitted the skip input information. In accordance with the character ID 411, transmission destination address 412, name information 413, form information 414, equipment information 418, waiting information including a movie flag 419 (hereinafter simply referred to as waiting information), and the order in which the movie was finished, The position information 416 updated to the position information related to the battle arrangement of the player character is also transmitted from the server device 200. In this case, since the video game apparatus 100 is the video game apparatus 100 in which the playback of the movie has ended earliest, the position information 416 updated to the position information of the battle arrangement that is far from the enemy character is received.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, in the video game apparatus 100 that moves other player characters that form the same party, a second movie skip operation is performed, and the skip input information indicates the video game. The data is transmitted from the device 100 to the server device 200. Then, in the server device 200 that has received the skip input information, the video game device 100 in which the movie is skipped and the video game device 100 that has finished the movie first, The waiting information including the position information 416 updated with the position information of the battle position according to the order of completion is transmitted. Since the end of this movie is second after the video game device 100 that ended the movie first, in the video game device 100 that transmitted this skip input information, the position of the battle arrangement that is close to the enemy character. Information is received.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6D, skip input information related to the skip operation of the last movie, or movie end information when the movie is viewed to the end, continues to play the movie to the end. Transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 to the server apparatus 200. Subsequently, in the server device 200 that has received the information, the waiting information including the position information 416 updated with the position information of the battle position corresponding to the order in which the movies are finished is transmitted to all the video game apparatuses 100. Is done. Here, since it is the end of the last movie, the video game apparatus 100 that has finished the last movie receives position information that is a battle arrangement far from the enemy character.

  In the video game apparatus 100 related to all the player characters that form the party, since the playback of the movie is finished, the battle is subsequently started. At the start of the battle, in order for all the video game devices to simultaneously execute the process related to the battle, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the last waiting information was transmitted, the process is shown in FIG. As described above, the battle start information is transmitted from the server apparatus 200 to all the video game apparatuses 100.

  Hereinafter, processing executed in the server device 200 and the video game device 100 constituting the network system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the battle process executed in each of the server device 200 and the video game device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the battle process of the server apparatus 200, first, the control unit 203 of the server apparatus 200 stores a battle flag stored in the party management table 400 for a party performing a battle related to the battle process. 403 is turned on (updated to 1) (step S101). Subsequently, the control unit 203 determines whether or not movie playback is to be executed in the battle (step S102). If it is a battle in which movie playback is performed, movie playback for causing the video game devices 100 related to all the player characters that form the party to perform the battle to play movies simultaneously on each video game device 100 Information is transmitted (step S103). Here, the movie reproduction information is information for reproducing movie data stored in the recording medium 131 of each video game apparatus 100, not data of the movie itself.

  If the movie playback information is transmitted, the control unit 203 then turns on (updates to 1) the pre-battle flag 404 stored in the party management table 400 for the party to be battled (step S104). Subsequently, the control unit 203 turns on (updates to 1) the movie flag 419 stored in the character management table 410 for all player characters of the party (step S105).

  Subsequently, the control unit 203 performs a battle standby process (step S106). In the process of waiting for battle, the movie has not been finished in all the video game apparatuses 100 yet, and the movie is skipped first until the battle is started (until the movie is finished in all the video game apparatuses 100). Processing that is executed in the relationship with the video game apparatus 100 in the standby state is performed. For example, when a process related to message transmission / reception in the chat function or a change in the equipment of the player character is performed, the contents of the equipment information 418 stored in the character management table 410 of the server device 200 regarding the change. In order to change the data, the reception of the data of the change contents and the process of the change are executed.

  After the battle waiting process in step S106, the control unit 203 determines whether or not the skip input information related to the movie skip operation by the player received from the video game apparatus 100 has been received (step S107). If it is determined that the skip input information has not been received, the control unit 203 receives the movie end information transmitted from the video game apparatus 100 when the movie has been played to the end without being skipped. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step S108). If it is determined that the movie end information has not been received, the control unit 203 returns to the process of step S106 again.

  If it is determined in step S107 that skip input information has been received, or if it is determined in step S108 that movie end information has been received, the control unit 203 transmits the received information. For the player character, the in-movie flag stored in the character management table 410 is turned off (updated to 0) (step S109). Further, the control unit 203 uses the position information 416 stored in the character management table 410 for the player characters related to the video game apparatus 100 in which the movie is skipped or played to the end in the order in which the movie is finished. It is updated with the position information of the battle arrangement determined based on it.

  Subsequently, the control unit 203 transmits the waiting information from the updated character management table 410 to the video game apparatuses 100 related to all the player characters in the waiting state (step S110). Subsequently, the control unit 203 determines whether or not the in-movie flag stored in the character management table 410 is OFF (updated with 0) for all the player characters forming the party (step S111). . If it is determined that the flag in the movie is not OFF for all player characters, the control unit 203 returns to the process of step S106 again.

  If it is determined that the flag in the movie is OFF for all player characters, the control unit 203 turns OFF the pre-battle flag 404 stored in the party management table 400 (updates it with 0) (step S112). . After that, or after it is determined in step S102 that the movie is not played in the battle, after a certain period of time, the control unit 203 controls the video game apparatus 100 related to all the player characters that form the party to perform the battle. On the other hand, the battle start information for performing the process in battle simultaneously is transmitted (step S113). Then, the control part 203 performs the process in battle (step S114), and complete | finishes the process which concerns on an actual battle. Since this process during the battle is not related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, in the battle process of the video game apparatus 100, first, the control unit 103 of the video game apparatus 100 has received the battle start information transmitted from the server apparatus 200. Is determined (step S201). If it is determined that the battle start information has not been received, the control unit 103 subsequently determines whether or not the movie playback information transmitted from the server device 200 has been received (step S202). If it is determined that the movie playback information has not been received, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S201 again.

  If it is determined that the movie playback information has been received, the control unit 103 turns on (updates to 1) the movie flag 509 stored in the video game apparatus 100 (step S203). Subsequently, the control unit 103 starts movie playback based on the movie playback instruction indicated by the received movie playback information (step S204). Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether or not a movie skip input has been made by the player's skip operation (step S205). If it is determined that there is a skip input, the control unit 103 transmits skip input information to the server device 200 (step S206).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no skip input, the control unit 103 determines whether or not the movie has been reproduced to the end (step S207). If it is determined that the movie has not been played back to the end, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S205 again. If it is determined that the movie has been played to the end, the control unit 103 transmits the movie end information to the server device 200 (step S208).

  After the movie has been played to the end, after the movie last information has been transmitted, or after the skip input information has been transmitted in step S206, the control unit 103 stores the in-movie flag 509 stored in the video game apparatus 100. Is turned off (updated to 0) (step S209). Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether or not standby information transmitted from the server device 200 has been received (step S210). If it is determined that the waiting information has been received, the control unit 103 updates the information relating to the player character stored in the video game apparatus 100 and the other player character information 510 in the content included in the waiting information. (Step S211).

  Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether 1/30 seconds have elapsed from the battle process or from the previous 1/30 seconds (step S212). If it is determined that 1/30 seconds have elapsed, the control unit 103 generates a display image to be displayed on the display screen 122 by perspective-transforming the space on the battle field where the player character is present, and displays the display screen 122. (Step S213). After that, or after determining that 1/30 second has not elapsed in step S212, the control unit 103 determines whether or not the battle start information transmitted from the server device 200 has been received (step S214). .

  If it determines with not having received battle start information, the control part 103 will perform a battle waiting process (step S215). In the process of waiting for battle in the video game apparatus 100, for example, in the case where a message related to the chat function, a process related to transmission / reception, or a change in equipment of the player character is performed, the equipment information 508 related to the change is changed. And the transmission process of the change contents to the server device 200 or the practice of the action of the player character in the battle, the player character corresponding to the input information related to the operation of the input device 163 of the player The process associated with the operation is executed. After the battle waiting process, the control unit 103 returns to the process of step S210 again.

  If it determines with battle start information having been received in step S201 or step S214, the control part 103 will perform the process in battle (step S216), and will complete | finish a battle process. Since this process during the battle is not related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of a display image displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 configuring the network system according to this embodiment will be shown to reproduce a movie before a network game battle, A waiting mode will be described. FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the display screen 122 of each video game apparatus 100 at each timing (timing (a) to (e)) when the movie is played before the battle with the enemy character. Is. Here, for convenience, it is assumed that the number of player characters forming a party is 3, and the players who operate each video game apparatus 100 are player A, player B, and player C.

  In this specific example, after the playback of the movie is started, the player B performs the skip operation earliest, so that the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player B becomes in a battle standby state. Thus, the player A performs a skip operation as the next point, and the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player A becomes the standby state. In the movie after the player A performs the skip operation and finishes the reproduction of the movie, a hint related to the attribute of the enemy character to be battled thereafter is visually recognized. Then, in the video game apparatus 100 related to the player C, the movie is played to the end, so that the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 of the player C is finally in a standby state.

  First, at the timing (a), the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player B who has performed the earliest skip operation is already in the standby state, and the message board 810 used for the chat and the battle field 801 are enemies. A player character 821B of player B is displayed on the display screen 122 together with the character 822. On the other hand, the movie continues to be played on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the other players A and C.

  At this time, since the player B finishes the movie earliest, the player character 821B related to the player B is at a distance far from the enemy character 822 on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player B. It arrange | positions at battle arrangement | positioning and the display image of the aspect is displayed. Then, the player characters 821A and C of the players A and C who are still playing the movie on each video game apparatus 100 are displayed smaller than the player character 821B outside the battle field 801.

  Subsequently, at the timing (b), when the player A has performed a skip operation by (b), the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player A and the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 related to the player B are displayed. Is displayed such that the player character 821A of the player A is moving from the battle field 801 to the battle arrangement in the battle field 801.

  At this time, the video game device 100 operated by the player C continues to play the movie. At this timing (b), a display image serving as a hint related to the attribute of the enemy character 822 is displayed, and the player C Only could see this hint.

  Subsequently, at the timing (c), the standby state in which the player character 821A of the player A is arranged in the battle arrangement is displayed on the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 operated by the player A. This battle arrangement is a battle arrangement at a distance close to the enemy character 822 since the end of the movie by player A's skip operation was second after player B. The player character C of the player C who has not finished playing the movie on his / her video game apparatus 100 is displayed in a smaller size than the player characters A and B that are already in the standby state and arranged in the battle arrangement of the battle field 801. It is what has been.

  In the standby state, the update information of the equipment information 418 stored in the character management table 410 of the server device 200 by changing the equipment of the player character 821 is the battle start information immediately before the start of the battle. Until it is sent to, it is not sent. Accordingly, even if one of the players A and B changes the equipment of the player character 821 and the player character 821 on the display screen 122 changes accordingly, another player operates. The display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 may not display a change in form associated with the change of the equipment.

  At the timing (d), the movie is played to the end by the video game device 100 operated by the player C by (d), and the movie is finished. The display screen 122 displays the video game devices of the players A and B. Similarly to the display screen 122 of 100, a mode in which the player character 821C of the player C is moving from the battle field 801 to the battle arrangement in the battle field 801 is displayed.

  Subsequently, at timing (e), a display image in which all player characters 821 including the player character 821C of the player C are arranged in the battle arrangement of the battle field 801 is displayed on the display screens 122 of all the video game apparatuses 100. The This battle arrangement is a battle arrangement that is far from the enemy character 822 because the movie has been played to the end in the video game apparatus 100 of the player C.

  As described above, in the network game according to this embodiment, the server device 200 manages the progress of the battle between the party formed by the player characters 821 that are operated by the plurality of players and the enemy character 822. Has become. When the battle involves the playback of a movie as the preceding process, the server device 200 sends the movie playback information to each video game device 100 so that the video game device 100 of each player forming the party plays the movie. Send to.

  Receiving the movie playback information, the video game apparatus 100 displays the movie on the display screen 122, and when the playback of the movie ends, transmits information indicating that to the server apparatus 200. On the condition that the server device 200 has received the information indicating that the playback of the movie has ended from the video game devices 100 of all players who form a party in the battle, the battle is simultaneously performed in all the video game devices 100. Battle start information for executing the process is transmitted to all the video game apparatuses 100 simultaneously.

  Here, in each video game apparatus 100, the playback of the movie can be ended halfway at a desired timing of each player by each player performing a skip operation on the input device 163. Each video game apparatus 100 is in a standby state until a battle process is executed in each video game apparatus 100. As a result, in the progress of the game by each party, it is possible to ensure that all the players who belong to the same party who should proceed with the game in cooperation with each other perform the battle together.

  Also, in this standby state, the player can talk with other players using the chat function, so that a player who is an advanced game player who has watched the movie many times until the battle is performed. You can spend the time without getting tired. In the standby state, the player can not only change the chat function and the equipment of the player character 821 but also practice the operation of the player character 821 in the battle by operating the input device 163. This is because, for example, the player character 821 can perform an action requiring a difficult operation in the battle (such as a special technique), so that the player can spend time until the battle is performed without getting tired. it can.

  In addition, for beginner players of the game, even if the movie is watched to the end, it does not bother an advanced player, so even a beginner player can actively participate in the game. It becomes like this. Further, since the player can change not only the chat but also the equipment of his player character 821 in the standby state, careful preparations can be made in the battle with the enemy character 822.

  In addition, a player character 821 that forms a party is displayed on the display screen 122 of each video game apparatus 100 in the standby state, and the player character 821 in the standby state is placed in the battle field 801. The player character 821 that has not finished playing the movie in the video game apparatus 100 is arranged outside the battle field 801 and is displayed smaller than the player character 821 arranged in the battle field 801. The player character 821 arranged outside the battle field 801 moves in a manner of appearing in the battle field 801 when the playback of the movie is finished on the video game apparatus 100, and according to the order in which the playback of the movie is finished. Will be placed in a battle arrangement.

  The same state of the standby state is displayed on the display screen 122 of any video game apparatus 100 in the standby state (however, the player character reflected by the operation of each player who is on standby) The display change due to the practice of the movement of 821 or the change of equipment is not displayed), which of the players forming the party is the player of the video game apparatus 100 in the standby state or the player who is playing the movie Can be easily seen through the display device. In other words, a player character that has not yet been displayed on the screen in a standby state means that the player has not finished watching the movie, so that other players who are still watching the movie can easily recognize it.

  In addition, if a member of the same party has played a game for a long period of time and has performed such battles many times, each player will end the movie early and watch the movie until late. The tendency to be a player can be grasped. Then, for example, this prompts the player who is watching the movie until late at any time to skip the movie early, and displays a screen on which only the player characters of the player who has already watched the movie appear. This is useful for communication between players.

  In addition, since the player character 821 appearing in the battle field 801 appears in the order in which the movie playback is finished, the player can get a sense of presence with respect to the battle starting from now, and wait while waiting for the battle to start. Even in the state, the interest of the game can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the player character 821 appearing in the battle feel 801 is arranged in an advantageous battle arrangement with respect to the enemy character 822 depending on the order in which the movies have ended (the end of the movie is the first and third), or an unfavorable battle The arrangement is different (the movie ends second). Accordingly, since the strategy is generated at the timing when the player finishes the movie (whether it is skipped in the middle of the movie or when it is played back to the end), the interest of the game is improved.

  Each player character 821 and enemy character 822 have attributes, and the attributes have a so-called three-way relationship. Thus, depending on the attribute possessed, the relationship between the player character 821 and the enemy character 822 is also advantageous and disadvantageous. Thus, even if the battle arrangement is disadvantageous to the enemy character 822, there are cases where the attribute relationship between the player character 821 and the enemy character 822 is advantageous, and the player determines the battle arrangement described above. The game will be more strategic at the end of the movie and the game will be more fun.

  Here, in the middle of the reproduction of the movie, an image that becomes a hint (an attribute possessed by the enemy character 822) regarding the enemy character 822 performing the battle to be transferred may be displayed. For this reason, the player who saw the hint image may be able to proceed with the subsequent battle more advantageously than the player who performed the skip operation before the hint image was displayed. Therefore, in the strategy at the timing of the end of the movie, the player also adds a strategy of skipping the movie playback before viewing the hint image or ending the movie playback or viewing the hint image. Thus, the interest of the game is further improved.

  Here, in each video game apparatus 100, if the skip operation is performed by the player, the skip input information indicates that if the movie is reproduced to the end, the movie end information is information indicating the end of the movie. Sent to. Each time the server apparatus 200 receives the information, the server apparatus 200 transmits information such as the mode of each player character 821 until the battle start information is transmitted, except for transmitting the waiting information to each video game apparatus 100 in the waiting state ( Information on operation, equipment, etc.) is not transmitted to each video game apparatus 100. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the player character 821 forming the party in each video game apparatus 100 is playing a movie or is in a standby state, while the server apparatus 200 reduces the amount and number of transmissions of information related to display in the standby state. The processing burden on the server device 200 can be reduced.

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

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, the server device 200 receives information related to the end of the movie playback from the video game device 100 that finished the movie playback last, and the player character 821 of the video game device 100 receives the information. After the waiting information is transmitted to the video game apparatuses 100 of all the player characters that form the party, the battle start information is subsequently transmitted after a certain period of time to synchronize the battle start. Not limited to this, after receiving the waiting information related to the player character 821 of the video game apparatus 100 that finally finished the movie, each video game apparatus 100 performs a predetermined period from the transmission time included in the received information. Time is measured, and the passage of the predetermined period may be used as a battle start timing. By doing so, the amount of data transmitted by the server apparatus 200 can be reduced, and the processing load on the server apparatus 200 can be reduced.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, the waiting information is transmitted from the server device 200 to each video game device 100 in a standby state when a movie is skipped. Instead, the waiting information may be transmitted to the video game apparatus 100 that is playing back the movie. At this time, when the video game apparatus 100 that is playing back a movie receives this waiting information, it only updates various data based on it and continues to play back the movie.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, the player performs a skip operation using the input device 163 in order to skip the movie without playing it back to the end. The game device 100 may be set in advance so that the player can automatically execute the operation when a movie operation is started. Alternatively, the server device 200 may be set in advance to indicate that it is not necessary to play back a movie in its own video game device 100.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, the playback of the movie before the battle is skipped and finished, and when the player character 821 is in a standby state, the equipment of the player character 821 is changed, the operation is practiced, etc. It was possible. The network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and if there is another player character 821 in the standby state, the player of the player character 821 can exchange the equipment of the player character 821. Good. In addition, in the network game according to the above-described embodiment, when an item or the like for recovering the HP of the player character can be used in addition to the equipment, such an item can be used with the player of the other player character 821 in the standby state. It may be exchangeable.

  In the network game according to the embodiment described above, the battle arrangement of the player characters 821 forming the party is determined by the order in which the playback of the movie on the video game apparatus 100 of each player character 821 is completed (skip operation, playback to the end). Until all the video game apparatuses 100 finish playing the movie, the player character 821 that finished playing the movie first is in a standby state. The network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is assumed that each player sets the equipment of his player character 821 before the battle, and the order in which the equipment has been set (specifically, the player has finished setting). The operation may be performed in the input device 163, and the battle arrangement may be determined in the order in which the input information transmitted based on the input information is processed in the server device 200).

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, the type of aspect of the battle arrangement in the battle is not particularly described, but there may be a plurality of types of aspects of the battle arrangement. Further, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the number of player characters 821 is only 3. However, this may be 4 or more, thereby diversifying the types of battle arrangement modes, As the number of battle arrangement options for arranging the player character 821 increases, the interest of the game is improved.

  Further, when there are a plurality of types of battle arrangements as described above, any one of the battle arrangements may be determined before a movie is played on each video game apparatus 100. And it may be determined at random for every battle which aspect of battle arrangement it becomes. Moreover, the mode of the battle arrangement determined at random may be displayed as a hint on the display image during movie playback.

  In the network game according to the above embodiment, the number of enemy characters 822 is assumed to be 1, and the battle is performed. The network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied even when there are a plurality of enemy characters 822 when performing a battle. At this time, the battle arrangement of the player character 821 may be different in the advantage and disadvantage in the battle for each enemy character 822 depending on the arrangement of the plurality of enemy characters 822 in the battle field 801.

  For example, when performing a battle in which the number of player characters 821 forming a party is 3 and the number of enemy characters 822 is 2, the player character 821 is far away from one enemy character 822, but the other More complicated battle arrangements are conceivable, such as a battle arrangement that is close to the enemy character 822, a battle arrangement that is the opposite, or a battle arrangement that is close or far to both enemy characters. Become. Accordingly, the player's interest in the game is improved by increasing the strategy of determining which battle arrangement the player character 821 of the player decides, that is, at what timing the movie playback ends.

  Further, there are a plurality of types of enemy characters 822, which may have different levels of attack power and numerical values of HP. The arrangement of such types of enemy characters 822 on the battle field 801 is as follows: It may be determined according to the combination when performing the battle. Moreover, such a battle arrangement | positioning may be determined at random for every battle. Thus, the type and arrangement of the enemy character 822 may be displayed as a hint on the display image during movie playback.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of player characters 821 forming the party perform a battle against the enemy character 822 in the battle, and defeat, but in addition to or instead of this, a plurality of player characters 821 You may make it perform a battle between the parties formed in 821. FIG. In this case, the same event (movie playback or the like) may be executed for all player characters 821 participating in the battle, or different events may be executed for each party. At this time, it is assumed that the battle is started when the events related to all the player characters 821 are completed.

  Thereby, the advantage and disadvantage of the battle arrangement of the player character 821 of the party of the party differ depending on the arrangement of the player character 821 of the party of the battle opponent, and the interest as a game is further increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display screen 122 of the video game apparatus 100 in which a movie is still being played displays items other than the image related to the movie being played (for example, a chat message board 810). However, for example, the number of players who have already skipped the movie may be displayed in the corner of the display screen 122 as long as the visibility of the movie is not lowered. Since the timing at which the player performs the movie skip operation is related to the determination of the battle arrangement of the player character 821 of the player, the number of movie skips is displayed in this way. Therefore, the strategy will increase and the interest of the game will improve.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, there is a battle in which an actual battle is performed by playing a movie before the battle. However, the network game of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where a battle tutorial is performed instead of or together with movie playback. As a result, although the tutorial is confirmed once for the game beginner player, the player of the player character who forms the same party who confirmed it once does not need to confirm again, and the player can be freed from the troublesomeness of restraining freedom. At the same time, the period of waiting for another player by skipping the tutorial can change the equipment and practice the operation, so that the period of waiting without getting bored of the player can be used effectively.

  In the network game according to the above-described embodiment, a plurality of player characters 821 cooperate with each other to advance the game and play a battle with the enemy character 822 after playing the movie. The present invention can be applied to any game that needs to be synchronized for subsequent game progress. For example, if it is a race (car, horse, etc.), it will go through the event related to the race, and if it is a sport (soccer, baseball, etc.) It may be a game.

  In addition, such a race or sport may be implemented as a mini game in the network game according to the above embodiment, in addition to the battle, and in this case, the tutorial described above is performed before this mini game. You may make it perform. In addition, according to the order in which the events are ended, the start arrangement and the like are determined in the race, and the position and the like may be determined in the sport.

  In the above embodiment, the network game has been described as being limited to MMORPG. However, if this is a network game that involves changes in game progress such as battles and events (movie playback, tutorials, etc.) It may be a simulation game in which the players can participate.

  In the above embodiment, the video game apparatus 100 that is a game-dedicated machine is applied as an apparatus that becomes a platform for executing a video game. On the other hand, the present invention may be realized by using a general-purpose personal computer as a platform as long as it has the same components as the video game apparatus 100 and has a network connection function. A portable game machine (including a mobile phone having an application execution function) having a configuration in which the display device 121 and the sound output device 125 are housed in the same housing as the video game main body 101 may be applied.

  As the recording medium 131, a semiconductor memory card can be applied instead of a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM. A card slot for inserting the memory card can be provided in place of the DVD / CD-ROM drive 113. In the case of a general-purpose personal computer, the program and data according to the present invention may be stored in advance in the HDD 107 instead of being stored in the recording medium 131 and provided. Any recording medium for storing and providing the program and data according to the present invention can be applied depending on the physical form and distribution form of hardware.

In the above embodiment, the program and data of the video game apparatus 100 are stored in the recording medium 131 and distributed. On the other hand, these programs and data may be stored in a fixed disk device of a server device existing on the network and distributed to the video game main body 101 via the network. In the video game apparatus 100, the program and data received by the communication interface 115 from the server apparatus 200 can be stored in the HDD 107 and loaded into the RAM 105 at the time of execution.
[Appendix]
The description of the embodiment described above describes at least the following invention so that a person having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the invention belongs can carry out the invention.
[1]
To achieve the above object, a network game system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a server device and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the server device via a network, and the server device provides A network game system in which an event in a game is jointly performed by players using each of the plurality of terminal devices, and the server device is configured to execute the plurality of terminal devices when a predetermined event occurrence condition is satisfied in the game. Event occurrence information transmitting means for transmitting event occurrence information to each of the above, preparation completion notification information receiving means for receiving preparation completion notification information transmitted from each of the plurality of terminal devices, and the preparation completion notification information receiving means On condition that the preparation end notification information is received from all of the plurality of terminal devices, all of the plurality of terminal devices Event start information transmitting means for simultaneously transmitting event start information to the event occurrence information receiving means for receiving the event occurrence information transmitted from the event occurrence information transmitting means, respectively. And an event preparation image that can be displayed at a desired timing according to an end instruction from a player using the terminal device when the event occurrence information is received by the event occurrence information receiving unit. Event preparation image display means for executing processing to be displayed on the display device included in the preparation device, preparation completion notification information transmission means for transmitting preparation completion notice information to the server device when the display of the event preparation image is finished, An event start for receiving event start information transmitted from the event start information transmitting means. A standby process for executing a predetermined standby process after the information reception unit and the preparation end notification information transmission unit transmit the preparation end notification information until the event start information reception unit receives the event start information. An execution unit and an event transition unit that shifts to a process for performing the event when the event start information reception unit receives the event start information.
[2]
In the network game system, when each terminal device receives the event occurrence information transmitted from the server device, the event preparation image is displayed on the display device included in each terminal device. When the display of the event preparation image is completed, each terminal device transmits preparation completion notification information to the server device. The server device transmits the event start information to all the terminal devices all on the condition that the preparation completion notification information is received from all the terminal devices, and each terminal device that receives the event performs an event. Become.
[3]
Here, in each terminal device, the display of the event preparation image can be ended at a desired timing of the player, but the event is not performed until the event start information is received, and the period until the event is performed Is a standby process. For this reason, it is possible to ensure that the players are playing the game together in each terminal device until the display of the event preparation image is finished early and the event is started.
[4]
For example, if the display of the event preparation image is a playback of a movie and the chat function can be executed as a standby process until the event occurs, an advanced game that has watched the movie many times. For the player, even if the movie is finished early, it is possible to chat and talk with other players, so that it is possible to effectively use the time until the event takes place. In addition, since the player who is a beginner of the game can watch the movie to the end, it does not bother the player of the advanced player. Therefore, in the progress of the game according to this network game system, the player of the beginner Even so, you can actively participate in the game.
[5]
In the network game system, the game provided by the server device is a game in which each player using the plurality of terminal devices operates by moving his / her player character by an input from an input device included in the terminal device. The server device, after transmitting the event occurrence information from the event occurrence information transmission means, until the preparation completion notification information reception means receives the preparation completion notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices, A standby image in which a player character of a player who uses the already-received terminal device appears in the already-received terminal device in which the preparation-end notification information receiving means has already received the preparation end notification information among the plurality of terminal devices. Standby information transmission means for transmitting standby information for displaying the message on the display device of the received terminal device The plurality of terminal devices further include standby information receiving means for receiving standby information transmitted from the standby information transmitting means, and the standby processing executing means is received by the standby information receiving means. A standby image display unit that executes, as the standby process, a process of displaying the standby image on a display device included in the terminal device based on the standby information may be included.
[6]
In this case, the player character of the player who uses each terminal device that has finished displaying the event preparation image in the terminal device (the already received terminal device) that has already finished displaying the event preparation image and is performing a standby process. Is displayed on the display device. When there are a plurality of terminal devices that have already finished displaying the event preparation image, a standby image in which a plurality of player characters appear is displayed on each terminal device. As a result, among the players who perform this event together, the display of the event preparation image is ended, and the player of the terminal device related to the standby process can be easily recognized through the display device. The player who is viewing the image can also be easily recognized.
[7]
In addition, if the end of the display of the event preparation image is sequentially performed at different timings in each terminal device, the event screen is sequentially displayed on the display screen of the terminal device that has ended the display of the event preparation image. The standby image in which the player character related to the terminal device for which the display of the preparation image is finished appears is displayed, the display of the event preparation image of all the other terminal devices is finished, and the standby is waited for the start of the event Also in the process, the player can further enjoy the interest of the game.
[8]
In addition, by repeating such an event and repeatedly executing the standby process after the display of the event preparation image is ended, the display of the event preparation image is quickly ended for each player who plays the game together. It becomes possible to know whether or not there is a tendency, and it is useful for communicating between players in a game (for example, prompting a player who finishes displaying an event preparation image at a later time to finish earlier). .
[9]
In the network game system, the standby process execution means waits to cause the player character included in the standby image displayed on the display device included in the terminal device to move in the standby image in accordance with an input from the input device. Character action means may be included.
[10]
In this case, the display device included in the terminal device used by itself cannot be displayed while the event preparation image is being displayed. However, during the standby process, the display of the event preparation images of all other terminal devices is terminated and the event While waiting for the start, a standby image in which the player moves his / her player character can be displayed on the display device. As a result, the player can not only watch but also feel the operation of the action of the player character displayed on the display device while waiting for the start of the event. It will be interesting [11]
For example, when the event is a battle, it may be possible to practice for inputting the action of the player character in the battle in the standby image until the battle is started. In this case, the player can effectively use the period until the battle is performed without getting tired.
[12]
In the network game system, the standby information is information indicating an already received terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices, and the preparation end notification information receiving unit receives the preparation end notification from any of the plurality of terminal devices. Each time information is received, it is transmitted to all received terminal devices, and the standby image display means generates the standby image based on the information indicating the received terminal received as the standby information, and the generated The standby image can be displayed on a display device included in the terminal device.
[13]
In this case, every time the display of the event preparation image is ended in the terminal device, standby information for displaying the standby image in which the player character appears is transmitted to the terminal device that has already displayed the event preparation image. Based on this, a standby image is generated at each terminal device and displayed on the display device. Thereby, even if the server device does not always transmit the standby information related to the standby image to the terminal device, the standby image is displayed on each terminal device only by the standby information for each end of the display of the event preparation image. And the processing load on the server device can be reduced.
[14]
In the network game system, the event start information may be information indicating an already received terminal device that the preparation end notification information receiving unit last received the preparation end notification information among the plurality of terminal devices.
[15]
In this case, for example, standby information transmitted to the terminal device that has already finished displaying the event preparation image every time the display of the event preparation image is finished can be used as the event start information. At this time, it is possible to set a predetermined period (may be 0) from the transmission indicated in the standby information as a timing for shifting to a process for performing an event. As a result, the amount of data transmitted from the server device can be reduced, so that the processing load on the server device can be reduced.
[16]
In order to achieve the above object, a game device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a game provided by a server device in one of the plurality of game devices connected to the server device via a network. When a predetermined event occurrence condition is satisfied in the game, in which a player using the game device cooperates with a player using another game device among the plurality of game devices. And event occurrence information receiving means for receiving event occurrence information transmitted from the server device, and when the event occurrence information is received by the event occurrence information receiving means, the game device is requested by an end instruction from a player. The game device has an event preparation image that can be displayed at the same time Event preparation image display means for executing processing to be displayed on a display device, preparation completion notification information transmission means for sending preparation completion notice information to the server device when display of the event preparation image is finished, and the server Event start information for receiving event start information transmitted from the server device to all of the plurality of terminal devices on condition that the device has received the preparation completion notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices. Waiting process execution for executing a predetermined waiting process until the event start information receiving unit receives the event start information after the receiving unit and the preparation end notification information transmitting unit transmit the preparation end notification information And the process for performing the event when the event start information receiving means receives the event start information. Characterized in that it comprises an event transition means for.
[17]
In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a third aspect of the present invention is executed in each of a plurality of computer devices connected to a server device via a network, and an event in a game provided by the server device is A program for causing a player using the computer device to cooperate with a player using another computer device among the plurality of computer devices, and when a predetermined event occurrence condition is satisfied in the game, An event occurrence information receiving means for receiving event occurrence information transmitted from the server device, and when the event occurrence information is received by the event occurrence information receiving means, the computer device is sent at a desired timing according to an end instruction from a player. Events whose display can be terminated Event preparation image display means for executing processing for displaying a preparation image on a display device included in the computer device, a preparation completion notification for transmitting preparation completion notification information to the server device when the display of the event preparation image is finished Information transmission means, event start information transmitted from the server device to all of the plurality of terminal devices on condition that the server device has received the preparation completion notification information from all of the plurality of terminal devices The event start information receiving means for receiving the preparation end notification information transmitting means after the preparation end notification information sending means sends the predetermined start processing until the event start information receiving means receives the event start information. When the standby process execution means to execute and the event start information receiving means receive the event start information And characterized by causing the computer to function device as an event shifting unit to shift to processing for the event.
[18]
The program according to the third aspect can be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be a recording medium configured to be detachable from the computer device and provided separately from the computer device. The computer-readable recording medium may be a recording medium such as a fixed disk device provided in the computer device and provided together with the computer device. The program according to the third aspect can be distributed from the server device existing on the network to the computer device through the network by superimposing the data signal on a carrier wave.
[19]
In addition, the server device and the terminal device constituting the network game system according to the first aspect are each included in the scope of the present invention alone. Also, a method for executing the process executed by each means included in the game device according to the second aspect as a process of each step, and a process executed by each means included in the program according to the third aspect A method executed as a process of steps is also included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Video game apparatus 101 Video game main body 103 Control part 105 RAM
107 HDD
109 Sound processing unit 111 Graphic processing unit 112 Frame memory 113 DVD / CD-ROM drive 115 Communication interface 117 Interface unit 119 Internal bus 121 Display device 122 Display screen 125 Sound output device 131 Recording medium 200 Server device 201 Server body 203 Control unit 205 RAM
207 HDD
213 DVD / CD-ROM drive 215 communication interface 231 recording medium

Claims (3)

A program executed on a computer device,
In the computer device,
A playback function for causing a display means included in the computer device to play back a movie that can be played back without waiting for a certain period of time in response to an input from a user of the computer device;
When a predetermined event including playback of the movie is executed on a plurality of computer devices including the computer device and a computer device of another user who forms a party with the user of the computer device, playback of the movie on each computer device After the process is completed, a transition function for shifting to processing for performing the same event on each computer device is realized,
In the playback function, a program for realizing a function of causing the display means to display an image indicating the playback status of the movie or the end of playback on the computer device of the other user. A computer device constituting a network system with another computer device,
Playback means for causing a display means provided in the computer device to play back a movie that can be played back without waiting for a certain period of time in response to an input from a user of the computer device;
When a predetermined event including playback of the movie is executed on a plurality of computer devices including the computer device and a computer device of another user who forms a party with the user of the computer device, playback of the movie on each computer device And a transition means for transitioning to a process for performing the same event in each computer device,
The computer device that causes the display device to display an image indicating the playback status or the end of playback of the movie on the computer device of the other user. A network system comprising a plurality of computer devices including a computer device and a computer device of another user who forms a party with a user of the computer device,
Playback means for causing a display means provided in the computer device to play back a movie that can be played back without waiting for a certain period of time in response to an input from a user of the computer device;
When a predetermined event including reproduction of the movie is executed by the plurality of computer devices, after the reproduction of the movie is completed by each computer device, the process proceeds to processing for performing the same event in each computer device. Transition means,
The network means for causing the display means to display an image indicating the playback status or the end of playback of the movie on the computer device of the other user.

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