JP5285010B2 - Game with character image modification function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game with a character image modification function.

  There is a video game in which a player character (PC) operated by a player and a non-player character (NPC) which is a preset character exist. In some video games, a player character image can be selected by selecting a plurality of parts.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-45091 discloses a method of generating a player character image by generating a composite texture using a texture for each part selected by a player. In this way, by creating an original PC, attachment to the game can be enhanced. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-45091, the image processing speed is increased by changing the drawing method of the player character in accordance with the game scene (paragraph “0006”).

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-117242 discloses a dress-up game program that applies a dress-up to a player character according to an acquired item when an event for obtaining an item occurs.

  In the pamphlet of International Publication No. 2005-058441, a battle game system is disclosed in which an image of a character determined to be lost in a battle game is changed. In addition, when the character attacks, the game system changes the character image according to the character of the character and changes the character image according to the attack type.

JP 2009-45091 A JP 2003-117242 A International Publication No. 2005-058441 Pamphlet

  If the technique disclosed in the above publication is used, the image of the player character can be changed in the battle game. However, in any technique, the change in the image of the player character is unilaterally determined by the game machine. For this reason, originality cannot be given to the change of the image of the player character. Further, it is not intended to change the image of a character other than the player character.

  Furthermore, in the conventional technique, since the change in the image of the player character is unambiguous, it can only bring about an unobtrusive change. For this reason, it cannot appeal to a user's palatability.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system that can give originality and personality to character changes.

  In particular, the present invention provides a game system in which a user can freely modify a “character image” that is one of the attributes of a card in a game to have originality and personality, thereby attracting the user's interest. The purpose is to provide.

  Basically, the present invention allows not only the basic character image but also the character image in various situations to be customized according to the user's preference, so that the user can have deep interest and attachment to the game. Based on the knowledge that can be brought.

  The first aspect of the present invention relates to a battle game system using a computer. The competitive game system includes a player ID storage unit 11 that stores a player ID, a character image storage unit 12, and an image modification unit 13. The character image storage unit 12 is a storage unit that stores character images corresponding to a plurality of situations on the game in association with the player ID. The image modification unit 13 is an element for customizing character images corresponding to a plurality of situations based on input information. An example of the character is a player character or a character that performs a battle in a battle game. For example, in the game story, the main character may have a plurality of cards, and the object embodied by each card may be a character.

  In the present invention, the image modification unit 13 customizes the character images corresponding to a plurality of situations based on the input information. As a result, the user can bring deep interest and attachment to the game by customizing the image of the character in various situations according to the user's preference.

  A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention further includes a part image storage unit 14 that stores a plurality of part images for each of a plurality of types of parts of the character. Then, the image modification unit 13 customizes the character image by selecting information on one or more part images stored in association with the player ID from the part image storage unit 14 according to the input information.

  A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention further includes a character basic information storage unit 15 for storing character information including the character name, level, attack power and defense power associated with the player ID. Then, the image modifying unit 13 changes the image of the character when any of the level, attack power, and defense power exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the input information is a pictograph input from a mobile phone or a website to the battle game system. By embedding pictograms that users use on a daily basis in the character image, the game can be intimate.

  A preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention further includes a user information storage unit 16 that stores information about the user in association with the player ID. Then, the image modification unit 13 changes the method for customizing the character image using information about the user stored in the user information storage unit 16. Thereby, originality and personality can be given to the change of a character.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game system capable of giving originality and individuality to character changes.

  In particular, according to the present invention, a “character image” which is one of the attributes of a card in the game can be freely modified by the user so as to have originality and personality, thereby attracting the user's interest. A system can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the competitive game system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the competitive game system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example of character image customization. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the customization process of the character image during battle. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a character image is customized using pictographs. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a battle state of the battle game. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the opponent player activates a special move in FIG.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention will be described. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The present invention includes a range appropriately modified within a range obvious to those skilled in the art from the embodiments described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the competitive game system of the present invention. This battle game system may be a stand-alone game machine or a client-server system using a personal computer. Further, the battle game system may be an arcade game or a card game. An example of a card game is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-45369.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the competitive game system of the present invention includes a player ID storage unit 11 that stores a player ID, a character image storage unit 12, and an image modification unit 13. The competitive game system further includes a parts image storage unit 14, a character basic information storage unit 15, and a user information storage unit 16. Note that the competitive game system of the present invention appropriately includes various elements that are generally included in a game system. Examples of such elements are display screens and input / output devices.

  The player ID storage unit 11 is a storage unit for storing a player ID. If the battle game system is a stand-alone type, the player ID may be, for example, an ID of saved data. A general video game can store a plurality of play data. Then, for example, save data is stored with IDs such as save data 1 and save data 2. If the competitive game system is related to a certain membership website, the membership number of that website may be used as the player ID. Further, when the competitive game system is a client server system, for example, player IDs assigned in order of membership may be used. In this case, a part of the database of the normal server functions as the player ID storage unit 11. When the battle game system is a card game, an ID assigned to a card indicating a player ID may be used as the player ID.

  The character image storage unit 12 is a storage unit for storing character images corresponding to a plurality of situations on the game in association with the player ID. Examples of character images include an image showing a character and an image showing a character background. An example of a character background is a card or a card frame image. That is, the example of the character in the competitive game of this invention is the character which exists on a card | curd. The character image stored as one of the attributes of the card existing in the battle game may have an initial value of no image.

  Examples of multiple situations are normal (idling state), during battle, when a special move is activated, when defeated, when an enemy character is defeated, and drowned. Examples of the plurality of situations include two or more of these situations. Specific examples of multiple situations are normal times, battles, and special moves.

  For the character images corresponding to a plurality of situations, the player ID and the image ID for reading the image may be stored in a database, and the images of the plurality of characters may be stored in association with the image ID. In this case, when the situation changes, an image ID is selected from the database in association with the player ID, and an image of the character corresponding to the situation is read using the image ID.

  The image modification unit 13 is an element for customizing character images corresponding to a plurality of situations based on input information. An example of input information is selection information by a user input from the input unit of the competitive game system. Examples of selection information are left / right / up / down, selection, and cancellation. Another example of input information is a picture drawn by the user. Another example of input information is a pictograph input from a mobile phone or a website to the battle game system.

  The parts image storage unit 14 is a storage unit that stores a plurality of part images for each of a plurality of types of parts of the character. The parts image storage unit 14 may have a database divided into parts for each character type. Examples of character types are human, elf, dwarf, half elf, goblin, and fairy. Other examples of character types are beasts, gods, demons, marines, and immortality. Further, when setting the gender of the character, a part image may be stored according to the gender.

  Among the types of parts, examples of character bodies are face type, skin color, eyes, eye position, eye color, nose, nose position, mouth, mouth position, mouth color, hairstyle, hair color , Glasses, physique, and the number of arms. The part image of the character body may be set, for example, as an initial value of the battle game of the present invention. In this case, for example, the image modification unit 13 customizes the character image by selecting information on one or more part images stored in association with the player ID from the part image storage unit 14 according to the input information. These part images are preferably stored in association with an ID number that is a combination of an ID indicating the type of part and an ID indicating the order of the type of part.

  Among the types of parts, examples of character equipment are weapons, armor (clothes), shields, helmets (hats), and accessories. Examples of weapon types are swords, rapiers, axes, spears, canes, hammers, bows, guns, scythes, cloths, books, boomerangs and swords. These part images are preferably stored in association with an ID number that is a combination of an ID indicating the type of part and an ID indicating the order of the type of part. Also, the character's equipment may be stored in association with the character's occupation.

  The character basic information storage unit 15 is a storage unit that stores character information including the character name, level, attack power, and defense power associated with the player ID. The character basic information storage unit 15 may store the attributes and types of characters.

  When the character basic information storage unit 15 stores the character level, the character image may be changed when the stored information exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, if the level is less than or equal to the first threshold, the basic color of the equipment is bronze, the basic color of the equipment is silver if it is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to the second threshold, and the basic of the equipment is greater than or equal to the second threshold The color is gold. In such processing, a threshold value is stored, and the stored threshold value is compared with the level when the level changes. Then, the corresponding basic color is read out. Then change the basic color of the equipment book. In this way, the color change of the equipment according to the level can be realized.

  The user information storage unit 16 is a storage unit that stores information about the user in association with the player ID. Examples of information about the user are the user's age, gender, member site member ID, blog address, mobile phone address, PC IP address, password, e-mail address, region, and user type. Examples of user types are game creator, user, and guest. Other examples of user types may be free members, paid members, and special members. The user information storage unit 16 relates to the player ID, the player character's belongings, game progress information, affiliation village, affiliation guild, past opponent, battle situation with past opponent, win / loss, player character level , Rank, title level, title, number of plays, total play time, and play location may be stored in association with the player ID. The title is a title of the player given separately from the title level when a certain condition is satisfied.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the competitive game system of the present invention. This competitive game system includes an input device 21, a CPU 22, a calculation device 23, a storage device 24, and an image processing block 25. Each element is connected by a bus 26 so that information can be exchanged. This competitive game system is connected to an interface (I / F) 27 via a bus 26. Therefore, for example, this competitive game system can be connected to the information recording medium 28 storing the program via the I / F 27. This program is for causing a computer and an image processing apparatus to function as predetermined means. This program is for causing a computer or an image processing apparatus to execute predetermined steps. Note that the memory connected via the I / F 27 may function as all or part of the storage device 24.

  The image processing block 25 includes a graphic processing unit (GPU) 22 and a video RAM (VRAM) 30. The GPU 29 and the VRAM 30 are connected so that information can be exchanged. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a display screen (monitor), and reference numeral 32 denotes a speaker.

  In this embodiment, for example, the game program stored in the work space of the CPU 22, the arithmetic device 23, the storage device 24, and the information recording medium 28 is stored in the player ID storage unit 11, the character image storage unit 12, and the image modification unit 13. , Character basic information storage unit 15 and user information storage unit 16. The storage areas of the storage device 24 and the information recording medium 28 function as the part image storage unit 14 and the work area. When operation information is input from the input device 21, the operation information is transmitted to the CPU 22 via the bus 26. Then, the CPU 22 reads a program stored in the information recording medium 28 and performs a predetermined process. The CPU 22 reads various information stored in the storage device 24 and the information recording medium 28 in accordance with instructions from the program, and performs predetermined calculations in the calculation device 23. The CPU 22 appropriately stores the calculation result in the storage device 24 and outputs appropriate information from the monitor 31 and the speaker 32 using the calculation result.

  Next, an operation example of the competitive game system of the present invention will be described. In this example of the battle game, the player character has one or a plurality of cards, and is played against a card of a player or a NPC card. In the following, the explanation will be focused on character customization processing. Processes other than the character customization process and the battle scene may be performed in the same manner as a normal game.

  The user obtains a card. Cards may be obtained by purchasing online. In this case, information related to the purchase of a card by a user in the system is input. Then, the system reads attribute information about the card from the storage unit. Then, in relation to the player ID, information related to the card is stored in the character basic information storage unit 15. In this way, when a user purchases a card, a player in the user's battle game system can obtain the card and proceed with an event corresponding to the card in the battle game system. Alternatively, the player character may obtain a card by clearing a predetermined event in the battle game. Furthermore, the player character may obtain the card by performing an action of purchasing the card at a shop in the battle game.

  In the battle game, the character embodied in the card is customized. FIG. 3 is an example of character image customization. When the card is obtained, for example, information indicating the character type is stored in the card. The competitive game system stores an initial image of the character according to the type of character (for example, the ID of Odin, the character). Then, when character customization processing is performed in the competitive game system, an initial image of the character is read using information on the type of character. Then, the read initial image of the character is displayed on the display unit. The initial character image may be none (there is no character to be displayed). Even if there is no such character image at all, since the system stores the attributes (attack, defense, race, weakness) associated with the card, it is possible to play against each other. . In this case, only one card frame is displayed on one card during a battle between the cards.

  The user can customize the character based on the displayed initial image. An example of customization processing is image processing that changes the equipment of a character. Another example of the customization processing is image processing that changes the facial expression, size, etc. of the character. In addition, when a plurality of initial image candidates are stored in the competitive game system in relation to the character type, the initial image candidates themselves may be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the initial image of the character is a rabbit, the next initial image is a cat, and the next initial image is a mouse. This is the case when the character type stored in association with the card is a rabbit. And the memory | storage part of the system has memorize | stored the image shown on the left of FIG. 3 regarding a rabbit. Therefore, the system reads and outputs the rabbit image from the storage unit based on the rabbit identification information. Next, the cat is stored in association with the next identification number of the rabbit, and the mouse is stored in association with the next identification number. Therefore, the system reads out and outputs a cat image and a mouse image from the storage unit. In this way, initial image candidates are displayed. When the user selects an image of the character using the input device, selection information is input to the system. The system grasps the selected character image using the input information. Then, the character image selected in association with the user ID is stored. The system may also present candidate part images for customization.

  The user may also input a character image created by himself / herself into the battle game system and customize it to use the input character image. For example, the display unit of the competitive game system may be a touch panel, and when the user traces on the touch panel, a character image based on the traced trajectory may be input to the system. And the input character image should just be memorize | stored in the character image memory | storage part 12 as one of the attributes of a card | curd. A trajectory traced on the touch panel may be input information, and a character image stored in advance by the system may be read out. That is, the initial values of a plurality of character images are stored together with the ID in the system. And ID is calculated based on the input on a user's touch panel. Then, the character image is read out from the storage unit of the system using the ID obtained by calculation, and the character image is stored in association with the player ID. The ID calculation based on the input information of the touch panel may be performed using, for example, the position where the touch panel is first input as the input information. Further, the ID calculation may be performed by setting the relationship between the input position of the touch panel and the ID at random using a random operator, and reading the randomly set ID upon receiving an input from the touch panel. .

  Furthermore, the user may freely draw a character image using the input device of the battle game system. In this case, when a character image is input from the input device, the input character image may be stored in the character image storage unit 12 together with the player ID. However, if a character image freely drawn by a user is used as it is in a battle game, there may be a problem that appropriate image processing cannot be performed and the image memory is large. Therefore, it is preferable that the competitive game system stores information related to the threshold value of the image capacity per character image. Then, when a character image is input, the capacity of the character image is obtained. Then, the threshold of the image capacity per character image is read from the storage unit. Then, the competitive game system compares the input character image capacity with the above-described image capacity threshold. If the capacity of the input character image is larger than the above-described image capacity threshold value, a calculation process for reducing the capacity of the input character image is performed. An example of a calculation process for reducing the capacity of the input character image is filtering. If the capacity of the input character image is within four times the above-mentioned image capacity threshold, it may be within the above-mentioned image capacity range by performing a filtering process that averages pixel values for every four pixels. it can.

  In addition, for example, there may be a case where image processing such as a special technique activation cannot be performed as a result of a user freely drawing a character image corresponding to a card. As described above, it is preferable that the battle game system of the present invention implements an arithmetic processing program capable of smoothly progressing the battle game even when image processing corresponding to a certain situation cannot be performed. For example, the competitive game system of the present invention reads a character image stored in association with the character ID. Then, a character image corresponding to a certain situation (for example, a special technique is activated) is generated. However, even if the competitive game system is operated, a situation in which a character image cannot be read or generated in real time may occur. Even in such a case, it is preferable that the competitive game system stores image data corresponding to each situation not related to the card so that the competitive game can proceed smoothly. An example of such image data is an image centered on characters such as “A Special Move!”. Another example of such image data is an image that lights up the inside of the frame of the character image in association with the execution of the special technique. Since such image display data is stored, the competitive game system can perform the display work without impairing the presence even if the process of displaying the character image does not work well.

  Further, when a user creates a computer image, image information may be input from the computer to the system, and the input image information may be used as a character image. In this case, the input character image is stored in association with the user ID. In this case as well, the image capacity may be adjusted so that the game system operates properly in the same manner as described above. The input character image may be further customized using a battle game system. The character image storage unit 12 stores the customized character image in association with the player ID.

  Next, the user performs customization processing on, for example, a character image during battle. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the customization process of the character image during battle. Characters during battle are usually equipped with weapons and armor. An initial image of the character during battle is stored in the system database. Then, for example, it is assumed that an instruction is input from the input device to correct the spear with another weapon. In that case, the system of the present invention reads out a candidate image of a sword, which is another weapon, from the part image storage unit 14 and displays it on the display unit to prompt the user to select. When information indicating that an image has been selected is input to the system, processing is performed to synthesize the selected image with the character image. The same applies to shields and armor. In this way, the character image at the time of battle is customized.

  For the character images corresponding to a plurality of situations, the player ID and the image ID for reading the image may be stored in a database, and the images of the plurality of characters may be stored in association with the image ID. In this case, when the situation changes, an image ID is selected from the database in association with the player ID, and an image of the character corresponding to the situation is read using the image ID.

  When the character basic information storage unit 15 stores the character level, the character image may be changed when the stored information exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, if the level is less than or equal to the first threshold, the basic color of the equipment is bronze, the basic color of the equipment is silver if it is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to the second threshold, and the basic of the equipment is greater than or equal to the second threshold The color is gold. In such processing, a threshold value is stored, and the stored threshold value is compared with the level when the level changes. Then, the corresponding basic color is read out. Then change the basic color of the equipment book. In this way, the color change of the equipment according to the level can be realized.

  It is assumed that the user information storage unit 16 stores the user's age. The system may then store the part image in relation to the user's age. Further, the system may select an image when the match is lost depending on the age of the user. For example, consider the case where the user's age is below a certain value. Whether or not the user's age is below a certain value may be determined by, for example, storing the age threshold in the storage unit, reading the user's age from the user information storage unit 16, and causing the calculation unit to compare the threshold and the user's age. . If the user's age is below a certain value, the part may be read as a part image candidate from a part having a relatively soft image and output to the display unit. If the user's age is below a certain value, image processing that refrains from drawing blood even if the character loses the battle may be performed.

  The character image may be customized using pictographs. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a character image is customized using pictographs. For example, a plurality of pictograms are registered in a mobile phone. As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 5, the user designates a pictograph of the mobile phone. Then, it is assumed that an electronic mail in which the user has selected a pictograph is transmitted to the system server. Then, the server determines the user from the e-mail address. The received pictogram is stored as an image associated with the user. When the user customizes the character image, for example, the transmitted pictograph is selected. The information for selecting the pictograph is input from the input device of the system. Then, the system reads the pictogram stored in the storage unit and superimposes it on the character image. The position where the pictograph is superimposed on the character image is adjusted according to the input information to the system. As shown in the right figure of FIG. 5, the pictographic image was superimposed on the shield of the character.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a battle state of the battle game. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the cat warrior on the near side is a character operated by the player. The dog wizard is the opponent player's character or an NPC character. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the opponent's physical strength value is about half. At that time, it is assumed that the opponent player activates a special technique.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the opponent player activates a special move in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, in this example, the opponent character has changed to a beast lion. That is, the wizard of the dog is stored in association with the ID of the opponent player character, and the image shown in FIG. 6 is stored as an image at the time of battle, and the image shown in FIG. Then, the opponent user presses the Special Move button. Then, a special move activation instruction is input to the opponent's system. The system determines whether the opponent's situation meets the conditions for the special move. When the system determines that the activation condition is satisfied, the lion image shown in FIG. 7 is read from the storage unit and output. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, an image when the special move is activated is displayed.

  According to the present invention, a computer includes a player ID storage unit that stores a player ID, a character image storage unit that stores images of the character corresponding to a plurality of situations on the game, and input information. A program for functioning as an image modification unit (13) for customizing the image of the character corresponding to a plurality of situations is also provided. This program can incorporate various elements of the battle game system described above. The present invention also provides a computer-readable information recording medium storing such a program.

  The present invention can be used in the game machine and software industries.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Player ID memory | storage part 12 Character image memory | storage part 13 Image modification part 14 Parts image memory | storage part 15 Character basic information memory | storage part 16 User information memory | storage part

Claims (4)

A battle game system using a computer,
A player ID storage unit (11) for storing a player ID;
A character image storage unit (12) for storing images of a plurality of characters according to a plurality of situations on the game in association with the player ID;
A part image storage unit (14) for storing a plurality of part images for each of a plurality of types of parts of the character;
An image modification unit (13) for customizing the image of the character according to the plurality of situations based on input information ,
The character image storage unit (12)
Storing self-made character images drawn by an input device as images of a plurality of characters corresponding to a plurality of situations on the game;
The image modification unit (13)
According to the plurality of situations, the self-made character image is displayed on a display screen,
According to the input information, the image of the self-made character is customized by selecting information on one or more part images stored in association with the player ID from the parts image storage unit (14).
Competitive game system. A character basic information storage unit (15) for storing character information including the name, level, attack power and defense power of the character related to the player ID;
The image modification unit (13)
When any of the level, attack power, and defense power exceeds a predetermined threshold, the image of the self-made character is changed.
The battle game system according to claim 1. The input information is a pictograph input to the battle game system from a mobile phone or a website.
The battle game system according to claim 1. A user information storage unit (16) for storing information about the user in association with the player ID;
The image modification unit (13) changes a method for customizing the image of the self-made character by using information on the user stored in the user information storage unit (16).
The battle game system according to claim 1.

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