JP6726232B2 - Game program and game device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a video game in which play time can be limited.

Video games are provided with developments that are intriguing to the player (especially a child), and the player may forget the time and continue playing. However, if a video game is played for a long time, there are adverse effects such as lack of study time, delay in eating, and bad influence on eyes.

Therefore, there has conventionally been a request to limit the play time of a video game, and for example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there has been proposed a game machine that is forcibly shut down after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of play. There is.

JP, 08-287309, A

JP, 2008-216053, A

However, in the method of simply forcibly ending the game, the player who is forced to end the game remains dissatisfied. In particular, if the game shuts down without prior notice just because the time limit has come, even if the game is in a good state, a great stress may remain on the player, and the player may be a child. If this is the case, there is a fear of discord with the parents.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game program and a game device that allow a player to set a time limit while being satisfied.

A first game program of the present invention causes a computer to which an operation section operated by a user is connected to function as a game execution means and a time limit means. The game executing means generates a player object in the virtual game space and causes the player object to act in the game space according to the operation of the operation unit. The time limit means measures a predetermined time limit from the start of the process of the game execution means, and stops the game execution means when the time limit ends. Further, the game executing means sequentially executes a plurality of segmented games. Furthermore, the time limit means sets whether or not to limit the time (and the time limit) by the input of the user or another user, and when the time limit is enabled, the reward that can be obtained by playing the game, When the time limit ends, if the game execution means is executing the divided game when the time limit is over, the game execution means is operated until the divided game ends, The game executing means is stopped when the divided game is finished.

The time limit means, when the time limit is enabled, “increasing the appearance probability of an object (item) acquired by the player character during the game” and “a reward for defeating an enemy object (monster)”. One or more of “higher”, “higher reward for clearing divided games”, and “lowering game difficulty” may be changed.

According to the present invention, when the time is limited, the content of the game is changed to be more advantageous than usual, so that the player can play the time-limited game without dissatisfaction.

It is a block diagram of a game machine in which a game program is executed. It is a figure which shows the structure of a player character table. It is a figure which shows the structure of a quest table. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a control part of a game machine.

A game program according to an embodiment of the present invention, a game machine on which the game program is executed, and an online game system will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. Further, the processing procedure of each flowchart is not limited to the embodiment, and may be in any order as long as no contradiction occurs. The game is executed by the cooperation of the game machine 1, the online game system 10, and the game program 50.

FIG. 1 shows the configurations of the game machine 1 and the online game system 10. The online game system 10 includes a server device 4 and a game machine 1 that can communicate with each other via a network 3.

The game machine 1 includes a network communication unit 32 that communicates with the server device 4 via a network 3 such as the Internet, and can execute a game in which a plurality of users (players) participate online. As the game machine 1, for example, a stationary dedicated game machine or a personal computer can be applied. In the following, the dedicated game machine 1 will be described as an example.

<Explanation of game machine 1>
In FIG. 1, the game machine 1 includes a control unit 20, a hard disk drive (HDD) 27, an operation unit 30, a media drive 31, and a network communication unit 32 on a bus 26. The control unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an image processor 24 and a sound processor 25. A video RAM (VRAM) 40 is connected to the image processor 24. An amplifier 42 including a D/A converter is connected to the audio processor 25. The video RAM 40 and the amplifier 42 are connected to the video/audio interface 41. The video/audio interface 41 is connected to the television receiver (TV) 2 via a cable. As the video/audio interface 41, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (High-Definition Multimedia Interface: HDMI (registered trademark)) is adopted. The television receiver 2 connected to the video/audio interface 41 generally has a liquid crystal display and a speaker, and reproduces the game image and the game sound input from the game machine 1.

The operation unit 30 is composed of a controller that is connected to the main body of the game machine 1 by a cable and includes various key switches. The operation of these key switches by the user is converted into a digital signal and transmitted to the CPU 21.

The media drive 31 includes a media slot into which the game media 5 is inserted. The media drive 31 accesses the game media 5 set in the media slot and reads the game program 50. The game program 50 includes game data necessary for the progress of the game. As the game medium 5, for example, a DVD, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, or the like is used. However, the game media 5 is not limited to an optical disc, and may be a semiconductor memory. Further, the game program 50 may be provided in the form of being downloaded from the server device 4 or the like via the network 3 instead of the game media 5. The game program 50 downloaded via the network 3 is recorded in the hard disk drive 27. The game program 50 includes an execution file and various data necessary for executing the game.

In the RAM 23, a load area for storing the game program 50 read from the hard disk drive 27 or the game medium 5 so that the game program 50 can be executed, and a work area used when the CPU 20 executes the game program 50 are set. The ROM 22 stores a basic program for starting the game machine 1. Storage areas (tables) as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are set in the hard disk 27 and the RAM 23. Details of these tables will be described later.

The image processor 24 is a processor that has a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit, graphics processing unit) and generates a game video. The image processor 24 creates a game space according to the instruction of the CPU 21, draws an image of the game space captured by a virtual camera on the VRAM 40 as a game image, and outputs it to the audiovisual interface 41.

The audio processor 25 is a processor that has a DSP (Digital Signal Processor, digital signal processor) and generates a game audio. The voice processor 25 reproduces voice data of a voice generated by an object according to the activity of the object. The amplifier 42 amplifies this audio signal and outputs it to the video/audio interface 41.

As described above, the video/audio interface 41 is connected to the television receiver 2, the game image developed on the VRAM 40 is displayed on the display of the television receiver 2, and the audio signal amplified by the amplifier 42 is received on the television receiver. Sound is emitted from the speaker of the machine 2.

The network communication unit 32 is connected to the network 3 and communicates with other devices such as the server device 4 via the network 3. The network 3 is, for example, the Internet. The server device 4 stores a game program 50 used in the game machine 1, and the game machine 1 can download the game program from the network. The downloaded game program is stored in the hard disk drive 27.

Note that the control unit 20 has a built-in clock with a calendar function as a function of a computer system, and time restrictions and time zone restrictions described later are performed based on the timekeeping of this clock.

<Outline of the game>
A game executed by the game machine 1 of FIG. 1 will be described. The game executed on the game machine 1 is a so-called hunting action game. A hunting action game is a game in which a player character defeats an enemy character (monster) in a virtual game space and strengthens his or her equipment with the loot removed from the enemy character. Multiple users collaborate online. You can also play. The game is cleared by completing multiple quests and achieving the final goal. In the following description of the game, the user and the player character may be used interchangeably. The play character corresponds to the player object of the present invention.

The game is an online game, and a plurality of game machines 1 communicate with the server device 4 via the network 3, and the same game is executed in parallel on these plurality of game machines. Each game machine 1 is operated by a different user, and each unique player character is activated in the game space. The server device 4 manages the progress of the game and the data of each user (player character).

The game progresses when the player character operated by the user successively receives and clears a plurality of quests. A quest is, for example, a specific short-division game in which you defeat (or capture) a specific enemy character such as a monster by going out to the field, which is a virtual game space. /Failure). By performing the quest, the player character can acquire various items and materials, and by using these items and materials to create new weapons, the player's own fighting power can be improved. In addition, there is also a segmented game (search, etc.) that has no time limit and, conversely, can be stopped anytime. Meeting a predetermined condition such as clearing a quest or defeating a monster corresponds to the “result of a predetermined action” of the present invention.

In this game, a user's daily play time can be limited. Hereinafter, the operation mode in which the play time is limited will be referred to as a time limit mode. An operation mode in which play time is not limited is called a normal mode. In the normal mode, the user can play for an unlimited amount of time, and the reward that can be obtained by playing (for example, clearing the quest) is also the normal amount (amount) as the basic amount. On the other hand, in the time limit mode, the user can play for a preset time, and cannot play again on the same date after the time limit has elapsed. That is, when the date changes, it becomes possible to play again for the set time. The reward that can be obtained by playing is set more than usual as a price that the playing time is limited. As a result, it is possible to obtain a reward comparable to that when playing for a long time even for a short time when the time is limited, and it is possible to increase motivation for playing for a short time.

In this game, when playing the game, the user can set a plurality of player characters, and can set a play time limit for each user (player character). In the example shown in FIG. 2, the play time limit is not set for the user 1 (player character 1) (normal mode). A time limit of 2 hours is set for the user 2 (player character 2) (time restriction mode 1). Further, a time limit of 9 hours is set for the user 3 (player character 3) (time restriction mode 2). Here, the time limit mode 1/2 is a division according to the length of the time limit, the time limit mode 1 is a strict time limit of 3 hours or less, and the time limit mode 2 is a loose time longer than 3 hours. It is in restricted mode. In the time limit mode 2, the reward that can be obtained by playing is set higher than in the normal mode, but in the time limit mode 1, a higher reward is set.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the RAM 23. The player character table 200 is a table that stores data relating to each game of a plurality of player characters (users). This table is stored in the HDD 27 together with the game program 50 and loaded into the RAM 23 together with the game program. The player character table 200 includes a player character name of each player character, save data (data that stores the progress of the game, personal belongings of the player character, etc.), a set time limit, a password, and a timer flag. Remembered. As shown in FIG. 2B, the timer flag includes a time limit flag 211, a timer 212, and an end flag 213. The time limit flag 211 is a 3-state flag of 0/1/2 indicating the user's play mode, 0 indicates a normal mode, 1 indicates a time limit mode 1 and 2 indicates a time limit mode 2. The timer 212 is an area for measuring the play time in the time limit mode. The end flag 213 is a flag that is set when the play time for today's date is ended in the time limit mode. The end flag is reset when the date changes.

The user 1 is an administrator (for example, a guardian) of this game, and by logging in to the user 1 (player character 1), the time limits for the player characters 1 to 3 can be set. That is, the user 2 and the user 3 are children of the user 1, for example, and cannot set the time limit by themselves.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of the game data of the quest. There are multiple quests set in the game, but each quest has such data. The quest game data has an item table 220, a clear reward table 230, and an enemy character reward table 240. The item table 220 is a table in which a list of items that appear at a specific place in the field of this quest and that can be acquired by the player character, and their appearance probabilities are described. Three types of appearance probabilities are set: normal probability, limit 1 probability, and limit 2 probability. The normal probability is the probability applied when the game is played in the normal mode. The time limit 1 probability is a probability applied when the game is played in the time limit mode 1 in which the time limit is 3 hours or less. The time limit 2 probability is a probability applied when the time limit mode 2 is played in which the time limit is longer than 3 hours. With regard to the limit 1 probability and the limit 2 probability, the appearance probability of each item is set higher than the normal probability. Further, with the probability of restriction 1 being set, the probability of appearance of a rare item is set particularly high.

The clear reward table 230 is a table in which the content of the reward given to the user when this quest is cleared is stored. Rewards include items and currencies. This reward also includes a normal reward, a limited 1 reward, and a limited 2 reward, and the regular reward <the limited 2 reward <the limited 1 reward. The enemy character reward is a reward given when the player character defeats the enemy character (monster). This reward also includes a normal reward, a limited 1 reward, and a limited 2 reward, and the regular reward <the limited 2 reward <the limited 1 reward.
The operation of the control unit 20 will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the time limit setting process. When the user 1 (administrator) logs in to the player character (PC) 1 (S11) and selects the time limit setting on the screen displayed after login (S12), the player character 1, as shown in the frame of S13, is displayed. A screen for setting the time limits for 2 and 3 is displayed on the display of the television receiver 2 (S13). In S13, a pull-down menu for selecting the time limit is displayed under the display of the player characters (PC) 1, 2, 3. The pull-down menu is a menu as shown in FIG. 4B, and options such as unlimited, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 2 hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours are provided. In the example of S13, a time limit of 2 hours is set for the player character 2 (time limit mode 1), and a time limit of 9 hours is set for the player character 3 (time limit mode 2). No time limit is set for the player character 1 (administrator) (normal mode). Of course, it is possible to set the time limit for the player character 1 by itself. When the time limit is set in S13, the control unit 20 stores the set content in the time limit column of the player character table 200 (S14).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart at the start of play. When the user logs in to the player character he or she plays (S21) and selects the game execution (YES in S22), the process proceeds to the time limit mode determination process of S23. If a mode other than game execution is selected (NO in S22), the process proceeds to other processes (player character setting, etc.).

In S23, the control unit 20 determines whether the operation mode of the player character is the time limit mode (S23). If not in the time limit mode (NO in S23: normal mode), the game is started without doing anything. In the time limit mode (YES in S23), the end flag 213 of the player character is determined (S24). When the end flag is set (YES in S24), the game cannot be executed any more today, so that effect is displayed (S29), and the process returns to S22.

If the end flag is not set (NO in S24), the time limit timer is started (S25), and the time limit is 3 hours or less (time restriction mode 1) or 3 hours or more (time restriction mode 2). ) Is determined (S26). If it is the time limit mode 1 (YES in S26), the time limit mode flag is set to 1 (S27), and the game is started. If it is the time limit mode 2 (NO in S27), the time limit mode flag is set to 2 (S28) and the game is started.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing at the time of starting the quest. This process is executed when the player character receives an order for a quest in the game. First, the time limit flag of the player character is determined (S31). If the time limit flag is set to 1 in S31, the limit 1 probability of the item table 220 is selected (S32). If the time limit flag is set to 2 in S31, the limit 2 probability of the item table 220 is selected (S33). When the time limit flag is not set in S31 (when it is set to 0), the normal probability of the item table 220 is selected (S34). Items are randomly selected with the selected probability (S35), and the won items are arranged at various places in the field (S36). Then start the quest.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing when the enemy character (monster) is defeated or captured. This process is executed when you defeat or capture a monster. First, the time limit flag is determined (S41). When the time limit flag is set to 1 in S41, the reward stored in the time limit mode 1 column of the enemy character reward table 240 is given to the player (S42). When the time limit flag is set to 2 in S41, the reward stored in the time limit mode 2 column of the enemy character reward table 240 is given to the player (S43). When the time limit flag is not set in S41 (when it is set to 0), the reward stored in the normal mode column of the enemy character reward table 240 is given to the player (S44). The game (quest) is in progress while this process is being performed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing when the quest ends. When the quest is cleared, this process is executed, and the time limit flag is first judged (S51). When the time limit flag is set to 1 in S51, the reward stored in the time limit mode 1 column of the quest reward table 230 is given to the player (S52), and the process proceeds to S54. If the time limit flag is set to 2 in S51, the reward stored in the time limit mode 2 column of the quest reward table 230 is given to the player (S53), and the process proceeds to S54.

When the time limit flag is not set in S51 (when it is set to 0), the reward stored in the normal mode column of the quest reward table 230 is given to the player (S65), and the next The order for the quest is permitted (S66). Here, orders for all quests that can be ordered at that time are permitted.

In S54-S56, the remaining time of the play time limit is determined. In S54-S56, it is determined whether the remaining time is less than 15 minutes (S54), less than 5 minutes (S55), or whether the play time limit has already ended (S56). When the remaining time is 15 minutes or more ( YES in S54), the orders of all the quests that can be ordered at that time are permitted as in the normal mode play (S57). When the remaining time is less than 15 minutes and 5 minutes or more ( NO in S54 and NO in S55), the quests for which orders are permitted are selected (S58), and only the selected quests are permitted for orders (S59). In S58, processing is performed based on the estimated required time of the quest, such as accepting orders only for those having a short required time (for example, those having a required time within 20 minutes). When the remaining time is less than 5 minutes (YES in S55 and NO in S56), only actions (searching, etc.) that are not required to be cleared are selected (S60) and the order is accepted (S61). If the play time limit has already expired at the end of the quest (YES in S56), the order for the new quest is not permitted, and the game situation data and the player character data are saved in the player character table 200. The game ending process is executed (S62).

The estimated required time of the quest may be set in advance for each quest, or based on the attack power per unit time (such as DPS) according to the situation at that time, such as the physical strength of the enemy character and the equipment of the player character. , May be calculated each time.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the remaining time determination processing. This process is regularly executed during the execution of the game. First, in S70, it is determined whether the time limit mode is set (the time limit flag is set to 1 or 2) (S70). If the time limit mode is not set (NO in S70), the process ends without executing this process. In the case of the time limit mode (YES in S70), it is determined whether or not the time limit set in the garage has ended (S71). If the time limit has not expired (NO in S71), it is determined whether the remaining time has reached the time limit of 15 minutes, 10 minutes, or 5 minutes (S72). If the time is a break time (YES in S72), a warning display such as "remaining time has reached XX minutes" is displayed on the screen (S73), and the operation ends.

On the other hand, when the time limit has expired (YES in S71), it is determined in S75 whether the quest is being executed (S75). If the quest is currently in progress (the user is playing the quest) (YES in S75), the progress of the quest (time until clearing) is estimated based on the remaining physical strength value of the enemy character (S76), and If the predicted time is 10 minutes or less (YES in S76), the game (quest) is continued without ending the game.

When the quest is not in progress when the time limit ends (for example, when the equipment is being changed: NO in S75), or when the predicted end time of the quest being executed exceeds 10 minutes (NO in S76), The game ending process is performed without the user's ending operation (S77). At this time, if it is in the middle of the quest, return processing from the quest is also performed. Further, in the case of equipment change, weapon strengthening, item synthesis, etc., the game is terminated after the save process is performed.

In the above embodiment, the time limit mode is divided into two sections, that is, the time limitation mode 1 of 3 hours or less and the time limitation mode 2 of 3 hours or more, but the number of divisions is not limited to this. The time division is not limited to 3 hours.

In the above embodiment, as the privilege of the time limit mode, the increase of the appearance probability of the rare item and the increase (increase) of the reward when the quest is cleared and when the enemy character is defeated are provided, but the privilege is not limited to this. For example, the quest clear condition may be changed (the difficulty level may be lowered) such that the enemy's physical strength is reduced, the number of skins delivered is reduced from 20 to 10.

In the above embodiment, the time limit is cleared in units of one day, and the same time limit is set every day. However, even if the time limit is set in units of multiple days such as "20 hours in one week" Good. Moreover, the setting of the time limit is effective only once, and may be reset every time.

In the above embodiment, one time limit can be set for the player character (user), but a plurality of time limits may be set. For example, different time limits may be set for weekdays, weekends, and holidays, and the game program 50 may use the clock (calendar) function of the game machine 1 to select a time limit suitable for the day.

In the above-described embodiment, the warning is only displayed at the predetermined remaining time, but if the remaining time is less than the predetermined time such as 15 minutes or 5 minutes, the appearance probability of the item is increased, the physical strength of the enemy character is reduced, and the player You may make it easier to complete the quest by increasing the attack power of the character.

In addition, as a method of limiting the game play, instead of (or in addition to) the limitation of the play time, the limitation of the time zone to play, the limitation of the number of quests (stages) that can be played, and the like can be applied. Also in this case, a privilege such as adding a reward is given in the mode in which the play time is limited.

In the above embodiment, only the user who operates the game machine 1 is described, but in the online game, the user plays the quest in cooperation with another user (player character) who operates the other game machine 1 (defeats the enemy character). )be able to. In this case, some (less than the user in the time limit mode) privilege may be given to other users (in the normal mode) who cooperated with the user in the time limit mode.

As is apparent from the above description, the invention of each claim of the present application can be modified as follows.

The time limit, that is, the setting of the time limit, the permitted time zone, and the number of divided games (quests) may be valid only once, or once set, may be valid every day thereafter. Further, the setting of the time limit, the permitted time zone, and the number of divided games may be changed according to the day of the week.

The time limit means may reduce the difficulty level of the game so as to end the game earlier when the remaining time of the time limit or the permitted time period becomes shorter than a predetermined remaining time.

The game executing means may sequentially execute a plurality of divided games, and in this case, the time limiting means determines that the game executing means is executing the divided games when the time limit or the permitted time zone ends. In this case, the game executing means may be operated until the divided game ends, and the game executing means may be stopped when the divided game ends.

When the game executing means starts a new segmented game after the remaining time until the operation is stopped by the time limiting means becomes shorter than the predetermined remaining time (for example, 15 minutes), the time required for playing is predetermined. It is also possible to select a segmented game that is shorter than the required time (for example, the user can complete in about 20 minutes).

1 game machine 20 control unit 23 RAM
27 hard disk 50 game program 200 player character table

Claims (4)

A computer to which the operation unit operated by the user is connected,
Game execution means for generating a player object in a virtual game space, causing the player object to act in the game space in accordance with an operation of the operation unit, and executing a game;
A time limit means for measuring a predetermined time limit from the start of the process of the game execution means, and stopping the game execution means when the time limit is finished;
Function as
The game execution means sequentially executes a plurality of segmented games,
The time limit means ,
Whether to enable the time limit by the input of the pre-SL user or another user is set, when the time limit is enabled, a reward that can be acquired through the play of the game, than if the time limit is not Change to an advantageous content ,
When the game execution means is executing the divided game when the time limit ends, the game execution means is operated until the divided game ends, and the game execution is executed when the divided game ends. Stop the means,
Game program. If the game executing means starts a new divided game after the remaining time until the operation is stopped by the time limiting means becomes shorter than a predetermined remaining time, the game execution means requires the play as a newly started divided game. The game program according to claim 1, wherein a segmented game whose time is shorter than a predetermined required time is selected. The time limit means, when the time limit means is enabled,
Increase the appearance probability of objects acquired by the player object during the game,
Increase the reward for defeating enemy objects,
Increase the reward for clearing the above classification game,
Reduce the difficulty of the game,
The game program according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the changes are performed. A game device comprising: a storage unit that stores the game program according to claim 1; and a computer that executes the game program.

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