JP7684577B2 - Game program and game system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game program and a game system.

Conventionally, there are games such as fighting games, action games, and role-playing games in which a character moves within a virtual game space in response to user operations. Some of these games output character lines according to the game situation. However, if the same lines are always output for the same game situation, the user may perceive this as mechanical and lacking in humanity.

As an example of a game program aimed at increasing the interest of the lines to be output, Patent Document 1 discloses a game program for a soccer game that outputs lines from a commentator commenting on a highlight scene as commentary audio. In this soccer game, an evaluation value for each action performed by a player object within an evaluation period based on a period in the game corresponding to the highlight scene is calculated based on the action performed after that action. Then, based on the calculation result, one of the actions performed within the evaluation period is selected as a key play in the highlight scene, and a line (commentary by a commentator, etc.) corresponding to that action is output.

Patent No. 3962079

However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires that the evaluation value of each action be calculated based on the action that occurs after that action is performed. For this reason, while it is applicable to lines that are output in response to a game situation that has already progressed, such as highlight scenes or replay footage, it is difficult to apply it to lines that are output in real time in response to the game situation that is currently in progress as the user plays.

The present invention aims to provide a game program and a game system that can provide variety in the lines that are output in real time in response to the ongoing game situation, while outputting lines that are appropriate to that game situation.

To solve the above problems, the first invention is a game program executed by a computer in a game system including an output unit and a computer, the game program causing the computer to function as: virtual space generating means for generating a virtual space; character control means for controlling the actions of a character placed in the virtual space; situation monitoring means for monitoring situation parameters that indicate the game situation other than each action of the character after the character has performed a predetermined action; and line determination means for determining lines to be output from the output unit based on the monitored situation parameters.

The situation monitoring means monitors situation parameters indicating the game situation other than each action of the character after the character has performed a predetermined action, and the line determination means determines the lines to be output from the output unit based on the monitored situation parameters. This makes it possible to provide variety to the lines output in real time in response to the ongoing game situation, while outputting lines appropriate to that game situation. For example, lines appropriate to the action of the game character currently being operated by the user on the game play screen can be output in real time.

The computer may further function as an action counting means for counting the number of actions of the character for each character, and the situation parameter may include the number of actions that are counted. This allows, for example, a line appropriate to the number of actions of a game character currently being operated by a user on a gameplay screen to be output in real time.

The computer may further function as a time counting means for counting the time that has elapsed since the character performed the predetermined action, and the situation parameter may include the elapsed time that is counted. This makes it possible, for example, to output in real time a line that is appropriate for the time that has elapsed since the game character performed an action, based on the ongoing game situation.

The time counting means may count the duration of a state in which the character has performed or has not performed the specified action as the elapsed time. For example, a line appropriate to the duration of a certain continuous action or state of a game character can be output in real time with respect to the ongoing game situation.

The computer may further function as an action result parameter changing means for changing a predetermined action result parameter resulting from the predetermined action, and the situation parameters may include the action result parameters changed by the action result parameter changing means. This allows, for example, a character in a fighting game to make a change in a vitality gauge due to an attack on an opponent character, and a line appropriate to the change can be output in real time.

The second invention is a game system comprising a program storage unit that stores any one of the game programs described above, and a computer that executes the program stored in the program storage unit.

The program storage unit that stores the game program is a readable/writable or readable storage device or storage medium that is built into or external to a device that includes the game system, and may be, for example, a hard disk, flash memory, optical disk, etc. The program stored in the program storage unit may be executed in a device to which the program storage unit is directly connected, or may be downloaded and executed in a device connected to the program storage unit via a network (e.g., the Internet).

The present invention provides a game program and game system that can provide variety in the lines that are output in real time in response to the ongoing game situation, while outputting lines that are appropriate for that game situation.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a game system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view showing a controller of the game device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control unit of the game device. FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of a correspondence relationship between dialogue data, a first output condition, and a second output condition. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a line determination process.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a game system and a game program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Hardware configuration]
First, a configuration of a game system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a game device 2 constituting the game system 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the game system 1 includes a game device 2 and a server device 4, and the game device 2 includes a game device main body 20, and one or more controllers 31 (operation unit), a monitor 32 (display unit), and a speaker 33 (audio output unit) connected to the game device main body 20 by wire or wirelessly.

The game device main body 20 is equipped with a control unit 21, which is a computer that controls the operation of the game device main body 20. The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU. The control unit 21 is connected to a media I/F unit 22, a storage unit 23, a network I/F unit 24 (communication unit), a wireless communication control unit 25, a graphics processing unit 26, and an audio processing unit 27, each of which is connected via a bus 21a.

The media I/F unit 22 is an interface into which game media 34 for executing a game can be loaded. The game media 34 is, for example, a disk-type recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, and contains a game program 34a and game data 34b necessary for executing the game. This game data 34b includes various data necessary for executing the game.

The storage unit 23 is composed of, for example, an HDD, which is a large-capacity recording medium, a ROM, which is a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or PROM, and a RAM, which is a DRAM or SRAM. The storage unit 23 stores the game program 34a and game data 34b read from the game media 34, as well as save data, etc. Note that in this embodiment, not all game data 34b in the game media 34 is read when the game is started, but only game data that is required appropriately depending on the progress of the game (for example, at the change of game scene).

The network I/F unit 24 is an interface that connects the game device 2 to a communication network NW such as the Internet or a LAN. The game device 2 can communicate with other game devices 2 and the server device 4 via the communication network NW. For example, when the game device 2 progresses a game while communicating with the outside, it transmits and receives data between the other game devices 2 and/or the server device 4 via the communication network NW.

The wireless communication control unit 25 is wirelessly connected to the controller 31 attached to the game device main body 20, and is capable of sending and receiving data to and from the controller 31. The controller 31 is an operation device that accepts operations by the user. When the controller 31 is operated by the user, operation information corresponding to the operation is sent from the controller 31 to the control unit 21 of the game device 2 via the wireless communication control unit 25. The control unit 21 progresses the game based on the operation information from the controller 31.

Figure 2 is an external view of the controller 31 shown in Figure 1. The controller 31 is roughly U-shaped, and is operated by the user by holding the handles 201L, 201R on both wings with both hands. The controller 31 has multiple controls. For example, operation button groups 210, 220 and analog sticks 212, 222 are provided on the left and right upper surfaces of the controller 31, an R1 button 211 is provided on the right front surface of the controller 31, and an L1 button 221 is provided on the left front surface of the controller 31. The operation button group 210 and the analog stick 212 are operated by the thumb of the user's right hand, and the operation button group 220 and the analog stick 222 are operated by the thumb of the user's left hand. The R1 button 211 and the L1 button 221 are operated by the index finger of the user's right hand and the index finger of the left hand, respectively.

Furthermore, the controller 31 is provided with a touchpad 230 between the operation button group 210 and the operation button group 220. The touchpad 230 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and as is well known, when a user touches or brings a fingertip or the like close to the surface of the touchpad 230, position information (coordinates) of the contact or close point (input point) is output to the control unit 21 in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the touchpad 230 also functions as an operation button when the entirety is pressed down.

Returning to FIG. 1, the graphics processing unit 26 draws game images in a video format in accordance with instructions from the control unit 21. The game images drawn by the graphics processing unit 26 are displayed on the monitor 32 as a game screen. The monitor 32 is a display device (display unit) that displays the game images. The monitor 32 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

The audio processing unit 27 plays and synthesizes digital game sounds according to instructions from the control unit 21. The audio processing unit 27 is also connected to an external speaker 33. The game sounds played and synthesized by the audio processing unit 27 are output to the outside from the speaker 33 as an audio output device. Note that in addition to or instead of the speaker 33, external headphones or the like may be connected to the audio processing unit 27.

The server device 4 is equipped with a server control unit 41, which is a computer that controls its operation. The server control unit 41 includes, for example, a CPU. A memory unit 42 and a network I/F unit 43 are each connected to the server control unit 41 via a bus 41a. Note that the server device 4 may also be equipped with an input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a liquid crystal display, as necessary.

The storage unit 42 is composed of, for example, an HDD which is a large-capacity recording medium, a ROM which is a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or PROM, and a RAM which is a DRAM or SRAM. The network I/F unit 43 is an interface which connects the server device 4 to a communication network NW such as the Internet or a LAN. The server device 4 is capable of communicating with multiple game devices 2 via the communication network NW.

[Game Overview]
An overview of the game in this embodiment will be described. The game described in this embodiment is a battle game that allows users who access the server device 4 from the game device 2 via the communication network NW to battle each other. Specifically, this battle game is a battle-type fighting game in which one user operates a character selected from a plurality of characters, and fights one-on-one in a virtual space against a character operated by another user who is the opponent.

Figure 3 shows a battle screen D as an example of a game screen. Battle screen D includes an image of a virtual space S captured by a virtual camera. In the virtual space S, a player character PA (hereinafter, user character) operated by a user and a character PB (hereinafter, opponent character) that fights against the user character PA are placed. The virtual camera is placed within the virtual space S, and moves and zooms within the virtual space S according to the positions of the two characters PA, PB so that the captured image includes the two characters PA, PB.

The battle screen D includes various icons. For example, two vitality gauges G1, G2 are arranged at the top of the battle screen D, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The two vitality gauges G1, G2 indicate the vitality values of the two characters PA, PB, respectively. In addition, a time display area G3 indicating the remaining time of the battle is arranged between the two vitality gauges G1, G2 in the battle screen D. In addition, two skill gauges G4, G5 are arranged at the bottom of the battle screen D, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The two skill gauges G4, G5 indicate the skill points of the two characters PA, PB, respectively. When a specific technique specific to the two characters PA, PB is activated, each skill point is consumed in an amount corresponding to that technique.

In addition, in this game, the game audio output from speaker 33 during a match includes the lines (words) of a virtual commentator who is commenting on the match. For example, when character PA performs a specified attacking action as shown in FIG. 3, one line (such as "Character PA's attacking technique is successful!!") is selected from a number of lines prepared in advance and output from speaker 33. In this game, the line to be output is determined according to the game situation after the character performs the action.

[Functional configuration]
4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 21 of the game device 2. The control unit 21 of the game device 2 executes the game program 34a to function as a virtual space generating means 51, a character controlling means 52, a game progressing means 53, a situation monitoring means 54, an action result parameter changing means 55, a time counting means 56, an action counting means 57, and a line determining means 58.

The virtual space generating means 51 generates a two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space S. In the virtual space S, the above-mentioned user character PA and opponent character PB are placed.

The character control means 52 controls the behavior of the user character PA placed in the virtual space S within the game, based on the user's operation of the controller 31. For example, by operating the controller 31, the user can move the user character PA within the virtual space S or have the user character PA attack the opponent character PB.

Specifically, the movement of the user character PA is determined according to the user's operation on the controller 31. A predetermined movement of the user character PA is assigned to each of the controls of the controller 31 (more specifically, the operation on each control).

For example, the four buttons included in the operation button group 210 (see FIG. 2) are each assigned actions of the user character PA, such as "weak punch," "strong punch," "weak kick," and "strong kick." For example, the four buttons included in the operation button group 220 are each assigned actions of the user character PA, such as "move to the right of the screen," "move to the left of the screen," "jump," and "crouch."

In addition, in this game, the user character PA performs one or a series of predetermined actions (hereinafter referred to as "special actions") by performing multiple predetermined operation inputs to the controller 31 (for example, pressing multiple buttons from the operation button group 210, 220 simultaneously, pressing a series of buttons in a predetermined order within a predetermined time, or a combination thereof). When the special action is a series of actions, the special action includes multiple actions such as a punch and a kick. Each of the multiple actions included in the special action does not correspond to a single operation input (a single button press) to the controller 31, but a set of multiple actions included in the special action may correspond to a set of multiple operation inputs to the controller 31.

The special action differs depending on the type of user character PA. For example, the special action is an attack technique that is unique to the user character PA. The special action includes an attack technique that can be activated by consuming a predetermined amount of the technique gauge G4, G5. The multiple predetermined operation inputs to the controller 31 for invoking the special action differ depending on the type of user character PA.

The character control means 52 also controls the actions of the opponent character PB based on the operation information received from the game device 2 of the opponent user.

The game progression means 53 progresses the game. Specifically, for example, during a match, the game progression means 53 manages various parameters related to the match (such as the remaining vitality values of each character PA and PB and the remaining time of the match), determines the start and end of the match, and updates the information in the match screen D. For example, when a match starts, the game progression means 53 counts down the remaining time of the match and displays it on the match screen D.

The status monitoring means 54 determines whether the first output condition and the second output condition are satisfied during the game.

The first output condition is that either the character PA or PB performs a predetermined action. That is, the situation monitoring means 54 determines whether or not either the character PA or PB has performed a predetermined action.

The second output condition is a condition set for one or more situation parameters according to a predetermined action determined to have been performed as the first output condition. The situation parameters are calculated, for example, by the action result parameter changing means 55, the time counting means 56, and the action counting means 57. Details of the situation parameters will be described later.

The dialogue determination means 58 determines the dialogue to be output from the speaker 33 based on one or more situation parameters monitored by the situation monitoring means 54.

Specifically, a plurality of pieces of dialogue data are stored in the memory unit 23, and a first output condition and a second output condition are set for each piece of dialogue data. When the situation monitoring means 54 determines that the above-mentioned first output condition and second output condition are satisfied, the dialogue determination means 58 determines the dialogue corresponding to the first output condition and the second output condition as the game sound to be output from the speaker 33.

[How lines are determined]
The determination method of the line determination means 58 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a table showing an example of the correspondence between line data, the first output condition, and the second output condition. A plurality of line data are stored in the storage unit 23. Each line data is game sound data indicating game sound as a line spoken by a virtual speaker (a commentator in this example).

(First output condition)
A first output condition is set for each of the multiple pieces of line data stored in the storage unit 23. That is, each of the multiple pieces of line data is stored in the storage unit 23 in association with information on the action of the character.

In this embodiment, the first output condition is one of the conditions for the lines corresponding to that condition to be output from the speaker 33. In other words, for the lines to be output from the speaker 33, a character action corresponding to the lines must be performed. In other words, unless a character action corresponding to each line is performed, the lines corresponding to that character action will not be output.

Each line is associated with a different character action. For example, FIG. 5 shows that attack technique X, which is a character action, is associated as the first output condition for each of the lines "Attack technique X worked!!", "Nicely guarded!", and "Attack technique X again!!". FIG. 5 also shows that a punch or kick by the character is associated as the first output condition for the line "Furious continuous attacks!", and that a guarding action by the character is associated as the first output condition for the line "On the defensive!".

The lines may be associated with the actions of any character, or may be associated with a predetermined character. For example, the lines may be associated only with the actions of the user character PA, or only with the actions of the opponent character PB, or may be associated with the actions of a predetermined type of character.

In this way, a predetermined character action is associated with each of the multiple line data, and the situation monitoring means 54 determines whether or not any of these predetermined character actions has been performed during a battle. Note that the timing at which the situation monitoring means 54 determines that a character has performed a predetermined character action does not have to be the point at which the predetermined action is completed. For example, the situation monitoring means 54 may determine that a character has performed a predetermined character action at the point at which the character starts performing a predetermined character action, or during the course of the predetermined action.

(Second output condition)
Further, a second output condition is set for each of the plurality of pieces of dialogue data stored in the storage unit 23. That is, each of the plurality of pieces of dialogue data is stored in the storage unit 23 in association with a situation parameter and a condition that is predetermined for the situation parameter.

In this embodiment, the second output condition is one of the conditions for the dialogue corresponding to that condition to be output from the speaker 33. In other words, for the dialogue to be output from the speaker 33, it is necessary that the situation parameters corresponding to that dialogue satisfy the predetermined conditions corresponding to that dialogue.

Here, we will explain the situation parameters. The situation parameters are parameters that indicate the game situation other than the actions of the characters PA and PB after the point in time when a specific action that was determined to have been performed as the first output condition was performed.

For example, the situation parameters include an action result parameter that is changed by the action result parameter changing means 55. The action result parameter changing means 55 changes a predetermined action result parameter due to a predetermined action performed by either the character PA or PB. The predetermined action that causes the action result parameter to be changed is an action that is determined to have been performed as the first output condition.

For example, the action result parameters include the remaining vitality value and the amount of change in vitality value (amount of damage) of one of the characters PA, PB when the other character is attacked by the other character. Furthermore, for example, the action result parameters include the amount of skill points consumed by each character PA, PB and the remaining value after consumption when each character PA, PB activates a specified technique.

Furthermore, for example, the action result parameters include the relative position of one of the characters PA, PB with respect to the other character PA, PB (such as the distance between the characters PA and PB) that occurs when one of the characters PA, PB performs a specified action, and the absolute position of one or both of the characters PA, PB (the positions of the characters PA, PB in the virtual space S).

For example, the situation parameters also include the elapsed time counted by the time counting means 56. The time counting means 56 counts the elapsed time from the point when either the character PA or PB performed a predetermined action. The predetermined action that is the starting point for counting the elapsed time is the action that was determined to have been performed as the first output condition. For example, the time counting means 56 counts, as the elapsed time, the duration of the state of the character that has or has not performed the predetermined action that was the starting point for counting.

For example, when either character PA or PB performs a standing action, the time counting means 56 counts the duration of the character's standing state (stationary state) from the time the action is performed.

For example, the time counting means 56 counts the duration of the continuous attack state from the start of a continuous attack action when one of the characters PA and PB executes continuous attack actions. The time counting means 56 may determine that a character is attacking continuously if the time between the character's previous attack action and the character's next attack action is within a predetermined time.

For example, the time counting means 56 counts the duration of a state in which one of the characters PA, PB guards against an attack by the other character, during which the guarding character does not perform an attacking action. For example, the time counting means 56 counts the duration of a state in which neither of the characters PA, PB performs an attacking action, a so-called stalemate, during which the other character guards against an attack by the other character.

For example, the situation parameters include the number of actions counted by the action counting means 57. The action counting means 57 counts the number of actions of each character PA, PB for each character.

For example, the action counting means 57 counts the number of times each character PA, PB performs a specific action (e.g., a special action) in one battle for each character.

For example, the action counting means 57 counts the number of attack actions (number of consecutive attacks) that are determined to be consecutive attacks by each character PA, PB. For example, the action counting means 57 may count the number of consecutive attacks in which one of the characters PA, PB executes consecutive attack actions, and in which the other of the characters PA, PB receives damage without guarding.

Each line is associated with one or more situation parameters. The condition (i.e., the second output condition) set for the corresponding situation parameter varies for each line. For example, conditions are set for each line, such as the action result parameter being within a specified range, a specified amount of time having elapsed since the character performed a specified action, or the character performing an action a specified number of times.

For example, in Figure 5, for the lines "Attack technique X worked!!" and "That was a good block!", the change in vitality value of character PA or PB when the other character performs attack technique X is set as the situation parameter. Then, different ranges of vitality value change, 15 to 25 and 0 to 10, are set as second output conditions for these lines, respectively.

The second output condition for the line "Attack technique X again!!" is that the number of attacks with attack technique X reaches 5. The second output condition for the line "Furious continuous attacks!" is that the number of consecutive punch or kick attack movements by the character reaches 5. The second output condition for the line "On the defensive!" is that the duration of the guarded character not attacking reaches 5 seconds.

In this way, when the situation monitoring means 54 determines that either the character PA or PB has performed a predetermined action, it monitors one or more situation parameters corresponding to that action from the time of that action onward. Then, the situation monitoring means 54 determines whether or not the monitored situation parameter satisfies a predetermined condition, that is, whether or not the second output condition is satisfied.

[Line determination process]
Next, the line determination process for determining the lines to be output in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of the line determination process. The line determination process determines the lines of a virtual commentator to be output during a match. The line determination process is executed by a situation monitoring means 54, an action result parameter changing means 55, a time counting means 56, an action counting means 57, and a line determination means 58.

In the line determination process, when the battle between characters PA and PB begins, the situation monitoring means 54 determines whether the first output condition is satisfied. In other words, the situation monitoring means 54 monitors whether characters PA and PB have performed a predetermined action (step S1).

If it is determined that either the character PA or PB has performed a predetermined action (step S1: Yes), the action result parameter change means 55 changes a predetermined action result parameter (such as the character's vitality value) due to the predetermined action determined to have been performed in step S1 (step S2).

The time counting means 56 also counts the time that has elapsed since the specified action determined in step S1 was performed (step S3).

The action counting means 57 also counts the number of times each character PA, PB performs a specific action (step S4).

The status monitoring means 54 determines whether the second output condition is satisfied. In other words, the status monitoring means 54 monitors the status parameter corresponding to the operation determined to have been performed in step S1, and determines whether the monitored status parameter satisfies a condition previously set for that status parameter (step S5).

Note that steps S2, S3, and S4 are skipped as appropriate depending on the action determined to have been performed in step S1. Also, if there are multiple situation parameters corresponding to the action determined to have been performed in step S1, in step S5, the situation monitoring means 54 monitors the multiple situation parameters and determines whether each situation parameter satisfies the set condition.

If the situation parameters monitored by the situation monitoring means 54 satisfy a predetermined condition (step S5: Yes), the dialogue determination means 58 determines the dialogue corresponding to the situation parameter that satisfies the condition as the game sound to be output from the speaker 33 (step S6).

If there are multiple situation parameters that satisfy the conditions in step S5, the line determination means 58 determines the line to be output from the speaker 33 from among the multiple lines that correspond to the situation parameters that satisfy the conditions. Any method may be used for the line determination means 58 to determine one line from among the multiple lines.

For example, the line determination means 58 may randomly determine one line from among a plurality of lines as the line to be output from the speaker 33. For example, the line determination means 58 may determine, as the line to be output from the speaker 33 during a match, a line that has not yet been output in that match in preference to a line that has already been output. Also, a priority may be set in advance for each line, and the line determination means 58 may determine one line from among a plurality of lines based on the set priority.

When the line determination means 58 has determined the line to be output, the line determination process ends. Also, if it is determined in step S1 that neither character PA nor PB is performing a predetermined action (step S1: No), the line determination process ends without determining the line to be output. Also, if in step S5 there is no situation parameter monitored by the situation monitoring means 54 that satisfies the predetermined condition (step S5: No), the line determination process ends without determining the line to be output.

In summary, the game program 34a according to this embodiment is a game program 34a executed by the control unit 21 in a game system 1 including a speaker 33 (output unit) and a control unit 21 (computer), and causes the control unit 21 to function as: virtual space generating means 51 for generating a virtual space S; character control means 52 for controlling the actions of characters PA and PB arranged in the virtual space S; situation monitoring means 54 for monitoring situation parameters that indicate the game situation other than the actions of characters PA and PB after one of the characters PA and PB has performed a predetermined action; and line determination means 58 for determining the lines to be output from the speaker 33 based on the monitored situation parameters.

This game program 34a makes it possible to provide variety to the lines that are output in real time in response to the ongoing game situation, while outputting lines that are appropriate for that game situation. For example, lines that are appropriate for the actions of the game character currently being operated by the user on the game play screen can be output in real time.

In addition, in this embodiment, the situation parameters include the number of actions counted by the action counting means 57. This makes it possible to output, for example, a line appropriate to the number of actions of a game character currently being operated by the user on a gameplay screen in real time.

In addition, in this embodiment, the situation parameters include the elapsed time counted by the time counting means 56. This makes it possible to output, for example, lines appropriate to the time elapsed since the game character took action in real time with respect to the ongoing game situation.

In particular, when the time counting means 56 counts the duration of a state of a character that has performed or has not performed an action resulting from an action by PA or PB, it is possible to output, in real time, a line appropriate to the duration of a certain continuous action or state of a game character, for example, in relation to the ongoing game situation.

In this embodiment, the situation parameters include action result parameters that are changed by the action result parameter change means 55. This makes it possible to output, in real time, lines that are appropriate to changes in, for example, a vitality gauge caused by an attack made by a character against an opponent character in a fighting game.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, the game program 34a does not have to be recorded on the game media 34, and may be downloaded to the game device 2 from an external source via a communication network NW, for example. For example, the game device 2 provided in the game system of the present invention may be a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone, and the operation unit and the display unit may be a touch screen or the like. In addition, the display device that displays the game screen may be a head-mounted display or the like.

In the above embodiment, the game system 1 includes a game device 2 and a server device 4, but the game system of the present invention may not include a server device 4. The present invention is applicable not only to online games but also to offline games. For example, the present invention is applicable to CPU battle games in which a user operates a user character to battle an opponent character, which is a non-player character whose actions are controlled by the CPU. The types of games to which the present invention is applicable are not particularly limited, and the present invention is applicable not only to fighting games, but also to action games and sports games in which characters operate in a virtual space.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 21 of the game device 2 executes the game program 34a to function as a virtual space generating means 51, a character control means 52, a game progression means 53, a situation monitoring means 54, an action result parameter changing means 55, a time counting means 56, an action counting means 57, and a line determination means 58, but some of these functional units 51 to 58 may not function.

For example, the situation parameters may not include a predetermined action result parameter that is changed due to a predetermined action performed by a character, in which case the control unit 21 of the game device 2 may not function as the action result parameter change means 55. For example, the situation parameters may not include the time that has elapsed since the character performed a predetermined action, in which case the control unit 21 of the game device 2 may not function as the time count means 56. For example, the situation parameters may not include the number of actions performed by the character, in which case the control unit 21 of the game device 2 may not function as the action count means 57.

In the above embodiment, the situation parameters are described as the action result parameters, the time elapsed from the time the character performed a predetermined action, and the number of actions performed by the character, but the situation parameters may include parameters other than these. For example, when the present invention is applied to a game in which a time limit is set in advance for a match or event, the situation parameters may include the time elapsed from the start of the match or event, the time remaining until the time limit, etc. For example, when the present invention is applied to a sports game, the situation parameters may include the score in the sport (e.g., the score of each team in a soccer game), the point difference with the opponent, the number of character actions to gain a point (e.g., the number of shots in a soccer game), etc. For example, when the relative position of one of the characters PA and PB with respect to the other, or the absolute position of each character PA and PB is not caused by one of the characters PA and PB performing a predetermined action, these relative positions and absolute positions are not included in the action result parameters, but may be included in the situation parameters.

Furthermore, the operation result parameters are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. For example, the operation result parameters may include a character's stamina value, mental strength, magical power (magic power), or the amount of change therein. Furthermore, for example, the operation result parameters may include parameters indicating a state in which a disadvantageous effect has been imparted to the character, which is expressed as a status abnormality, such as fainting, sleep, poison, silence, or burns. Furthermore, for example, the operation result parameters may include parameters indicating a state in which a beneficial effect has been imparted to the character, such as recovery of stamina value or recovery from a status abnormality.

In the above embodiment, the action result parameters include the relative position of one of the characters PA, PB with respect to the other, and the absolute position of one or both of the characters PA, PB. However, the action result parameters may be position information other than these. For example, the action result parameters may be the relative position of a character with respect to an object in virtual space, or the relative position of a character with respect to an object in virtual space. For example, the action result parameters may be position information including the height direction in virtual space (e.g., indicating the difference in elevation between characters). Note that the position information may be either distance information or directional information.

The time counting means 56 may count the duration of the actions of each character PA and PB.

The server control unit 41 of the server device 4 may execute a game program stored in the storage unit 42, thereby functioning as some or all of the functional units 51 to 58. In this case, the game program of the present invention is stored in the server device 4, or is stored in a distributed manner in the game device 2 and the server device 4. In other words, the "computer" in the present invention may be at least one of the control unit 21 of the game device 2 and the server control unit 41 of the server device 4.

In addition, the dialogue data does not have to be stored in the memory unit 23 of the game device 2, but may be stored in another storage device, such as the memory unit 42 of the server device 4.

The correspondence between the dialogue data, the first output condition, and the second output condition shown in FIG. 5 is merely an example. For example, in FIG. 5, one character action is associated with one line, but multiple character actions or multiple actions of one character may be associated with one line. When multiple actions are associated with one line, for example, the situation monitoring means may determine whether all of the multiple actions corresponding to the line have been performed, or may determine whether any one of the multiple corresponding actions has been performed.

In addition, for example, in FIG. 5, one condition for a situation parameter is set for one line, but multiple conditions for a situation parameter may be set for one line. When multiple conditions for a situation parameter are set for one line, the second output condition may be that all of the multiple conditions corresponding to the line are satisfied, or the second output condition may be that any one of the multiple conditions corresponding to the line is satisfied.

In the above embodiment, the line determination means 58 determines the lines of a virtual commentator who provides commentary on the match, but the lines determined by the line determination means 58 are not limited to this. For example, the line determination means 58 may determine the lines of a speaker other than the virtual commentator, such as a character placed in a virtual space.

In the above embodiment, the lines determined by the line determination means 58 are output as game audio, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is also applicable to outputting the lines determined by the line determination means 58 as text on a display device. That is, the "output unit" in the present invention does not have to be a sound output device configured to be able to output lines as game audio, such as a speaker or headphones, but may be a display device such as a monitor or touch screen. In this case, the line data is not game audio data indicating game audio as lines, but text data indicating text as lines.

The present invention is also applicable to the distribution of game play videos. In other words, the "output unit" in the present invention is not limited to one that outputs to a player playing the game, but may also be one that outputs to a viewer watching the distributed game play video. For example, dialogue may not be output from an output unit for a player playing the game (distributor), and dialogue may be output only from an output unit for a viewer watching the game play video. For example, some kind of compensation may be required to output dialogue only from an output unit for a viewer watching the game play video (to watch a video with live dialogue). For example, the compensation may be a fee, a subscription contract, or a monetary donation (so-called tipping) to the distributor.

1: Game system
2: Game device
4: Server device
21: Control section
23: Storage section
31: Controller
32: Monitor
33: Speaker
41: Server control unit
42: Storage section
51: Virtual space generation means
52: Character control means
53: Game progression method
54: Situation monitoring means
55: Operation result parameter change means
56: Time counting means
57: Operation counting means
58: Means of determining lines

Claims (9)

A game system including an output unit, a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of dialogue data, and a computer, comprising: a game program executed by the computer, the game program comprising:
the storage unit stores, for each line data, a predetermined action of a character, a situation parameter indicating a game situation other than each action of the character after the character performs the predetermined action, and a condition that is predetermined for the situation parameter, in association with each other; the predetermined actions corresponding to the plurality of line data include actions of different types, and the situation parameters corresponding to the plurality of line data include parameters of different types;
The computer,
a game progression means for progressing a battle game in which one user operates one character and engages in one-on-one combat in a virtual space with a character operated by another user who is an opponent ;
a virtual space generating means for generating the virtual space;
a character control means for controlling the movement of the character placed in the virtual space;
a situation monitoring means for determining whether or not a predetermined action of any type among the predetermined actions corresponding to the plurality of pieces of dialogue data has been performed by either of the two characters in the virtual space during the battle, and when it is determined that any type of the predetermined action has been performed, monitoring the situation parameter corresponding to the predetermined action determined to have been performed , and determining whether or not the monitored situation parameter satisfies the predetermined condition for the situation parameter;
The game program functions as a line determination means for determining, when it is determined that the monitored situation parameter satisfies the condition , a line corresponding to the situation parameter that satisfies the condition as a line to be output from the output unit and as a line of a virtual live commentator who provides commentary on the match. The situation parameters include:
A relative position of one of the two characters with respect to the other character caused by one of the two characters performing the predetermined action, or
2. The game program according to claim 1, further comprising an absolute position of one or both of said characters in said virtual space that is caused when one of said two characters performs said predetermined action. The predetermined motion includes a motion of standing up,
3. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the situation parameter includes a duration of the character's standing state from a point in time when the character performs the standing action. The predetermined action includes an attack action,
A game program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the situation parameter includes a duration of a continuous attacking state from the start of a continuous attack action when one of the two characters executes a continuous attack action. the predetermined action includes an action of one of the two characters guarding against an attack by the other,
A game program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the situation parameter includes a duration of time during which one of the two characters guards against an attack by the other character, during which the guarding character is not making an attacking move. the predetermined action includes an action of one of the two characters guarding against an attack by the other,
A game program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the situation parameter includes a duration of a state in which neither of the two characters executes an attack action from a point in time when one of the two characters executes an attack action. The predetermined action includes an attack action,
7. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the situation parameters include a number of consecutive attacks, which is a number of attacking actions of the character that are determined to be consecutive attacks. The predetermined action includes an attack action,
A game program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the situation parameter includes the number of consecutive attacks when one of the two characters executes consecutive attacking actions, and the number of attacks in which the other of the two characters receives damage without guarding. A program storage unit that stores the game program according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ;
A game system comprising: a computer that executes the program stored in the program storage unit.

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