JP7761306B2 - Game device, game device program, and game system - Google Patents

Description

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

In games in which multiple users each control a player character in a game space (an example of a "virtual space"), technology has been proposed that enables users to communicate with each other through message exchange means such as chat (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2016-016146 A

In conventional message exchange methods, when a user receives a message from another user and wishes to respond to that user, the user must, for example, consider what message to reply to and then perform an operation to input that message. However, the user needs to control the player character in order to progress through the game, and the operation of considering and inputting a message to reply can be a burden.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide technology that enables communication between multiple users with less of a burden than conventional methods in games in which each user controls a player character within a game space.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a game device program having a processor, which causes the processor to function as a reception unit that receives user operations and an action execution unit that causes a game character to perform an action based on the user's operation, and which is characterized in that, when a transmission action is performed by another character in the game based on the operation of another user, the action execution unit causes the character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on the user's operation.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an overview of a game system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the game device 10. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a game device 10. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a field screen G1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a field screen G1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a field screen G1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a field screen G1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a field screen G1. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the game device 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a player character management table TBL1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a game character management table TBL2. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of an operation information table TBL4. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of an operation information table TBL4. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a response operation information table TBL5. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of an operation permission management table TBL6. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a game system 1A according to a fourth modified example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device 50A.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the dimensions and scale of each part have been appropriately changed from the actual dimensions. Furthermore, the embodiments described below are preferred examples of the present invention, and therefore include various technically desirable limitations. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified in the following description to the effect that the present invention is limited to these embodiments.

A. Embodiments
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[1. Game System Overview]
1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of a game system 1 according to this embodiment. The overview of the game system 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, game system 1 includes multiple game devices 10-1 to 10-M capable of running a predetermined game, and multiple display devices 30-1 to 30-M (M is a natural number greater than or equal to 1) associated with the multiple game devices 10-1 to 10-M. Hereinafter, the mth game device 10 among the multiple game devices 10-1 to 10-M may be referred to as game device 10-m (m is a natural number satisfying 1≦m≦M). Similarly, the mth display device 30 among the multiple display devices 30-1 to 30-M may be referred to as display device 30-m.

In this embodiment, we will assume that the game device 10 is a home game device. However, any information processing device can be used as the game device 10. For example, the game device 10 may be a commercial game device installed in a store or amusement facility, a mobile device such as a mobile phone or smartphone, or a terminal-type information device such as a personal computer.

The game device 10-m can communicate with a display device 30-m provided in association with the game device 10-m. The game device 10-m can then display images related to a specific game being played on the game device 10-m on the display unit 31-m provided on the display device 30-m provided in association with the game device 10-m.

Of the multiple game devices 10-1 to 10-M, game device 10-1 can communicate with game device 10-2 via network NW. Specifically, game device 10-1 transmits information about a predetermined game being executed on game device 10-1 to game device 10-2. Game device 10-2 also transmits information about a predetermined game being executed on game device 10-2 to game device 10-1. This allows information about the predetermined game being executed on each game device 10-m to be shared among the multiple game devices 10-1 to 10-M. This allows user U1 of game device 10-1 and user U2 (another user) of game device 10-2 to cooperate with each other to complete a mission in the predetermined game, or to compete in the predetermined game. In this embodiment, we assume that user U1 of game device 10-1 and user U2 of game device 10-2 cooperate with each other to complete a mission in the predetermined game.

Note that, in this embodiment, as an example, a case is illustrated in which game devices 10 communicate with each other via a network NW and execute a predetermined game, but the present invention is not limited to this form, and each game device 10 may execute a predetermined game independently without communicating with other game devices 10. In this case, the user U of each game device 10 may be able to play the predetermined game independently.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that each game device 10 is operated by a single user U, but the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and it may be possible for multiple users U to operate a single game device 10, so that the multiple users U operating the single game device 10 can play a predetermined game while cooperating (or competing) with each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, the predetermined game executed on the game device 10 is, for example, a game in which a user U of the game device 10 operates the game device 10 to move a player character, which is the object of operation of the user U of the game device 10, within a virtual field Fd (an example of a "virtual space") in the predetermined game, thereby aiming to accomplish a predetermined mission set in advance in the predetermined game.
In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that a player character operated by a user U1 of game device 10-1 and a player character operated by a user U2 of game device 10-2 cooperate to achieve a predetermined mission. For ease of explanation, the player character operated by user U1 may be referred to as a player character CP (an example of a "character"), and the player character operated by user U2 may be referred to as a companion character CF (an example of an "other character") below.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the field Fd is a three-dimensional space, but the field Fd may be a two-dimensional space.
In addition, in this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the predetermined mission is a task of defending a defense base set up in the field Fd from enemy characters CE present in the field Fd. However, the predetermined mission may also be, for example, defeating the enemy characters CE present in the field Fd, acquiring a predetermined item in the field Fd, rescuing a predetermined ally character present in the field Fd, the user U of the game device 10 playing a predetermined game for a predetermined time, or the user U of the game device 10 acquiring a predetermined number of points in a predetermined game.
In the following description, the player characters, including the player character CP and the friend character CF, and the enemy character CE may be collectively referred to as game characters CG.

2. Game Device Configuration
The configuration of the game device 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the game device 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the game device 10 includes a control unit 110 that controls each part of the game device 10, a memory unit 130 that stores various information, a communication unit 140 for performing communication between the display device 30 and external devices such as other game devices 10, an operation unit 150 for accepting operations by a user U of the game device 10, and an information reading unit 160 for reading information from a recording medium such as an optical disc.

The control unit 110 includes a game control unit 111, an operation reception unit 112 (an example of an "reception unit"), an action execution unit 113, an information acquisition unit 114, and a response determination unit 120 (an example of a "determination unit").
Of these, the game control unit 111 controls the progress of a predetermined game executed on the game device 10. Furthermore, the operation acceptance unit 112 accepts an operation when a user U of the game device 10 operates the operation unit 150. Furthermore, the action execution unit 113 causes a game character CG (player character) operated by the user U of the game device 10 to execute an action, based on the operation by the user U of the game device 10 accepted by the operation acceptance unit 112.
Here, the term "game character movement" refers to a concept that includes both a change in the position and/or posture of the game character CG in the field Fd, and the game character CG assuming a pose. The term "game character posture" refers to a concept that includes either the posture of the game character CG in the field Fd or the orientation of the game character CG in the field Fd. The term "game character posing" refers to the game character CG assuming a predetermined posture in the field Fd. Note that when the game character CG assumes a pose, at least one of the position and posture of the game character CG may change, or neither the position nor the posture of the game character CG may change.
In addition, when a game device 10 operated by a user U and another game device 10 operated by another user U communicate with each other and jointly play a specified game, the information acquisition unit 114 acquires information about the specified game from the other game device 10 via the communication unit 140.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the actions that the player character can perform include a communication action, a response action, and a general action.

In this embodiment, a communication action is an action of the player character that allows a user U operating the player character to express his or her intentions to another user U, and examples of such actions include "waving,""saluting,""asking for a high-five,""asking for a handshake," and "taking a pose (predetermined as a communication action)."
However, in the present invention, the communication action is not limited to an action by which a user U expresses his/her intention to another user U, but may be any action that does not affect the progress of a specified game.
"Actions that do not affect the progress of a specified game" is a concept that encompasses, for example, some or all of actions that do not affect the ability of a player character to continue a specified game, actions that do not affect the state of a player character, and actions that do not affect the state of an enemy character CE.
Here, "possibility of continuing a specified game by a player character" refers to the possibility of being able to continue playing a specified game by operating a player character, for example, the possibility that the game will not end when playing a specified game by operating a player character.
The "state of the player character" is a concept that encompasses some or all of the states related to the player character's survivability and the states related to the player character's abilities. Of these, "player character's survivability" refers to the possibility that the player character will not be eliminated in a given game, such as the player character's remaining stamina (remaining hit points) or the amount of damage the player character has received. Furthermore, the "player character's abilities" is a concept that encompasses some or all of the player character's offensive ability, defensive ability, survivability, IQ, etc.
The "state of the enemy character CE" is a concept that encompasses some or all of the state regarding the survivability of the enemy character CE and the state regarding the abilities of the enemy character CE.

In this embodiment, a response action is an action that a player character operated by a user U performs in response to a transmission action when another player character operated by another user U performs the transmission action, and examples of such actions include "waving,""(making a pose indicating) acceptance,""(making a pose indicating refusal),""(making a salute),""(responding to) a high-five,""(responding to) a handshake," and "(taking a pose predetermined as a response action)."
However, in the present invention, the response action is not limited to an action executed in response to a transmission action, and the response action may be any action that does not affect the progress of a predetermined game.

In this embodiment, a general action is a general term for actions that can be performed by a player character, excluding transmission actions and response actions, and examples of such actions include "walking," "running," and "attacking (an enemy character CE)." For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the concept of a "general action" also includes the player character "waiting" without performing any action.

When another player character performs a transmission action, the response determination unit 120 determines whether the player character can perform a response action in response to that transmission action.

In this embodiment, the response determination unit 120 includes a reference area setting unit 121 and a placement condition determination unit 122 .
When another player character performs a transfer action, the reference area setting unit 121 sets a reference area corresponding to the other player character. Here, the reference area is an area in which, when the other player character performs a transfer action, the player character can perform a response action in response to the transfer action. In this embodiment, the reference area setting unit 121 sets the reference area to a position that includes the other player character that performed the transfer action. Also, in this embodiment, the reference area setting unit 121 sets the shape of the reference area to a shape that corresponds to the type of transfer action performed by the other player character. Also, in this embodiment, the reference area setting unit 121 sets the size of the reference area to a size that corresponds to the type of transfer action performed by the other player character.

When a transmission action is performed by another player character, the placement condition determination unit 122 determines whether the player character is located within a reference area set for that other player character. When the player character is located within the reference area set for that other player character, the player character can perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action performed by the other player character.

In the following, the concept including the position and orientation of the player character and the shape and size of the reference area set for the player character will be referred to as the player character's position. In other words, in this embodiment, when the position of the player character and the position of another player character have a predetermined positional relationship, the action execution unit 113 can cause the player character to execute a response action corresponding to a transmission action by the other player character.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the memory unit 130 stores a player character management table TBL1, a game character management table TBL2, an enemy character information table TBL3, an action information table TBL4, a response action information table TBL5, an action feasibility management table TBL6, and the control program PRG for the game device 10.

Although details will be described later, the player character management table TBL1 stores information for managing the player character CP in a predetermined game (hereinafter referred to as "player character management information"), such as the position of the player character CP in the field Fd, the direction the player character CP is facing in the field Fd (the orientation of the player character CP), the actions of the player character CP, and the stamina (remaining hit points) remaining in the player character CP.
The game character management table TBL2 stores information for managing game characters CG in a predetermined game (hereinafter referred to as "game character management information"), such as the position of the game character CG on the field Fd, the orientation of the game character CG on the field Fd, the actions of the game character CG, and the remaining hit points of the game character CG. Note that, hereinafter, the player character management information and game character management information may be referred to as game progress information.
The enemy character information table TBL3 stores information about enemy characters CE that may appear in a given game (hereinafter referred to as "enemy character information").
The action information table TBL4 stores information about actions that exist in a predetermined game (hereinafter referred to as "action information").
The response action information table TBL5 stores information (hereinafter referred to as "response action information") regarding response actions that other player characters can perform in response to a transmission action performed by a player character.
The action possibility management table TBL6 stores information about actions that the player character can perform (hereinafter referred to as "action possibility management information").

The control program PRG is a program that controls the game device 10. In this embodiment, the control program PRG includes, for example, an operation system program for controlling each part of the game device 10, and an application program (game program) for the game device 10 to execute a predetermined game. Of these, the application program may be read by the information reading unit 160 and stored in the memory unit 130, for example, when a user U of the game device 10 starts a predetermined game.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the game device 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the game device 10 includes a processor 1000 that controls each part of the game device 10, a memory 1001 that stores various information, a communication device 1002 for communicating with external devices outside the game device 10, an input operation device 1003 for accepting operations by a user U of the game device 10, and a disk device 1004 for reading information from a recording medium.

The memory 1001 includes, for example, a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a working area for the processor 1000, and a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) that stores various information such as the control program PRG of the game device 10, and provides the function of the memory unit 130.
The processor 1000 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as the control unit 110 by executing a control program PRG stored in the memory 1001 and operating in accordance with the control program PRG.
The communication device 1002 is hardware for communicating with an external device located outside the game device 10 via one or both of a wired network and a wireless network, and provides the function of the communication unit 140 .
The input operation device 1003 is, for example, an operation button, and provides the function of the operation unit 150 that accepts operations by the user U of the game device 10 .
The disk device 1004 is, for example, an optical disk device, and provides the function of an information reading unit 160 that reads various information such as a control program PRG recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk.

In addition, the processor 1000 may be configured to include hardware such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) in addition to or instead of a CPU. In this case, part or all of the control unit 110 implemented by the processor 1000 may be implemented by hardware such as a DSP.

[3. Game Overview]
An outline of a predetermined game executed on the game device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

4 to 8 are diagrams showing an example of a field screen G1 representing a field Fd of a predetermined game. When the game device 10 executes a predetermined game, the game control unit 111 of the game device 10 causes the display unit 31 of the display device 30 provided corresponding to the game device 10 to display the field screen G1.
4 to 8, it is assumed that a user U1 of game device 10-1 and a user U2 of game device 10-2 cooperate to play a predetermined game. Note that Figures 4 to 8 show an example of a field screen G1 displayed on the display unit 31-1 of the display device 30-1 corresponding to game device 10-1.
As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the field screen G1 displayed on the display unit 31-1 includes, for example, a field image GFd representing a field Fd of a specified game, a character image GcP representing a player character CP operated by a user U1 of the game device 10-1, a character image GcF representing a friend character CF operated by a user U2 of the game device 10-2, and a character image GcE representing an enemy character CE present in the field Fd.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a field screen G1 displayed on the display unit 31-1 corresponding to game device 10-1 when a friend character CF operated by user U2 of game device 10-2 performs a communication action. Note that in Figure 4, it is assumed that the communication action performed by friend character CF is the action of "waving."

When user U2 operates game device 10-2 to cause friend character CF to perform a transmission action, game control unit 111 of game device 10-2 controls each part of game device 10-2 so that game character management information indicating that friend character CF is performing a transmission action is sent to game device 10-1.
When the information acquisition unit 114 of the game device 10-1 acquires game character management information indicating that the friend character CF is performing a transmission action, the game control unit 111 of the game device 10-1 displays the friend character CF performing the transmission action on the field screen G1, as shown in Figure 4.

When the reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-1 acquires game character management information indicating that friend character CF is performing a transmission action, it sets a reference area in the field Fd to include the position PsF at which friend character CF is located. In this case, the reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-1 sets the reference area to have a shape corresponding to the transmission action performed by friend character CF. The reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-1 then displays a reference area image ArF representing the set reference area on the field screen G1. Figure 4 shows an example in which the reference area setting unit 121 sets the reference area as an elliptical area that includes the position PsF of friend character CF in the field Fd and has a major axis oriented in approximately the same direction as the orientation Vf of friend character CF.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that when a friend character CF operated by user U2 of game device 10-2 is performing a transmission action, the reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-1 sets a reference area corresponding to the friend character CF. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-2 may set a reference area corresponding to the friend character CF. In this case, it is preferable that the game control unit 111 of game device 10-2 executes control to transmit information indicating the reference area set by the reference area setting unit 121 of game device 10-2 to game device 10-1.

When a friend character CF operated by user U2 of game device 10-2 is performing a transmission action, the placement condition determination unit 122 of game device 10-1 determines whether the position PsP where the player character CP is located is within the reference area. If the result of the determination is positive, the placement condition determination unit 122 displays a response possible mark RM on the field screen G1, as shown in FIG. 4, indicating that the player character CP is able to perform a response action in response to the transmission action by the friend character CF.

Figures 5 and 6 show an example of a field screen G1 in which a response possible mark RM is displayed on the field screen G1, and the player character CP operated by the user U1 of the game device 10-1 performs a response action in response to a transmission action performed by the friend character CF operated by the user U2 of the game device 10-2.

When a response possible mark RM is displayed in response to a transmission action performed by a friend character CF operated by a user U2, the action execution unit 113 can cause the player character CP to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action by the friend character CF based on the operation of the operation unit 150 by the user U1.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the player character CP is capable of executing one or more types of response actions in response to a transmission action by a friend character CF. That is, in this embodiment, when the response possible mark RM is displayed, the user U1 operating the player character CP can operate the operation unit 150 to select one type of response action from one or more types of response actions that can be executed in response to a transmission action by the friend character CF, and can cause the player character CP to execute the selected response action.
In this embodiment, even if the response possible mark RM is displayed, the user U1 operating the player character CP can choose not to select any response action corresponding to the transmission action performed by the friend character CF, and can also choose not to have the player character CP perform a response action.

As shown in FIG. 4, when user U2, who controls friend character CF, has friend character CF execute a communication action of "waving" to indicate, for example, a request to fight alongside enemy character CE located near friend character CF, user U1, who controls player character CP, can express, for example, their consent to fighting alongside enemy character CE by having player character CP execute a response action of "agreement (making a pose indicating)," as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, user U1, who controls player character CP, can express, for example, their refusal to fight alongside enemy character CE by having player character CP execute a response action of "refusal (making a pose indicating)," as shown in FIG. 6.

In this embodiment, when the placement condition determination unit 122 determines that the position PsP where the player character CP is located is not within the reference area set up corresponding to the friend character CF, the placement condition determination unit 122 does not display the response possible mark RM on the field screen G1, as shown in Figure 7. In this case, the user U1 operating the player character CP cannot make the player character CP perform a response action corresponding to the communication action performed by the friend character CF.
Therefore, if the user U2 operating the friend character CF wishes the player character CP to perform a response action in response to the friend character CF performing a transmission action, the user U2 must bring the friend character CF close to the player character CP until the player character CP enters a reference area set up corresponding to the friend character CF, as shown in Figure 8, and then have the friend character CF perform the transmission action.

When the player character performs the "waving" action shown in Figures 4 to 6, the gesture of the player character is larger than the gesture of the player character when the player character performs the "salute" action shown in Figures 7 and 8. For this reason, the reference area setting unit 121 according to this embodiment sets a reference area corresponding to the player character when the player character performs the communication action of "waving" that is larger in size than the reference area set for the player character when the player character performs the communication action of "salute."

4. Operation of the Game Device
An example of the operation of the game device 10 when the game device 10 executes a predetermined game will be described with reference to FIGS.

Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the game device 10-1 operated by user U1 when the game device 10-1 is playing a predetermined game.

As shown in FIG. 9, when a predetermined game is started on game device 10-1, the game control unit 111 first initializes the game progress information (S100). Specifically, in step S100, the game control unit 111 initializes the player character management information stored in player character management table TBL1 and the game character management information stored in game character management table TBL2.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the player character management table TBL1. As shown in Figure 10, the player character management information stored in the player character management table TBL1 includes, for example, a user ID for identifying the user U1 who operates the game device 10-1 from among multiple users U participating in a predetermined game, a game character ID for identifying the player character CP operated by the user U1 from among multiple game characters CG that appear in the predetermined game, a character type ID for identifying the type of player character CP from all types of game characters CG that appear in the predetermined game, and, when multiple game characters CG that appear in the predetermined game are divided into multiple teams to compete against each other, a character type ID for identifying the type of player character CP among the multiple teams. The information includes a team ID for identifying the team to which the player character CP belongs, the position PsP of the player character CP on the field Fd, the orientation of the player character CP on the field Fd, the maximum hit points which are the maximum number of hit points of the player character CP, the remaining hit points which are the hit points remaining for the player character CP, the skill level which indicates the level of the skill of the player character CP, the attack power which indicates the level of the offensive ability of the player character CP, the defensive power which indicates the level of the defensive ability of the player character CP, the money possessed by the player character CP, and an action ID which identifies the action being performed by the player character CP.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of game character management table TBL2. As shown in Figure 11, game character management table TBL2 has one or more records that correspond one-to-one to one or more game characters CG that may appear in a given game. Each record in game character management table TBL2 stores game character management information corresponding to each game character CG. Each piece of game character management information includes, for example, a game character ID for identifying the game character CG, a user ID for identifying the user U who controls the game character CG, a team ID for identifying the team to which the game character CG belongs, a character type ID for identifying the type of game character CG, the position of the game character CG in the field Fd, the orientation of the game character CG in the field Fd, the remaining hit points of the game character CG, and an action ID for specifying the action being performed by the game character CG.

Although a detailed explanation will be omitted, detailed information about the friend character CF operated by user U2, such as the friend character CF's maximum hit points, skill level, offensive power, defensive power, and amount of money, is stored in a player character management table TBL1 stored in the memory unit 130 of the game device 10-2 operated by user U2. Also, detailed information about the enemy character CE, such as the enemy character CE's maximum hit points, offensive power, and defensive power, is stored as enemy character information in an enemy character information table TBL3.

In step S100, the game control unit 111 sets the user ID of the game progress information to a value that uniquely identifies each user U, sets the game character ID to a value that uniquely identifies each game character CG, and sets the team ID to a value that uniquely identifies the team to which each game character CG belongs. However, if the game character CG is a non-player character that is not the target of operation by the user U, the game control unit 111 sets the user ID to a "null value." Also, in step S100, the game control unit 111 sets the character type ID, position, orientation, remaining hit points, action ID, etc. of the game character CG to values predetermined for the given game or random values.

As shown in FIG. 9, the information acquisition unit 114 acquires game progress information from another game device 10-2 with which the game device 10-1 is communicating (S102). Note that in this embodiment, it is assumed that the game progress information acquired by the information acquisition unit 114 in step S102 is game character management information related to the friend character CF. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect, and the information acquisition unit 114 may acquire game character management information related to the enemy character CE in addition to the game character management information related to the friend character CF in step S102.

As shown in FIG. 9, the game control unit 111 determines whether the friend character CF is performing a transmission action based on the game progress information acquired by the information acquisition unit 114 in step S102 and the action information stored in the action information table TBL4 (S104).

Figures 12 and 13 show an example of the data structure of the action information table TBL4. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the action information table TBL4 has multiple records that correspond one-to-one with all types of actions (examples of "executable actions") that each player character may perform in a given game. Each record in the action information table TBL4 stores an action ID for identifying each action, and action information that describes the details of that action. The action information includes, for example, the name of the action (action name), action type information, purchase cost information, reference area information, and action content information.

Here, the action type information included in the action information is information indicating whether the action corresponding to the action ID corresponds to each of a transmission action, a response action, and a general action. In this embodiment, the action type information includes transmission action correspondence information, response action correspondence information, and general action correspondence information. Transmission action correspondence information is information indicating whether the action corresponding to the action ID corresponds to a transmission action, and indicates "1" if it corresponds to the action, and indicates "0" if it does not. Response action correspondence information is information indicating whether the action corresponding to the action ID corresponds to a response action, and indicates "1" if it corresponds to the action, and indicates "0" if it does not correspond to the action. General action correspondence information is information indicating whether the action corresponding to the action ID corresponds to a general action, and indicates "1" if it corresponds to the action, and indicates "0" if it does not correspond to the action.

In this embodiment, there are some actions that the player character CP needs to acquire in advance by purchasing the action using the money he or she has in hand in order to perform the action.
The purchase cost information included in the action information indicates the cost (amount of money) required to purchase the action corresponding to the action ID. Note that an action for which a "null value" is set in the purchase cost information is an action that can be executed without the player character CP having purchased the action. In other words, an action for which a "null value" is set in the purchase cost information is an action for which the player character CP is considered to have acquired the action from the beginning, even if the player character CP has not purchased the action.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the player character CP acquires an action by purchasing it using the player character CP's own money in a predetermined game. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the manner in which an action is acquired in this embodiment is merely an example. For example, the user U1 operating the player character CP may purchase the action using the user U1's own money or other value, separate from the predetermined game, so that the player character CP can acquire the action. Alternatively, the player character CP may acquire an action corresponding to a specific condition set in the predetermined game, such as by clearing a specific task set in the predetermined game. Alternatively, the player character CP may acquire an action corresponding to a specific condition when the player character CP engages in a specific mission or plays a specific role in the predetermined game.
In the following explanation, the acquisition of an action by the player character CP will be explained using the example of "purchasing" the action using the money possessed by the player character CP, but this explanation also applies to cases where an action is acquired in a manner other than "purchasing" as described above.

The reference area information included in the action information is information that represents the shape and size of a reference area that is set corresponding to the player character CP when the player character CP executes the action corresponding to the action ID as a transmission action.
The action content information included in the action information is information that indicates the specific content of the action corresponding to the action ID. The action content information may be, for example, information that indicates a moving image of the player character CP when the player character CP executes an action that changes at least one of its position and posture, information that numerically represents the movement of each part of the player character CP over time when the player character CP executes an action that changes at least one of its position and posture, or information that indicates a still image corresponding to a pose when the player character CP assumes a pose.
In this embodiment, since it is assumed that the field Fd is a three-dimensional space, the moving image of the player character CP is a moving image showing the three-dimensional movement of the player character CP, the numerical data showing the movement over time of each part of the player character CP is numerical data showing the three-dimensional movement of the player character CP, and the still image of the player character CP is a still image showing the three-dimensional shape of the player character CP. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect, and the moving image of the player character CP may be a moving image showing the two-dimensional movement of the player character CP, the numerical data showing the movement over time of each part of the player character CP may be numerical data showing the two-dimensional movement of the player character CP, and the still image of the player character CP may be a still image showing the two-dimensional shape of the player character CP.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the action content information is information indicating the content of the action of the player character CP itself, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The action content information may include information accompanying the action of the player character CP, for example, a still image or a moving image showing a string of characters indicating the lines spoken by the player character CP when the player character CP executes an action.

In step S104, the game control unit 111 first identifies the action ID of a record that has the same team ID as the player character CP in the game character management information acquired by the information acquisition unit 114. Next, the game control unit 111 determines whether the transmission action relevant information for the action information corresponding to the identified action ID indicates "1". Then, if the transmission action relevant information indicates "1", the game control unit 111 determines that the friend character CF is performing a transmission action.

As shown in FIG. 9, if the result of the determination in step S104 is positive, the game control unit 111 displays the friend character CF performing the transmission action on the field screen G1 (S106).
Furthermore, if the result of the judgment in step S104 is positive, the reference area setting unit 121 sets a reference area corresponding to the friend character CF and displays a reference area image ArF indicating the reference area on the field screen G1 (S108).
Then, the placement condition determination unit 122 determines whether or not the position PsP where the player character CP is located is within the reference area (S110).

If the result of the determination in step S110 is positive, the placement condition determination unit 122 displays a response possible mark RM on the field screen G1 (S112). If the result of the determination in step S110 is negative, the placement condition determination unit 122 proceeds to step S122.

When a response possible mark RM is displayed on the field screen G1, the user U1 can operate the operation unit 150 to instruct the player character CP to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action of the friend character CF. Furthermore, when a response possible mark RM is displayed on the field screen G1 and there are multiple types of response actions that correspond to the transmission action of the friend character CF, the user U1 can operate the operation unit 150 to select one response action from the multiple types of response actions and instruct the player character CP to perform the selected response action. Furthermore, even when a response possible mark RM is displayed on the field screen G1, the user U1 can instruct the player character CP not to perform a response action that corresponds to the transmission action of the friend character CF.

In this embodiment, when the placement condition determination unit 122 displays the response possible mark RM, the game control unit 111 may present the user U1 with a selection of response actions (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "candidate response actions") that the player character CP can perform, based on the response action information stored in the response action information table TBL5 and the action feasibility management information stored in the action feasibility management table TBL6.

14 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the response action information table TBL5. As shown in FIG. 14, the response action information table TBL5 has a plurality of records that correspond one-to-one to all transfer actions provided in a predetermined game (i.e., all actions for which the transfer action relevant information is "1"). Each record in the response action information table TBL5 stores response action information corresponding to each transfer action. The response action information includes, for example, the action ID of each transfer action, the action ID of a response action for which the response action relevant information is "1", and action relationship information DK that indicates the relationship between the transfer action and the response action.
In this embodiment, the action relationship information DK indicates "1" if a response action can be executed in response to a transmission action regardless of whether the response action has been purchased, indicates "2" if a response action can be executed in response to a transmission action only if the response action has been purchased, and indicates "0" if the response action does not correspond to a transmission action. For example, in the example shown in Figure 14, if the transmission action executed by the friend character CF is the action of "waving," the player character CP can unconditionally execute the response action of "waving," but can execute the response actions of "agree" or "reject" only if the player character CP has purchased that response action.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the action feasibility management table TBL6. As shown in Figure 15, the action feasibility management table TBL6 has multiple records that correspond one-to-one with all types of actions provided in a given game. Each record in the action feasibility management table TBL6 stores an action ID for identifying each action and action feasibility management information. The action feasibility management information includes, for example, the action name, purchase status information, and action feasibility information.

Here, the purchase information included in the action feasibility management information is information indicating whether or not the player character CP has purchased the action corresponding to the action ID. Specifically, the purchase information indicates "1" if the player character CP has purchased the action corresponding to the action ID, and indicates "0" if the player character CP has not purchased it. Note that if the action corresponding to the action ID is an action that can be performed regardless of whether it has been purchased by the player character CP, the purchase information is set to "2."
The action feasibility information included in the action feasibility management information is information indicating whether the action corresponding to the action ID can be executed by the player character CP. In this embodiment, the action feasibility information includes communication action feasibility information, response action feasibility information, and general action feasibility information.
The transfer action feasibility information (an example of "designation feasibility information") is information indicating whether the player character CP can execute the action corresponding to the action ID as a transfer action, and indicates "1" if it is feasible and "0" if it is not feasible. Note that an action for which the transfer action feasibility information indicates "1" is an example of a "transfer candidate action." The response action feasibility information is information indicating whether the player character CP can execute the action corresponding to the action ID as a response action, and indicates "1" if it is feasible and indicates "0" if it is not feasible. The general action feasibility information is information indicating whether the player character CP can execute the action corresponding to the action ID as a general action, and indicates "1" if it is feasible and indicates "0" if it is not feasible.
14 and 15, the player character CP has not purchased the action "salute." However, the action relationship information DK shown in FIG. 14 indicates that the response action "salute" can be executed in response to the communication action "salute," regardless of whether the action "salute" has been purchased. Therefore, the player character CP cannot execute the action "salute" as a communication action, but can execute it as a response action.
In this embodiment, an example is given of the case where the operation capability management information includes purchase/non-purchase information and operation capability information, but the present invention is not limited to this form, and the operation capability management information only needs to include at least purchase/non-purchase information.

When the placement condition determination unit 122 displays the response possible mark RM, the game control unit 111 first identifies a record from the response action information table TBL5 that corresponds to the transmission action by the friend character CF. Next, the game control unit 111 identifies, from the identified record, a response action for which the action relationship information DK indicates "1" or "2". Furthermore, the game control unit 111 extracts, from the identified response actions, a response action for which the response action possible/unprompted information indicates "1". Then, the game control unit 111 presents the extracted response action to the user U1 as a "candidate response action" that can be performed by the player character CP in response to the transmission action of the friend character CF.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the placement condition determination unit 122 displays the response possible mark RM and the user U1 operates the operation unit 150, the operation reception unit 112 receives the operation content (S114).
The action execution unit 113 determines whether or not the operation content accepted by the operation acceptance unit 112 in step S114 is an instruction to have the player character CP execute a response action (S116).
If the result of the determination in step S116 is positive, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to execute a response action corresponding to the communication action by the friend character CF, and displays the player character CP executing the response action on the field screen G1 (S118). On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S116 is negative, the action execution unit 113 proceeds to step S122.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the game control unit 111 displays the transmission action of the friend character CF in step S106, and the action execution unit 113 displays the response action of the player character CP in step S118, but the present invention is not limited to this form.
For example, in a case where it is preferable that a transmission action and a response action be executed simultaneously, such as a "high-five" or a "handshake," the game control unit 111 may display the transmission action of the friend character CF at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the player character CP in step S118. In this case, the game control unit 111 may execute a preparatory action for the transmission action in step S106. Here, the preparatory action for the transmission action is, for example, "an action of extending both hands to perform a high-five" if the transmission action is a "high-five," and "an action of extending one's hands to shake hands" if the transmission action is a "handshake."

If the result of the determination in step S104 is negative, the game control unit 111 displays the fellow character CF performing a response action or a general action (S120).
Furthermore, if the user U1 does not perform an operation to instruct the player character CP to perform a response action, the operation acceptance unit 112 accepts another operation from the user U1 (S122). Here, the other operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 112 in step S122 is, for example, an operation to instruct the player character CP to perform an action other than the response action.
The action executing unit 113 determines whether or not the operation content accepted by the operation accepting unit 112 in step S122 is an instruction to have the player character CP execute a transmission action (S124).
If the result of the determination in step S124 is positive, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to perform a transmission action corresponding to the operation content accepted in step S122, and displays the player character CP performing the transmission action on the field screen G1 (S126).
On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S124 is negative, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to perform a general action corresponding to the operation content accepted in step S122, and displays the player character CP performing the general action on the field screen G1 (S128).

Thereafter, the game control unit 111 updates the game progress information based on the actions of the player character CP in step S118, S126, or S128 (S130).
Then, the game control unit 111 determines whether or not predetermined game end conditions have been met (S132). In this embodiment, the game end conditions include some or all of the following: a predetermined mission has been accomplished; it has been determined that the predetermined mission cannot be accomplished; it has become impossible for the player character CP to continue the predetermined game; a predetermined amount of time has passed since the start of the predetermined game; and all enemy characters CE present in the field Fd have been defeated.
If the result of the determination in step S132 is positive, the game control unit 111 ends the processing shown in Fig. 9. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S132 is negative, the game control unit 111 proceeds to step S102.

5. Conclusion of the embodiment
In a conventional game in which multiple users U each control a player character in a field Fd, the users U typically communicate with each other by using a message exchange means such as chat. However, as in the conventional game, when one user U expresses his or her intention to other users U through a message exchange means, the user U must input the intention to be expressed as a character string, which is cumbersome. Furthermore, when the intention of one user U is expressed as a character string as in the conventional game, other users U who want to confirm the intention of the one user U must check the character string indicating the intention of the one user U separately from operating their player characters in the field Fd, which may interfere with the operation of their player characters. Furthermore, when the intention of one user U is expressed as a character string as in the conventional game, the character string is displayed on the field Fd where the player characters are located or separately from the field Fd, which may reduce the realism of the virtual world related to the game represented by the field Fd. Furthermore, when the intention of a single user U is expressed by a string of characters as in the past, the single user U needs to input the string of characters in a short amount of time while operating the player character, and there was a high possibility that the short string of characters input would not be able to accurately express the intention of the single user U.
In contrast to this, according to this embodiment, the user U1 who controls the player character CP responds to the user U2 who controls the friend character CF by using a response action of the player character CP. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the load on the user U1 to respond to the user U2, compared to when a conventional message exchange means is used.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the user U1 operating the player character CP expresses his or her intentions to the user U2 by utilizing a communication action by the player character CP. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the user U1 can more likely express his or her intentions without interfering with the operation of the player character CP, compared to when expressing his or her intentions by inputting a character string as in the conventional case.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the intentions of the user U are displayed as the movements of the player character present in the field Fd. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the degree to which the realism of the virtual world (field Fd) related to a specified game is reduced due to communication between users U can be reduced compared to when the intentions of the user U are displayed as a string of characters as in the conventional case.
Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the intention of the user U can be expressed by the movement of the player character according to the intention of the user U. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the intention expression by the user U compared to the conventional case where intentions are expressed by character strings.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to perform a response action corresponding to the communication action of the friend character CF based on instructions from user U1. Therefore, the burden on user U1 to respond to user U2 can be reduced compared to when user U1 responds to user U2 by freely operating the player character CP to cause the player character CP to move.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to perform a response action corresponding to the communication action of the friend character CF based on instructions from the user U1. This allows the player character CP to perform a more appropriate action in response to the user U2 compared to when the user U1 responds to the user U2 by freely operating the player character CP to make the player character CP move.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the player character CP and the friend character CF are in a predetermined positional relationship on the field Fd, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to execute a response action corresponding to a communication action by the friend character CF. Therefore, when the player character CP operated by user U1 and the friend character CF operated by user U2 are not in an appropriate positional relationship for user U1 to respond to user U2 using the response action by the player character CP, the execution of the response action by the player character CP can be restricted. This reduces the possibility that user U1 will execute an unnecessary operation.

B. Modifications
Each of the above embodiments can be modified in various ways. Specific modified embodiments are exemplified below. Two or more embodiments arbitrarily selected from the following examples can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict each other. In the modified examples exemplified below, elements whose actions and functions are equivalent to those of the embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals as in the above description, and detailed descriptions of each will be omitted as appropriate.

[Modification 1]
In the above-described embodiment, the reference area set corresponding to the player character has a shape and size corresponding to the transmission action of the player character, but the present invention is not limited to this. The reference area set corresponding to the player character may have a predetermined shape and a predetermined size.

[Modification 2]
In the above-described embodiment, the placement of the player character on the field Fd is a concept that includes the position of the player character, the orientation of the player character, and the shape and size of a reference area set according to the player character, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The placement of the player character on the field Fd may be a concept that includes at least one of the position of the player character, the orientation of the player character, and the shape and size of a reference area set according to the player character.

For example, if the placement of the player character in the field Fd is defined as the position of the player character in the field Fd, the response determination unit 120 may determine whether the player character CP can execute a response action in response to a communication action by the friend character CF, based on the positional relationship between the player character CP and the friend character CF in the field Fd. In this case, the response determination unit 120 may determine whether the distance between the player character CP and the friend character CF in the field Fd is equal to or less than a reference distance. In other words, in this case, the action execution unit 113 may cause the player character CP to execute a response action when the distance between the player character CP and the friend character CF in the field Fd is equal to or less than the reference distance.
Here, the reference distance may be a distance determined based on the communication action of the friend character CF, or may be a predetermined distance.
Furthermore, the distance between the player character CP and the companion character CF in the field Fd may be the norm of a three-dimensional vector connecting the player character CP and the companion character CF when the field Fd is a three-dimensional space, or may be the norm of a two-dimensional vector obtained by projecting the three-dimensional vector onto a predetermined two-dimensional plane (for example, the horizontal plane of the field Fd).

Furthermore, for example, if the position of the player character on the field Fd is defined as the orientation of the player character on the field Fd, the response determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the player character CP can execute a response action in response to a communication action by the friend character CF, based on the relationship between the orientation of the player character CP and the orientation of the friend character CF on the field Fd. In this case, the action execution unit 113 may cause the player character CP to execute a response action when the angle formed between the orientation of the player character CP on the field Fd and the orientation of the friend character CF is equal to or smaller than a reference angle.
Here, the reference angle may be an angle determined based on the communication action of the friend character CF, or may be an angle determined in advance.

[Modification 3]
In the above-described embodiment and modified example, the response determination unit 120 determines whether or not the player character CP can execute a response action in response to a transmission action by a friend character CF based on the relative positions of the player character CP and the friend character CF on the field Fd, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The response determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the player character CP can execute a response action in response to a transmission action by a friend character CF without considering the relative positions of the player character CP and the friend character CF on the field Fd.
For example, the response determination unit 120 may determine whether the player character CP can execute a response action in response to a communication action by a friend character CF based on whether the player character CP and the friend character CF have a predetermined cooperative relationship. Here, the predetermined cooperative relationship may be a relationship in which the player character CP and the friend character CF belong to the same team.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the action execution unit 113 causes the player character CP to execute a response action in response to a transmission action by the friend character CF when the player character CP and the friend character CF have a predetermined cooperative relationship (i.e., when they have the same team ID), but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The action execution unit 113 may cause the player character CP to execute a response action in response to a transmission action by the friend character CF based solely on the positional relationship between the player character CP and the friend character CF on the field Fd, regardless of whether the player character CP and the friend character CF have a predetermined cooperative relationship.

[Modification 4]
In the above-described embodiment and variant examples, the predetermined game is executed on the game device 10, but the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and the predetermined game may be executed on a component other than the game device 10.
16 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a game system 1A according to this modified example. The game system 1A includes a plurality of terminal devices 70 (70-1 to 70-M), a plurality of display devices 30 (30-1 to 30-M) provided corresponding to the plurality of terminal devices 70, and a server device 50A. The server device 50A is capable of executing a predetermined game and is capable of communicating with each of the terminal devices 70 via a network NW.
17 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device 50A according to this modification. As shown in FIG. 17, server device 50A is similar to game device 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 130, and a communication unit 140.
The control unit 110 included in the server device 50A generates display information related to a predetermined game and supplies the generated display information to the terminal device 70 via the communication unit 140. The terminal device 70 displays a screen based on the display information supplied from the server device 50A on the display unit 31 of the display device 30.
In addition, the information acquisition unit 114 provided in the control unit 110 provided in the server device 50A acquires the operation content input by the user U of the terminal device 70 from the terminal device 70 via the communication unit 140, and executes a predetermined game based on the acquired operation content.

[C. Notes]
From the above description, the present invention can be understood, for example, as follows: Note that, in order to facilitate understanding of each aspect, reference numerals in the drawings are conveniently placed in parentheses below, but this is not intended to limit the present invention to the illustrated aspects.

[Appendix 1]
A program for a game device according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device having a processor, which causes the processor to function as a reception unit that receives user operations and an action execution unit that causes a game character to perform an action based on the user's operation, and which is characterized in that when a transmission action is performed by another character of the game based on the operation of another user, the action execution unit causes the character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on the user's operation.

According to this aspect, the user operating the character uses the character's response actions to respond to other users, thereby reducing the burden of responding compared to, for example, responding using text.
Furthermore, according to this aspect, the action execution unit causes the character to execute a response action corresponding to the transmission action. Therefore, compared to when a user responds to other users by freely operating the character to cause the character to move, it is possible to reduce the burden of responding. Furthermore, compared to when a user responds to other users by freely operating the character to cause the character to move, it is possible to cause the character to execute an action that is more appropriate as a response to other users.

In the above aspect, "operation of another user" may mean, for example, another user operating the same game device as the game device operated by the user, or another user operating a game device different from the game device operated by the user.
A "communication action" may be any action performed by a character or another character in a game. For example, a "communication action" may be an action that does not affect the progress of the game. Here, an "action that does not affect the progress of the game" may be, for example, an action that does not affect the character's ability to continue the game, or an action that does not affect the character's status, such as the character's survivability or attack power. Note that a "communication action" may be an action that allows a user to express their intentions through a character's communication action, or an action that allows a user to communicate their intentions to another user through a character's communication action.
The "response action" may be an action that does not affect the progress of the game. Furthermore, the "response action" may be an action that is started after the transmission action has been started, or an action that is started simultaneously with the transmission action. Furthermore, the "response action" may be an action that is performed in response to the transmission action when the transmission action is performed.

[Appendix 2]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendix 1, characterized in that the action execution unit is capable of causing the character to execute the response action when the character and the other character have a predetermined positional relationship in a virtual space related to the game.
According to this aspect, when the positional relationship between a character and another character is not appropriate for responding to another user using the character's response action, the character's execution of the response action can be restricted, thereby making it possible to prevent the user from performing unnecessary operations.

In the above aspect, the "virtual space" may be a three-dimensional space having both horizontal and vertical dimensions, or a two-dimensional space having only horizontal dimensions. The "positional relationship" refers to the relationship between the position of a character in a virtual space and the positions of other characters. Here, the "position of a character" may be a concept that includes, for example, the position of a character in the virtual space, the orientation of the character in the virtual space, and some or all of the position and shape of a reference area of the character that is set corresponding to the character in the virtual space. For example, if the virtual space is a three-dimensional space, the "position of a character" may be a concept that includes at least one of the position of the character in the horizontal direction of the virtual space and the position of the character in the vertical direction of the virtual space. The "orientation of a character" refers to, for example, the direction in which the character is facing in the virtual space. The "reference area of a character" may be set at a position that includes the character when the character performs a communication action. Furthermore, the "reference area of a character" may have, for example, a predetermined shape. In this case, the character's reference area may have a two-dimensional shape such as a circle, a rectangle, or an ellipse, or a three-dimensional shape such as a sphere, a polygon, or an ellipsoid. Furthermore, the "character's reference area" may have a shape that is determined based on the transmission action performed by the character when the character performs the transmission action. Furthermore, the "character's reference area" may have a shape that is determined based on the orientation of the character when the character performs the transmission action.
The "predetermined positional relationship" may be, for example, a relationship in which the distance between a character and another character in a virtual space is equal to or less than a reference distance. Here, if the virtual space is a three-dimensional space having horizontal and vertical dimensions, the "distance in the virtual space" may be a distance in the three-dimensional space, or a distance in a two-dimensional space representing the horizontal dimension. The "predetermined positional relationship" may be, for example, a relationship in which the angle between the direction a character is facing and the direction another character is facing is equal to or less than a reference angle (e.g., a relationship in which the character and the other character are facing each other). The "predetermined positional relationship" may be, for example, a relationship in which the angle between the direction a character is facing and a line segment connecting the character and the other character, or the angle between the direction another character is facing and a line segment connecting the other character and the other character, is equal to or less than a reference angle. The "predetermined positional relationship" may be, for example, a relationship in which the position of a character is included in a reference area of the other character that performed the transmission action. The "reference distance" and "reference angle" may be determined according to the type of transmission action, or may be predetermined values.

[Appendix 3]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendix 2, characterized in that the processor is further made to function as a judgment unit that judges whether the character and the other character have the predetermined positional relationship based on the position of the character in the virtual space and at least one of the position and shape of a reference area set up in the virtual space corresponding to the other character.
According to this aspect, it is determined whether the positional relationship between the character and other characters is appropriate for responding to other users using the character's response action, thereby making it possible to prevent the user from performing unnecessary operations.

[Appendix 4]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendix 2, characterized in that the action execution unit is capable of causing the character to execute the response action when the distance between the character and the other character in the virtual space related to the game is less than or equal to a reference distance.
According to this aspect, when the distance between a character and another character is not appropriate for responding to another user using the character's response action, the character's execution of the response action can be restricted, thereby making it possible to prevent the user from performing unnecessary operations.

[Appendix 5]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendices 1 to 4, characterized in that the action execution unit is capable of causing the character to execute the response action when the character and the other character have a predetermined cooperative relationship in the game.
According to this aspect, when a character has a predetermined collaborative relationship with another character and a user and another user need to communicate, for example, to progress through a game, the character's response action is used to respond to the other user, thereby making it possible to prevent the user from performing unnecessary operations.

In the above embodiment, a "predetermined cooperative relationship" may be, for example, a relationship in which a character and another character can cooperate to progress through the game. A "relationship in which a character and another character can cooperate to progress through the game" may be, for example, a relationship in which, when multiple characters form a team to progress through the game, the character and another character belong to the same team.

[Appendix 6]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendices 1 to 5, characterized in that the action execution unit is capable of causing the character to execute the transmission action based on the user's operation, the transmission action being an action specified from among a plurality of candidate transmission actions based on the user's operation, and the plurality of candidate transmission actions being actions selected by the user from a plurality of executable actions.
According to this aspect, since the transmission action is an action selected from a plurality of candidate transmission actions, it is possible to more accurately communicate intentions between users compared to when the transmission action is a single predetermined action. Also, according to this aspect, since the candidate transmission action is an action selected from a plurality of executable actions, it is possible for users to express their intentions more freely compared to when the candidate transmission action is a predetermined action.

[Appendix 7]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendix 6, characterized in that the game device has a memory unit that stores action information representing the plurality of executable actions and designation feasibility information indicating whether the user can designate each of the plurality of executable actions as the transmission action.
According to this aspect, the character performs a transmission action based on the action information stored in the game device, and therefore it is possible to reduce the processing load and communication load, etc., on the game device when the character performs a transmission action, compared to when the action information is stored in a device external to the game device, for example.

[Appendix 8]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendix 6 or 7, characterized in that the action execution unit is capable of causing the character to execute the response action even if the response action is not included in the plurality of candidate transmission actions.
According to this aspect, it is possible to have the character execute a response action that is more appropriate as a response to another user, compared to when the response action is limited to the transfer candidate action.

[Appendix 9]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendices 1 to 8, characterized in that the response action is an action designated from among a plurality of candidate response actions based on the user's operation, and each of the plurality of candidate response actions is an action corresponding to the transmission action.
According to this aspect, the response action is an action selected from a plurality of candidate response actions, allowing the user to express their intentions more freely than when the response action is a single predetermined type of action.

[Appendix 10]
A program for a game device according to another aspect of the present invention is a program for a game device as described in Appendices 1 to 9, characterized in that the other character starts the transmission action at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the other character.
According to this aspect, the transmission action and the response action can be synchronized, which allows smooth communication between the user and other users.

[Appendix 11]
A game device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a reception unit that receives user operations, and an action execution unit that causes a game character to perform an action based on the user's operation, and the action execution unit is characterized in that when a transmission action is performed by another character of the game based on the operation of another user, the action execution unit causes the character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on the user's operation.
According to this aspect, the burden on the user operating the character to respond can be reduced compared to when the user responds to other users by, for example, text. Also, according to this aspect, the burden on the user to respond can be reduced compared to when the user responds to other users by freely operating the character. Also, according to this aspect, the character can be made to perform an action that is more appropriate as a response to other users compared to when the user responds to other users by freely operating the character.

[Appendix 12]
A game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a game system comprising a first game device and a second game device capable of communicating with the first game device, wherein the first game device comprises a first reception unit that receives an operation from a first user and a first action execution unit that causes a first character of the game to perform a transmission action based on the operation of the first user, and the second game device comprises a second reception unit that receives an operation from a second user and a second action execution unit that, when the first character performs the transmission action, causes a second character of the game to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on the operation of the second user.
According to this aspect, the first user and the second user communicate using a transmission action of the first character and a response action of the second character, which reduces the communication burden compared to, for example, communicating through text. Furthermore, according to this aspect, the second user responds to the first user by having the second character execute a response action corresponding to the transmission action. Therefore, the response burden can be reduced compared to when the second user responds to the first user by freely operating the second character. Furthermore, according to this aspect, it is possible to have the second character execute an action that is more appropriate as a response to the first user compared to when the second user responds to the first user by freely operating the second character.

1...Game system, 10...Game device, 30...Display device, 110...Control unit, 111...Game control unit, 112...Operation reception unit, 113...Action execution unit, 114...Information acquisition unit, 120...Response determination unit, 121...Reference area setting unit, 122...Layout condition determination unit, 130...Memory unit, 140...Communication unit, 150...Operation unit, 1000...Processor.

Claims (4)

A program for a game device having a processor and capable of communicating with an external game device,
The processor,
a reception unit that receives an operation of a first user who operates the game device;
an action execution unit that causes a first character of the game to execute an action based on an operation of the first user;
and make it work,
The operation execution unit
a transmission action performed by a second character of the game based on an operation of a second user who operates the external game device is a predetermined type of action;
When the second character performs a preparatory action that is an action of the second character for performing the transmission action,
identifying a response action corresponding to the transmission action, and having the first character execute the response action based on an operation by the first user;
If the transmission action performed by the second character is not a predetermined type of action,
After the second character executes a communication action based on the operation of the second user,
causing the first character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on an operation of the first user;
If the transmission action performed by the second character is a predetermined type of action,
the second character starts the transmission action at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the first character;
A game device program characterized by: A program for a game device having a processor,
The processor,
a reception unit that receives an operation of a first user who operates the game device and an operation of a second user who operates the game device;
an action execution unit that causes a first character of the game to execute an action based on an operation of the first user and causes a second character of the game to execute an action based on an operation of the second user;
and make it work,
The operation execution unit
When the transmission action performed by the second character based on the operation of the second user is a predetermined type of action,
When the second character performs a preparatory action that is an action of the second character for performing the transmission action,
identifying a response action corresponding to the transmission action, and having the first character execute the response action based on an operation by the first user;
causing the second character to start the transmission action at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the first character;
If the transmission action performed by the second character is not a predetermined type of action,
After causing the second character to perform the transmission action based on the operation of the second user,
causing the first character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on an operation of the first user;
A game device program characterized by: A gaming device,
a reception unit that receives an operation of a first user who operates the game device and an operation of a second user who operates the game device;
an action execution unit that causes a first character of the game to execute an action based on an operation of the first user and causes a second character of the game to execute an action based on an operation of the second user;
Equipped with
The operation execution unit
When the transmission action performed by the second character based on the operation of the second user is a predetermined type of action,
When the second character performs a preparatory action that is an action of the second character for performing the transmission action,
identifying a response action corresponding to the transmission action, and having the first character execute the response action based on an operation by the first user;
causing the second character to start the transmission action at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the first character;
If the transmission action performed by the second character is not a predetermined type of action,
After causing the second character to perform the transmission action based on the operation of the second user,
causing the first character to perform a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on an operation of the first user;
A game device characterized by: A game system comprising a first game device and a second game device capable of communicating with the first game device,
the first game device,
a first receiving unit that receives an operation by a first user;
a first action execution unit that causes a first character of a game to execute a communication action based on an operation of the first user;
Equipped with
the second game device,
a second receiving unit that receives an operation of a second user;
If the transmission action performed by the first character is a predetermined type of action,
When the first character performs a preparatory action, which is a first character action for performing the transmission action,
identifying a response action corresponding to the transmission action, and having a second character of the game execute the response action based on an operation of the second user ;
If the transmission action performed by the first character is not a predetermined type of action,
After the first character executes a communication action based on the operation of the first user,
a second action execution unit that causes the second character to execute a response action corresponding to the transmission action based on an operation of the second user ;
Equipped with
The first operation execution unit
When the transmission action performed by the first character is the predetermined type of action,
causing the first character to start the transmission action at a timing corresponding to the start of the response action by the second character;
A game system characterized by: