U.S. Pat. No. 9,345,964

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the appending drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video game processing apparatus100according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the video game processing apparatus100includes: a game program reading section10; a control section11; a storage section12; a display section13; an audio outputting section14; and a player operation receiving section15.

The game program reading section10detachably receives a game cartridge20into which a storage medium is embedded. A game program is stored in the storage medium. The game program reading section10reads out a necessary game program from the storage medium in the inserted game cartridge20. In this regard, in this embodiment, a video game program classified into an RPG is stored in the storage medium embedded into the game cartridge20. However, a category to which the video game program stored in the storage medium embedded into the game cartridge20belongs is not limited to the RPG, and the video game program (that is, the present invention) can be applied to various kinds of categories in which a process corresponding to appearance of an enemy character and a battle against the enemy character, such as an action game and the like (which can adjust advantage or disadvantage between a player character and an enemy character by a change of any of various setups) is carried out.

The control section11has a function to carry out the game program read out by the game program reading section10, and to carry out various kinds of controls for causing a video game to proceed in response to operations by a player.

In particular, the control section11according to the present embodiment has a function to carry out various kinds of processing for controlling progress of the video game by causing the display section13to display, on a display screen thereof, a movement field on which the player character moves and a battle field on which the player character and an enemy character carry out a battle in accordance with progress of the video game. In particular, the control section11carries out necessary control for: an encounter determining process of determining whether a player character encounters an enemy character on the movement field or not in accordance with a predetermined rule; a presence object displaying process of displaying a presence object, which represents presence of the enemy character, at a presence position of the enemy character on the movement field in a case where it is determined at the encounter determining process that the player character encounters the enemy character; a clock object displaying process of displaying a clock object, which visibly represents remaining time information indicating a remaining time from the time when the player character encountered the enemy character to the time when a predetermined time elapses, on the display screen; a contact determining process of determining whether the player character comes into contact with the enemy character on the movement field or not by confirming whether the player character comes into contact with the presence object or not; a battle start timing setup selecting process of selecting a battle start timing setup, in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in an advantageous state, from plural kinds of battle start timing setups prepared in advance as initial setups at the start of a battle in a case where it is determined at the contact determining process that the player character comes into contact with the enemy character before a predetermined time elapses; a battle control information updating process of updating the battle control information stored in the battle control information storage section for storing the battle control information, which contains player character information on the player character and enemy character information on the enemy character and is used for controlling a battle on the battle field, by carrying out the selected battle start timing setup at the battle start timing setup selecting process; a battle controlling process of controlling progress of the battle by starting the battle between the player character and the enemy character on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information after the battle control information is updated at the battle control information updating process. In this regard, main processing with regard to the present invention will be described later in detail.

The storage section12is a storage medium for storing game programs necessary when the video game is caused to proceed and various kinds of data. The storage section12is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM, for example. In the storage section12, various kinds of information registered and updated in accordance with progress of the video game, and various kinds of information used in the video game, which are read out from the storage medium embedded into the game cartridge20, are stored.

In the present embodiment, the storage section12includes: a battle control information storage section12a; an encounter type rate managing table12b; a clock object managing table12c; and a battle start timing setup storage section12d.

The battle control information storage section12ais a storage medium for storing battle control information used for controlling a battle on the battle field. In the present embodiment, player character information regarding the player character and enemy character information regarding enemy characters are contained in the battle control information storage section12aas the battle control information. The player character information and the enemy character information are stored in a player character information storage section12a1and an enemy character information storage section12a2, respectively.

Here, the player character information stored in the player character information storage section12a1contains various kinds of information on the player character, such as a name of the player character, an HP, nimbleness, equipment, possessed items, characters each of which is a family of the player character (sub character) and the like (not shown in the drawings).

Further, the enemy character information stored in the enemy character information storage section12a2contains, for every enemy character, various kinds of information on the enemy characters, such as a distance at which it is determined that the enemy character encounters the player character, a movement rule including a period of time from the time when to encounter the player character to the time when to start movement, and the like.

FIG. 2is an explanatory drawing for showing an example of a storage state of the enemy character information stored in the enemy character information storage section12a2of the battle control information storage section12a. As shown inFIG. 2, the enemy character information contains: an enemy character ID for uniquely specifying an enemy character; a name of the enemy character; an appearance distance; a breakaway distance; and an encounter value.

Here, the “appearance distance” denotes a distance (a distance from the player character on the movement field) indicating a position at which the enemy character appears when the player character encounters the enemy character (including a group of enemy characters constituted by a plurality of enemy character) in accordance with progress of the video game (hereinafter, the encounter of the player character with an enemy character may simply be referred to as “encounter” suitably). In the present embodiment, the appearance distance is set up for every type of encounter between the player character and an enemy character (encounter type). In this regard, a known method, such as a method of causing the player character to encounter an enemy character (or a group of enemy characters constituted by a plurality of enemy characters) associated with a region in which the player character is positioned with a predetermined probability in accordance with movement of the player character, is used for the encounter determination between the player character and the enemy character, for example.

In the present embodiment, there are three types as the encounter types including normal encounter, search encounter and alert encounter. Here, the normal encounter denotes a fashion of encounter, which is a basis. Further, the search encounter denotes a fashion of encounter advantageous to the player (player character), and means the case where the player finds out an enemy character in first. Moreover, the alert encounter denotes a fashion of encounter disadvantageous to the player, and means the case where the player character is found out by the enemy character in first. A method of determining (or selecting) an encounter type will be described later in detail (seeFIG. 11).

Further, the “breakaway distance” denotes a distance at which the encounter between the player character and the enemy character is terminated. Namely, by causing the player character to move to a position separated from an enemy character by the breakaway distance or more when the player character encountered the enemy character, the player is allowed to avoid a battle against the encountered enemy character. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shorter the breakaway distance is, the easily the player character breaks away. In the present embodiment, the breakaway distance is set up for every encounter type.

For example, with respect to an enemy character that is slow in action, a difference between the appearance distance and the breakaway distance is made smaller. With respect to an enemy character from which the player character hardly runs away, a difference between the appearance distance and the breakaway distance is made lager. With respect to an enemy character that the player hardly finds out, the appearance distance itself is made longer than other distances. By changing a combination between the appearance distance and the breakaway distance for every character in this manner, it is possible to generate various patterns of encounter.

In this regard, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that the movement rule of the enemy character (for example, a runaway line) is changed in accordance with a method of moving the player character for even the same enemy character.

Further, the “encounter value” denotes a value used to determine an encounter type when the player character encounters each enemy character. In the present embodiment, a normal encounter value, a search encounter value and an alert encounter value are set up for every encounter type. In this regard, if there is no need to characterize any enemy character, “0” may be set up to all of the encounter values. Further, in the present embodiment, “−1” may be set up to any encounter value. In this case, an encounter type to which “−1” is set up is selected at 100%. In this regard, in a case where an enemy character with the encounter value to which “−1” is set up is included in a plurality of enemy characters constituting a group of enemy characters when the player character encounters the group of enemy characters, the encounter type is selected preferentially. Further, in a case where “−1” is set up to each of encounter values of different encounter types in some of a plurality of enemy characters (for example, in a case where, in enemy characters A, B, C constituting one group of enemy characters, an alert encounter value of the enemy character A is “−1”, a normal encounter value of the enemy character B is “−1”, and a search encounter value of the enemy character C is “−1”), the control section11selects one encounter type in accordance with a predetermined rule (for example, in a case where the encounter values are the same, the control section11preferentially selects one encounter type in order of the alert encounter, the normal encounter and the search encounter).

Further, although it is not shown in the drawings, the enemy character information according to the present embodiment contains movement rules of a presence object (including a period of time from the time when a presence object is displayed to the time when to start movement) displayed on the movement field after an enemy character encounters the player character. In this regard, a presence object indicating a presence position of an enemy character on the movement field will be described later in detail (seeFIG. 11).

The encounter type rate managing table12bis a storage medium for storing encounter type rate information that is information indicating which encounter type is to be adopted when to determine an encounter type between the player character and an enemy character. In the present embodiment, the encounter type rate information updated by the control section11in accordance with progress of the video game is stored in the encounter type rate managing table12b.

FIG. 3is an explanatory drawing for showing an example of a storage state of the encounter type rate information stored in the encounter type rate managing table12b. As shown inFIG. 3, the encounter type rate information normally contains, for every type, a basic encounter value, an encounter value of an enemy character, a total value of the basic encounter value and the encounter value of the enemy character, and a rate of each of the total vales with respect to the whole encounter values.

Here, the “basic encounter value” denotes an encounter value that is determined in accordance with a rule set up in advance when the player character encounters an enemy character. In this regard, in the present embodiment, a basic encounter value for every encounter type is determined in a random manner using random numbers.

Further, the “encounter value of an enemy character” is read out from the enemy character information corresponding to the enemy character that the player character encountered.

In the case shown inFIG. 3, types of encounter (encounter types) between the player character and the enemy character are composed of a normal encounter of 47%, a search encounter of 6% and an alert encounter of 47%.

The clock object managing table12cis a storage medium for storing clock object information, which is information on a clock object that visibly indicates remaining time information. The remaining time information represents a remaining time from the time when the player character encounters an enemy character to the time when a predetermined time elapses.

FIG. 4is an explanatory drawing for explaining clock object. As shown inFIG. 4, a clock object CO according to the present embodiment is an object including: a clock hand CH; an initial position IP of the clock hand CH; an action end position EP of the clock hand CH (inFIG. 4, the same position as the initial position IP); a safe area SA; and a normal area NA. In the present embodiment, the control section11controls the clock object CO so that the clock hand CH points to the action end position EP when a predetermined time elapses by causing the clock hand CH included in the clock object CO to move in clockwise direction (direction D) from the initial position IP in accordance with elapsed time. This makes it possible to provide remaining time information, which indicates a remaining time until a predetermined time elapses from the time when the player character encountered an enemy character, to the player.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control section11allows a player to recognize processes carried out in accordance with elapsed time by distinguishably displaying various kinds of areas provided in the clock object (in the present embodiment, the safe area SA and the normal area NA). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the control section11carries out a process to fix the position of the enemy character after the encounter while the clock hand CH is positioned within the safe area SA, and a process to move the position of the enemy character after the encounter while the clock hand CH is positioned within the normal area NA in accordance with the movement rule contained in the enemy character information, for example.

Then, the clock object CO indicates timing after the clock hand CH makes a cycle around the clock object CO as a forcible battle start time (in the present embodiment, time when a battle is started without contact of the player character with the enemy character after encounter). In this regard, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that the “forcible battle start time” is calculated on the basis of a predetermined parameter contained in the enemy character information and/or the determined encounter type. Alternatively, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that the “forcible battle start time” is calculated in accordance with a predetermined parameter contained in the player character information and/or a region in which the player character is positioned on the movement field.

FIG. 5is an explanatory drawing for showing an example of a storage state of the clock object information in the clock object managing table12c. As shown inFIG. 5, the clock object information according to the present embodiment contains: an elapsed time; a predetermined time; an angular velocity; an area setup; and a movable range.

Here, the “elapsed time” denotes a period of time that elapses since the player character encountered the enemy character. In the present embodiment, a period of time measured by a time measuring device (that is, a timer) included in the video game processing apparatus100is reflected as the elapsed time.

Further, the “predetermined time” denotes a period of time set up in advance as a period of time from the time when the player character encountered an enemy character to the time when a battle is start forcibly. In the present embodiment, this predetermined time becomes a period of time when the clock hand CH makes a cycle around the clock object CO (that is, the period of time from the time when the clock hand CH starts to move from the initial position IP toward the direction D to the time when the clock hand CH arrives at the action end position EP).

Further, the “angular velocity” denotes an angular velocity of the clock hand CH in the clock object CO. A value obtained by dividing the movable range of the clock hand CH (which is a range corresponding to a movement distance from the initial position IP to the action end position EP. In the present embodiment, the value is 360°) by the predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) is inputted.

Further, the “area setup” is information representing a rate of each area that constitutes the clock object CO. In the present embodiment, the clock object CO visibly presents the remaining time information indicating two areas (safe area SA and normal area NA). The area (safe area SA) indicates a first remaining time from the time when the player character encountered the enemy character to the time when a first deadline elapses. The first deadline is a deadline set up before the predetermined time (that is, a period of time required for the clock hand CH in the clock object CO to move from the initial position IP to the action end position EP) elapses. The area (normal area NA) indicates a second remaining time from the time when the first remaining time is expired to the time when the predetermined time elapses (that is, a period of time obtained by subtracting the time required from the time when the player character encountered the enemy character to the time when the first deadline elapses from the time required for the clock hand CH of the clock object CO to move from the initial position IP to the action end position EP).

In this regard, the configuration of the clock object CO is not limited to a so-called clock, and the clock object CO may be configured so as to visibly present, to the player, the remaining time information representing a remaining time from the time when the player character encountered the enemy character to the time when the predetermined time elapses.

FIGS. 6A to 6Care explanatory drawings for explaining another example of the clock object CO.

FIG. 6Ais an example of the case where a clock object is formed as a bar meter. In a case where the clock object is formed as the bar meter, the clock hand CH is configured so as to move from the initial position IP to the action end position EP positioned at a portion different from that of the initial position IP in accordance with elapse of time. This makes it possible to realize the function as the clock object.

FIG. 6Bis an example of the case where a clock object is formed as a gauge. In the case where the clock object is formed as the gauge, the clock object is configured so that the gauge G reduces in accordance with elapse of time and finally becomes “0”. This makes it possible to realize the function as the clock object.

FIG. 6Cis an example of the case where a clock object is formed as an arc meter. In a case where the clock object is formed as the arc meter, the clock hand CH is arranged at the center of an arc, and a position indicated by the clock hand CH moves from one end of the arc to the other end thereof in accordance with elapse of time. This makes it possible to realize the function as the clock object.

In this regard, inFIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, the case where the clock object CO indicates one of two kinds of areas (the safe area SA and the normal area NA) has been explained. However, the number of areas is not limited to two kinds. In a case where there are three kinds or more of processing content according to areas, the clock object CO may be configured so as to include three kinds or more of areas.

FIG. 7is an explanatory drawing for explaining a process carried out by the control section11on the basis of a positional relationship between the enemy character NPC and the player character PC after the player character PC encountered the enemy character NPC. In the present embodiment, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC, as shown inFIG. 7, the control section11arranges a presence object PO, which indicates presence of an enemy character, at a position according to the appearance distance (that is, a presence position of the enemy character NPC) with respect to the player character PC on the movement field. As shown inFIG. 7, the control section11then specifies an appearance range A1(for example, inside of a circular range in which the position of the presence object is centered and the appearance distance of the enemy character NPC is set to a radius thereof) and a breakaway range A2(for example, outside of a circular range in which the position of the presence object is centered and the breakaway distance of the enemy character NPC is set to a radius thereof). The appearance range A1is based on the position of the presence object PO on the movement field.

The control section11then displays a clock object CO corresponding to the encounter type when the player character PC is positioned within the appearance range A1. On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC moves to the breakaway range A2, the control section11determines that the player character PC avoids a battle against the enemy character NPC. The control section11then terminates measuring the time after encounter, and erases the clock object from the display screen. In this regard, in a case where the player character PC is positioned between the appearance range A1and the breakaway range A2, the control section11interrupts measuring the time after encounter, and restart to measure the time when the player character PC moves into the appearance range A1again.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, a battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC does not start at the step after the encounter but before contact. Namely, the control section11does not carry out any process to affect an HP or the like of the enemy character by means of an action of the player character PC on the movement field.

Further, there is no need that the number of displayed presence objects is to be the same as the number of enemy characters. Namely, in the present embodiment, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters a plurality of enemy characters (that is, a group of enemy characters constituted by the plurality of enemy characters), the control section11does not display the plurality of enemy characters, but displays a presence object PO indicating the group of enemy characters at a position of the group of enemy characters (for example, at a position of the enemy character representative of the group of enemy characters or the like).

Further, for example, depending upon the appearance distance of the enemy character, the control section11may set up a position of the encountered enemy character NPC outside the display screen (that is, the control section11may cause the enemy character to appear at a position that is not included in the display range on the movement field, and causes the presence object PO not to be displayed in the display screen). In this regard, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the player character PC encounters a group of enemy characters, the control section11respectively adopts the longest appearance distance and the longest breakaway distance in the enemy character information of each of the plurality of enemy characters constituting the group of enemy characters (that is, the enemy character information corresponding to each of the enemy characters), or adopts an average value thereof.

The battle start timing setup storage section12dis a storage medium for storing plural types of initial setups (including first and second battle start timing setups) when the player character PC starts a battle against the encountered enemy character NPC. In the present embodiment, the control section11selects one setup (or a combination of a plurality of setups) from a plurality of battle start timing setups in accordance with an action and the like of the player character from the time when the player character PC encountered the enemy character NPC to the time when the predetermined time elapses; updates the battle control information stored in the battle control information storage section12aby carrying out the selected battle start timing setup; and controls progress of a battle by starting the battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information.

FIG. 8is an explanatory drawing for showing an example of a storage state of the battle start timing setups stored in the battle start timing setup storage section12d. As shown inFIG. 8, each of the battle start timing setups contains a name of a battle start timing setup and the setup content.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, a battle start timing setup in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in an advantageous state compared with the enemy character (in the case shown inFIG. 8, a battle start timing setup regarding a name “preemptive battle in”), a battle start timing setup in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that both the player character and the enemy character are in a fair state (in the case shown inFIG. 8, a battle start timing setup regarding a name “normal battle in”), and a battle start timing setup in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in a disadvantageous state (in the case shown inFIG. 8, a battle start timing setup regarding a name “surprise attack battle in”) are included in the battle start timing setups. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the “battle in” means that the game screen displayed on the display screen is shifted from the movement field of the player character to the battle field against the enemy character.

The display section13is a display device for displaying the game screen in response to operations by the player in accordance with control by the control section11. The display section13is constructed by a liquid crystal display, for example.

The audio outputting section14outputs audio in response to operations by the player and progress of the video game in accordance with control by the control section11.

The player operation receiving section15receives operational signals in response to operations by the player via a controller constructed by a plurality of buttons, a mouse or the like, and notifies the control section11of its result. In the present embodiment, the player operation receiving section15is constructed by a touch panel.

Next, an operation of the video game processing apparatus100according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9is a flowchart showing an example of encounter processing carried out by the video game processing apparatus100. In the encounter processing, when the player character encounters an enemy character, a process to display a position of the enemy character on the movement field, a process to carry out contact determination between the player character and the enemy character on the basis of the position of the displayed enemy character, and a process to shift to the battle field are carried out. Namely, in the present embodiment, the “encounter” processing includes three steps of processes including “encounter”, “contact”, and “shift to a battle scene (battle in)”. In this regard, general processing may be omitted.

The game processing according to the present embodiment is started when a position of the player character PC is positioned within a range in which the player character PC may encounter an enemy character NPC at a predetermined probability, for example.

FIG. 10is an explanatory drawing for illustrating an example of the game screen showing the movement field (hereinafter, referred to appropriately as a “movement screen”). As shown inFIG. 10, in the present embodiment, the player character PC, a sub character SC that is a family of the player character PC, and a surprise attack preventing character M are displayed on the movement screen. In this regard, the surprise attack preventing character M is a character that may not belong to the family of the player character PC in accordance with progress of the video game.

In the encounter processing, the control section11first determines whether the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC (including a group of enemy characters constituted by a plurality of enemy characters NPC) or not (Step S101). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the control section11carries out encounter determination on the basis of an encounter condition stored in the storage section12(not shown in the drawings). Here, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters no enemy character NPC (“No” at Step S101), the control section11causes a position of the player character PC to move in response to an operation of a player A, for example, and carries out the encounter determination again.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC (“Yes” at Step S101), the control section11determines whether there is a surprise attack preventing character in a family of the player character PC or not (Step S102). In this regard, in the present embodiment, in a case where a surprise attack preventing character M is positioned within a predetermined distance from the player character PC (that is, in a case where the surprise attack preventing character M is in a predetermined state), the control section11determines that there is a surprise attack preventing character M.

In a case where it is determined in the process at Step S102that there is no surprise attack preventing character M (“No” at Step S102), the control section11causes the processing flow to proceed to a process at Step S205in battle-in processing (will be described later) (seeFIG. 13).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that there is a surprise attack preventing character M (“Yes” at Step S102), the control section11updates the encounter type rate managing table12bon the basis of an encounter value in the enemy character information for the encountered enemy character NPC (Step S103). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the control section11changes the basic encounter value in the encounter type rate managing table12bin accordance with a status of the player character PC (such as a position or a state thereof) (seeFIG. 3).

When the encounter type rate managing table12bis updated, the control section11determines an encounter type corresponding to the encounter between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the basis of a rate of each of the encounter types stored in the encounter type rate managing table12b(seeFIG. 3) (Step S104).

When the encounter type is determined, the control section11updates the clock object managing table12cin accordance with the encountered enemy character NPC and the determined encounter type (Step S105). In the present embodiment, the control section11carries out a process similar to that when to update the encounter type rate managing table12b. Namely, the control section11takes into account various kinds of information set up in the enemy character information of the encountered enemy character in addition to the basal value according to the determined encounter type, determines a predetermined time (angular velocity with respect to the predetermined time), an area setup and the like that constitute the clock object information, and updates the clock object managing table12cin accordance with the determined content. In this regard, with respect to determination of the predetermined time, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to change the predetermined time set up in advance on the basis of a value of a predetermined parameter even for the same enemy character. For example, the predetermined time is changed so that the lower a level of the enemy character is with respect to a level of the player character PC, the shorter the predetermined time is set up to.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the control section11updates the clock object managing table12c, there is not always need to reflect the enemy character information and the control section11updates, when a specific condition is satisfied, the clock object information with the content associated with the satisfied condition in advance. Namely, for example, in a case where the determined encounter type is “alert encounter”, the control section11may set up the area setups so that “safe area=0, normal area=100” regardless of other elements.

When the clock object managing table12cis updated, the control section11refers to the enemy character information storage section12a2to determine a display position of the presence object PO (that is, a presence position of the enemy character NPC on the movement field) in accordance with the encounter type (Step S106). In the present embodiment, the control section11determines, as the display position of the presence object PO, a position that satisfies an appearance condition of the enemy character NPC in a range separated from the player character PC by an appearance distance of the enemy character NPC on the movement field (in a case where a plurality of positions satisfy the appearance condition, the position is selected from the plurality of positions in a random manner).

When the display position of the presence object PO is determined, the control section11causes the display section13to display a battle start status determining screen (or battle-in screen) including the clock object on the display screen (Step S107).

FIG. 11is an explanatory drawing for showing an example of the battle start status determining screen. As shown inFIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the presence object PO is displayed at the position corresponding to the appearance distance of the enemy character NPC with respect to the player character PC. In this regard, so long as the player character PC (that is, the player A) can identify the position of the encountered enemy character NPC, the presence object PO may be configured to use exterior appearance of the enemy character NPC or schematic representation of the exterior appearance of the enemy character NPC, for example. Further, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the player character PC encounters a group of enemy characters constituted by a plurality of enemy characters NPC, one enemy character NPC (for example, the enemy character set up in advance as a representative of the group) is selected from the group of enemy characters and exterior appearance of the selected enemy character NPC is displayed as the presence object PO.

Further, the clock object CO based upon the clock object information is displayed on the battle start status determining screen. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 11, the case where the clock object CO distinguishably displays the normal area NA and the safe area SA and the remaining time information indicating a remaining time from the time when the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC to the time when the predetermined time elapses is visibly represented by means of the clock hand CH will be described as an example.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control section11displays an item that the player character PC possesses on a battle start status determining screen (hereinafter, a weapon W with which the player character equips will be described as an example).

When the battle start status determining screen is displayed, the control section11boots up the clock object (Step S108). Namely, the control section11starts to measure the time, and starts a process to move the clock hand CH in accordance with elapsed time.

When the clock object is activated, the control section11selects one from a plurality of battle start timing setups stored in the battle start timing setup storage section12d(or selects a combination of some battle start timing setups), and carries out battle-in processing in order to update the battle control information by carrying out the selected battle start timing setup (Step S109). In this regard, the battle-in processing will be described later in detail (seeFIG. 13).

When the battle control information is updated by carrying out the battle-in processing, the control section11starts a battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information, and controls progress of the battle. The control section11then terminates the processing herein (Step S110).

FIG. 12is an explanatory drawing for illustrating an example of the game screen showing the battle field (hereinafter, referred to appropriately as a “battle screen”). As shown inFIG. 12, in the present embodiment, an enemy character NPC (in the present embodiment, a plurality of enemy characters NPC1, NPC2) that is a target of a battle, and a status display region110for displaying a status (for example, an HP and the like) of each of the player character PC and the sub character SC are displayed on the battle screen.

In the present embodiment, since a conventional method using an ATB system or the like is adopted for various kinds of processes (battle controlling processing) in a battle scene, detailed explanation thereof is omitted herein. In this regard, a configuration of the battle field to which the player character shifts from the movement field on the basis of battle-in processing (will be described later, seeFIG. 13) is not limited in particular, and the case where the player character PC and another player character PC1operated by a player B different from the player A may be arranged on the battle field, for example.

Next, the battle-in processing (at Step S109inFIG. 9) carried out by the video game processing apparatus100will be described.

FIG. 13is a flowchart showing an example of the battle-in processing carried out by the video game processing apparatus100. Here, selection of a battle start timing setup and processes according to the selection are carried out.

In the battle-in processing, the control section11first determines whether the player character PC comes into contact with an enemy character NPC or not (Step S201). In the present embodiment, the control section11determines whether the player character PC comes into contact with an enemy character NPC on the movement field or not by confirming whether the player character PC comes into contact with the presence object PO or not. In this regard, as a method of determining contact between the player character PC (more specifically, a player character object representing presence of the player character PC on the movement field) and the presence object PO, a conventional determining method (so-called collision detection) using drawing information of the respective objects (the player character PC, the weapon W with which the player character PC equips, and the presence object PO) in the battle start status determining screen (seeFIG. 11) is used. Thus, detailed description herein is omitted.

Here, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC does not come into contact with an enemy character NPC (“No” at Step S201), the control section11determines whether the remaining time indicated by the clock object CO (that is, a period of time obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the time when the clock hand CH makes a cycle around the clock object CO) becomes “0” or not (Step S202).

Here, in a case where it is determined that the remaining time indicated by the clock object CO does not become “0” (“No” at Step S202), the control section11determines whether the position of the player character PC is within the breakaway range of the enemy character NPC (in the present embodiment, a position away from the presence object PO by the breakaway distance of the enemy character NPC or more) or not (Step S203). Then, in a case where it is determined that the position of the player character PC is not within the breakaway range of the enemy character NPC (“No” at Step S203), the control section11causes the processing flow to proceed to the process at Step S201.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the position of the player character PC is within the breakaway range of the enemy character NPC (“Yes” at Step S203), the control section11erases the battle start status determining screen (Step S204), and causes the processing flow to proceed to the process at Step S101in the encounter processing. Namely, the control section11causes the player character PC to avoid a battle against the enemy character NPC, and carries out processing to restart movement on the movement field.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in the process at Step S202that the remaining time indicated by the clock object CO is “0” (“Yes” at Step S202), the control section11refers to the battle start timing setup storage section12d, and selects, from plural kinds of battle start timing setups, a battle start timing setup (in the present embodiment, surprise attack battle in, seeFIG. 8), in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character PC is in a disadvantageous condition (Step S205).

When the battle start timing setup is selected, the control section11updates the battle control information by carrying out the selected battle start timing setup (Step S206), and causes the processing flow to proceed to the process at Step S110in the encounter processing (seeFIG. 9).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in the process at Step S201that the player character PC comes into contact with an enemy character NPC (“Yes” at Step S201), the control section11determines whether the contact is contact using the weapon W or not (Step S207).

Here, in a case where it is determined that the contact of the player character PC with the enemy character NPC is the contact using the weapon W (that is, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC on the movement field by confirming the weapon W comes into contact with the presence object PO) (“Yes” at Step S207), the control section11refers to the battle start timing setup storage section12dto select a battle start timing setup, in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in an advantageous state, from the plural kinds of battle start timing setups (in the present embodiment, preemptive battle in, seeFIG. 8) (Step S208), and causes the processing flow to proceed to the process at Step S206.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the contact of the player character PC with the enemy character NPC is not the contact using the weapon W (in the present embodiment, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC on the movement field by confirming that the player character PC comes into contact with the presence object PO) (“No” at Step S207), the control section11refers to the battle start timing setup storage section12dto select the battle start timing setup, in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that both the player character PC and the enemy character NPC are in a fair state (in the present embodiment, the normal battle in, seeFIG. 8) (Step S209), and causes the processing flow to proceed to the process at Step S206.

In this regard, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100is configured so as to: display the clock object CO in a case where the player character encounters an enemy character NPC; and differentiate the type of setup at the start of the battle in accordance with the remaining time indicated by the clock object CO when the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC and the like. However, the type of setup at the start of the battle may be differentiated on the basis of other events. In this case, it is thought that, in a case where the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC, a mini game (for example, an action game, a puzzle game and the like) is provided and the type of setup at the start of the battle is differentiated in accordance with a game result based upon the content of an operation of the player for the mini game, for example.

As explained above, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100for controlling progress of the video game by causing the display device (for example, the display section13) to display the movement field on which the player character PC moves and the battle field on which the player character PC carries out a battle against an enemy character NPC on the display screen of the display device in accordance with the progress of the video game, is configured so as to: include the battle control information storage section12afor storing battle control information therein, the battle control information containing the player character information on the player character and the enemy character information on the enemy character, the battle control information being used for controlling the battle on the battle field; determine whether the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC on the movement field or not in accordance with a predetermined rule (for example, a probability associated with the position or the like of the player character PC); provide a predetermined event game in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC, any one determination result being determined from plural kinds of determination results on the basis of the content of an operation of a player in the predetermined event game, the plural kinds of determination results being prepared in advance; select a first battle start timing setup from plural kinds of battle start timing setups (for example, the plurality of battle start timing setups stored in the battle start timing setup storage section12d) in a case where it is determined to be a specific determination result in the event game, in the first battle start timing setup (for example, the preemptive battle in), battle start timing being set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character PC is in an advantageous state, the plural kinds of battle start timing setups being prepared in advance as initial setups at the start of a battle; update the battle control information by carrying out the first battle start timing setup thus selected; and control progress of the battle by starting the battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information after the battle control information is updated. Therefore, it is possible to carry out control in which variations in situations at the start of the battle of respective characters can be prepared on the basis of an operation of the player when to shift from the movement field to the battle field.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100for controlling progress of the video game by causing the display device (for example, the display section13) to display the movement field on which the player character PC moves and the battle field on which the player character PC carries out the battle against the enemy character NPC on the display screen of the display device in accordance with progress of the video game is configured so as to: include the battle control information storage section12afor storing battle control information therein, the battle control information containing player character information on the player character and enemy character information on the enemy character, the battle control information being used for controlling the battle on the battle field; determine whether the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC on the movement field or not in accordance with a predetermined rule (for example, a probability associated with the position or the like of the player character PC); cause the display device to display the presence object PO at the presence position of the enemy character NPC in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC, the presence object PO representing presence of the enemy character NPC on the movement field; display the clock object CO on the display screen, the clock object CO visibly representing the remaining time information, the remaining time information indicating a remaining time from the time when the player character PC encountered the enemy character NPC to the time when a predetermined time elapses; determine whether the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC on the movement field or not by confirming whether the player character PC comes into contact with the presence object PO or not; select the first battle start timing setup (for example, the preemptive battle in) from the plural kinds of battle start timing setups (for example, the plurality of battle start timing setups stored in the battle start timing setup storage section12d) in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC before the predetermined time elapses, in the first battle start timing setup, battle start timing being set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in an advantageous state, the plural kinds of battle start timing setups being prepared in advance as initial setups at the start of a battle; update the battle control information by carrying out the selected first battle start timing setup; and control progress of the battle by starting the battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information after the battle control information is updated. Therefore, it becomes possible to carry out control in which variations in situations at the start of a battle of respective characters can be prepared on the basis of an operation of a player when to shift from a movement field to a battle field. Further, it becomes possible to provide, to the player, information by which the player can recognize that a battle is started in a situation in which either the player character or the enemy character is advantageous before shifting to the battle field.

Namely, by configuring the video game processing apparatus100in such a manner that the video game processing apparatus100determines the setup at the start of the battle on the basis of elapse of time and contact determination without immediately shifting to the battle field when the video game processing apparatus100determines that the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC, the player is allowed to be responsible for determination of a battle start timing setup. Therefore, it is possible for the player to readily grasp a status at the start of the battle.

Further, since it is possible to readily grasp a battle status of the player character, it is possible to determine how the player character is caused to take an action. This makes it possible to improve interest in the video game of a player. Namely, since the player is allowed to determine whether the battle can be started in a situation that the player character PC is in an advantageous state on the basis of the display form of the clock object CO, the player can determine whether the battle against the enemy character is to be started or avoided on the basis of information provided by the clock object CO. This makes it possible to increase options after the player character PC encounters an enemy character NPC. Therefore, it is possible to improve interest in the video game of the player.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to select, from the plural kinds of battle start timing setups (for example, the preemptive battle in, the normal battle in, and the surprise attack battle in), a second battle start timing setup (for example, the surprise attack battle in) in which battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in a disadvantageous condition, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC does not come into contact with the enemy character NPC before the predetermined time elapses since the player character PC encountered the enemy character NPC. Therefore, it becomes possible to clearly indicate that the battle is started in a situation that the player character is in a disadvantageous condition if the player character comes into contact with no enemy character before shifting to the battle field. This makes it possible to readily provide information on the situation at the start of the battle to the player.

In this regard, in the embodiment described above, the case where the video game processing apparatus100displays the clock object CO including the plurality of areas (for example, the safe area SA and the normal area NA), by which the player can be caused to recognize the period of time in which the presence object PO stops and the period of time in which the presence object PO moves from the time when the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC to the time when the predetermined time elapses, has been explained as an example. However, the information indicated by the plurality of areas of the clock object CO is not limited to whether the enemy character moves or not. Namely, the areas indicated by the clock object CO may be ones that provide any information to the player.

Therefore, for example, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: display the other clock object (for example, the clock object CO indicating either the safe area SA or the normal area NA) on the display screen, the clock object visibly representing another remaining time information, the another remaining time information representing a first remaining time and a second remaining time, the first remaining time indicating a period of time until a first deadline elapses, the first deadline being a deadline set up before the predetermined time elapses after the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC, the second remaining time indicating a period of time from the time when the first remaining time is expired to the time when the predetermined time elapses; select the battle start timing setup (for example, the preemptive battle in), in which the battle is started in a situation that the player character PC is in an advantageous state, in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC before the first remaining time is expired; and select a third battle start timing setup (for example, the normal battle in) in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC after the first remaining time is expired and before the second remaining time is expired, in the third battle start timing setup, battle start timing being set up so that a battle is started in a situation that both the player character PC and the enemy character NPC are in a fair state. By configuring the video game processing apparatus100in this manner, it becomes possible to prepare variations in setups at the start of a battle. Further, only by increasing the types of remaining time until the predetermined time elapses to three or more, it becomes possible to easily increase variations in the setups at the start of a battle.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: control an action of the player character PC on the movement field in response to an operation by the player A; change the display form of the player character PC into a state that the player character is equipped with a predetermined item (for example, the weapon W with which the player character PC equips) in a case where it is determined that the player character PC encounters the enemy character NPC; determine whether the contact is contact using the predetermined item or not in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC; select the first battle start timing setup (for example, the preemptive battle in) in which the battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character PC is in an advantageous state in a case where a determination result indicates that the contact of the player character PC with the enemy character NPC is the contact using the predetermined item; and select the third battle start timing setup (for example, the normal battle in) in which the battle start timing being set up so that a battle is started in a situation that both the player character PC and the enemy character NPC are in a fair state in a case where the determination result indicates that the contact of the player character PC with the enemy character NPC is not the contact using the predetermined item. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether either the player character PC or the enemy character NPC is in an advantageous state at the start of the battle in accordance with the content of an operation by the player. Further, since the content of an operation of the player is reflected to the setup at the start of the battle, the player can easily grasp a situation at the start of a battle.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: include the clock object managing table12cfor storing the clock object information that is information on the clock object, containing the predetermined time; update the predetermined time on the basis of at least one piece of information among the information on the movement field, the player character information and the enemy character information (for example, update the predetermined time in the clock object information in accordance with the encounter type and the enemy character information determined in accordance with the enemy character information); and display the clock object CO on the display screen on the basis of the clock object information stored in the clock object managing table12c. Therefore, only by changing a parameter related to the content of clock object information such as the enemy character information, it becomes possible to provide an appearance pattern of each of various kinds of enemy characters.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: specify the distance between the player character PC and the presence object PO on the movement field; determine whether or not the specified distance is a predetermined distance (for example, the breakaway distance in the enemy character information) or longer; in a case where it is determined that the distance between the player character PC and the presence object PO is the predetermined distance or longer, erase the presence object from the movement field and terminate display of the clock object CO (for example, erase the battle start status determining screen). Therefore, it becomes possible to provide, to the player, an opportunity to take into consideration an action of the player character against an enemy character after the player character encounters the enemy character and before the battle is started, and this makes it possible to improve interest in the video game of a player.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: determine whether the player character information satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, there is a surprise attack preventing character in the family) or not before the presence object PO is displayed in a case where it is determined that the player character PC comes into contact with the enemy character NPC; carry out the encounter determination between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC in a case where it is determined that the player character information satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, in a case where it is determined that there is a surprise attack preventing character M in the family); and selects the second battle start timing setup (for example, the surprise attack battle in) in which the battle start timing is set up so that a battle is started in a situation that the player character is in a disadvantage state in a case where it is determined that the player character information does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Therefore, it becomes possible to prepare variations in the process carried out at the start of a battle in accordance with a status of the player character before the player character encounters an enemy character.

In this regard, although it has not been mentioned in particular in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: carry out the encounter determination between the player character PC and a group of enemy characters constituted by a plurality of enemy characters; and update the predetermined time on the basis of the number of a plurality of enemy characters (for example, the predetermined time is set to longer in accordance with the number of enemy characters). By configuring the video game processing apparatus100in this manner, the player is allowed to adjust a period of time to determine whether to carry out a battle in accordance with the configuration of the group of enemy characters.

In this regard, although it has not been mentioned in the embodiment described above in particular, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to display a plurality of presence objects and clock objects respectively corresponding to the plurality of presence objects on the display screen at one encounter. In this case, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to receive, via the player operation receiving section15, a request to carry out a process to integrate the plurality of presence objects into one presence object and a process to integrate the plurality of clock objects corresponding to the plurality of presence objects into one clock object. By configuring the video game processing apparatus100in this manner, it becomes possible to cause the player to determine that the battle is easily started in an advantageous situation instead of taking a battle against the enemy character corresponding to the plurality of presence objects. This makes it possible to improve interest in the video game of a player.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: include the clock hand CH, the initial position IP of the clock hand CH and the action end position EP of the clock hand CH; and display the object, which operates in accordance with the remaining time until the predetermined time elapses and operates so that the clock hand CH is positioned at the action end position EP of the clock hand CH when the remaining time is expired, as the clock object CO. Therefore, it is possible to cause the player to grasp information on elapse of time (for example, a remaining time until the battle is started forcibly, and the like) with his or her intuition.

In this regard, although it has not been referred to in the embodiment described above in particular, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to determine a process after the player character PC loses the battle against the enemy character NPC in accordance with the content of the selected battle start timing setup. Namely, for example, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so as to: select at least one or more battle start timing setup (for example, the preemptive battle in) from the plural kinds of battle start timing setups prepared in advance as the initial setups at the start of the battle; store the type of the selected battle start timing setup in a storage region of a predetermined storage device; update the battle control information by carrying out the selected battle start timing setup; after the battle control information is updated, start the battle between the player character PC and the enemy character NPC on the battle field on the basis of the updated battle control information; control progress of the battle; determine whether the battle is terminated or not; determine whether to have a fresh start for the battle or not in a case where it is determined that the battle is terminated; and display (or arrange) the player character PC and the presence object PO corresponding to the enemy character NPC on the movement field after restriction set up in advance in accordance with the type of the stored battle start timing setup is set up in a case where it is determine to have a fresh start for the battle.

Namely, for example, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the battle is started as the normal battle in and a fresh start for the battle is carried out (hereinafter, referred to appropriately as “restart the battle”), the control section11arranges the player character PC and the presence object PO on the movement field; displays the battle start status determining screen for displaying the clock object CO, in which the elapsed time is “0”, and the movement field (seeFIG. 11); and receives an operation (for example, a movement operation of the player character PC) other than usage of a predetermined item (for example, the weapon W) regarding an action of the player character PC. By configuring the video game processing apparatus100in this manner, for example, it becomes possible to easily carry out design of the video game so that a probability of advantage taken at first is ensured but the player character PC cannot return to more advantageous state.

In this regard, restriction at the restart is not limited to restriction regarding an action of the player character. For example, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the battle is to be restarted when the selected battle start timing setup is the “preemptive battle in” before start of a battle, “the clock object is returned and the player character PC can normally come into contact with an enemy character NPC using the predetermined item”. The video game processing apparatus100may also be configured so that, in a case where the battle is to be restarted when the battle start timing setup is the “surprise attack battle in”, “the predetermined time corresponding to the clock object is displayed so as to be shorter”. Further, for example, the video game processing apparatus100may be configured so that, in a case where the selected battle start timing setup is “surprise attack battle in” before start of the battle, the control section11locks the restart (that is, does not permit the restart).

In this regard, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100has been configured so as to carry out various kinds of processing such as the game processing described above on the basis of the game program read out from the game cartridge20. However, the game program may be acquired from a game server via a communication network such as the Internet. Further, the video game processing apparatus100may serve as a game server to provide a game terminal with the game program via a communication network.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the video game processing apparatus100carries out various kinds of processing described above in accordance with a control program (for example, the video game processing program) stored in a storage device (the storage section12) equipped by the video game processing apparatus100.

The present invention is useful to carry out control in which variations in situations at the start of a battle of respective characters can be prepared on the basis of an operation of a player when to shift from a movement field to a battle field.