Game support system, program and information and communication terminal

Abstract

To improve convenience for players. [Solution] The game support system is a game support system that supports the execution of a competitive game that is realized between players and progresses by presenting actual game items, and includes an information communication terminal associated with each player, the information communication terminal having an acquisition means for acquiring information about the actual game items presented for that player, a display control means for controlling the display of information on the display means, and an information communication means, and a connection device having a connection means for realizing a communication connection between multiple information communication terminals associated with players participating in the competitive game, and the display control means causes the display means to display information about the actual game items acquired by the acquisition means of the information communication terminal of the other party, provided that a communication connection has been realized by the connection means.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a game support system, a program, an information communication terminal and a connection device, and more particularly to a technique for supporting game play using real objects between players located in remote locations. [Background technology]

[0002] There are games (plays) that proceed by presenting actual game objects, such as trading card games (TCGs) and board games. In such games, for example, two players sit facing each other, lay out their cards or pieces on a playing board such as a seat or a board, and take turns declaring their actions, and the progress of the game is managed by agreement between the players.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a game device that presents a screen in which effects corresponding to cards placed on a game board are superimposed on an image of the game board in order to enhance the entertainment experience of such games. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-073256 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, games that proceed by presenting real objects as described above, including the game device of Patent Document 1, require at least the players of the game to gather in the same place and be able to grasp the deployment status of each other's real game objects. In other words, such games are subject to constraints such as "the ability to gather participating players" and "the presence of space to deploy the number of real game objects for the number of participants."

[0006] On the other hand, in places where players with the same purpose gather, such as tournaments and events, the above restrictions can be alleviated and players can have many opportunities to play games. However, such places are rarely permanently established, and each player has difficulty playing games unless there are other players he or she knows nearby.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a game support system, a program, an information communication terminal, and a connection device that improve convenience for players. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The game support system of the present invention is a game support system that supports the execution of a competitive game that is realized between players and progresses by presenting actual game items, the competitive game includes a plurality of selectable types of games, and the information communication terminal associated with each player includes a selection means for accepting the selection of one type of game to be executed from the plurality of types of games, an acquisition means for acquiring an image of a game board and objects placed on the game board, which are the actual game items presented for the player, a display control means for controlling the display of information on a display means, and an information communication means, and a connection means for realizing a communication connection between the plurality of information communication terminals associated with the players participating in the competitive game. and a connection device equipped with a connection means for connecting the first and second information communication terminals to each other, the competitive game proceeding including a preparation stage of actual game items for each player provided for the competitive game, and a play stage following the preparation stage in which the competitive game is played using the actual game items prepared in the preparation stage, the display control means of the first information communication terminal which has achieved a communication connection with the second information communication terminal causes a captured image acquired by an acquisition means of the first information communication terminal to be displayed on a display means together with a guide display relating to the placement of actual game items predetermined for one type of game, during the preparation stage, and causes a captured image acquired by an acquisition means of the second information communication terminal to be displayed on a display means in place of the captured image displayed during the preparation stage. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience for players. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game system according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a smartphone 100 according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention. [Diagram 3] A block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a game server 200 according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display of a preparation stage in a support application according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention; [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of a play stage in the assistance application according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a competitive game process executed on the smartphone 100 according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display of a preparation stage in a support application according to a first modified example of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display in a spectator mode in a support application according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention; [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of various information used in the game system according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0012] In the embodiment described below, an example in which the present invention is applied to a game system including a smartphone configured to acquire information on real game items as an example of an information communication terminal, and a game server configured to realize a communication connection between a plurality of smartphones as an example of a connection device and to realize a competitive game in which players present the real game items to progress. However, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of realizing a competitive game in which players at remote locations present the real game items to progress.

[0013] In addition, in this specification, "real game items" refer to items that have a physical volume in the real world and are used to make a game happen, and are clearly distinguished from immaterial virtual items in the form of data or information that are formed on a memory or screen as a concept that can be operated as electronic information when an electronic game is executed, for example. Furthermore, "execution of a competitive game" that proceeds by presenting the real game items refers to actually playing or progressing a game related to a competitive game (for example, in the case of a trading card game, a series of games that start when preparations are complete and players agree to start, the order of actions is determined, etc., and end when the conditions for ending the game are met), and is described as not including various settings, preparations, situations in which matching is being waited for, etc.

[0014] Game System Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a game system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the game system is configured so that a plurality of smartphones 100 and a game server 200 can be communicatively connected via a network 300. Here, the game server 200 plays a role in providing a service related to this game system that supports the execution of a competitive game between remote players, and realizes a communication connection between the smartphones 100 used by the players participating in the competitive game. Each player using the service is configured to be able to play the competitive game by executing a dedicated application program (hereinafter, a support application) on the smartphone 100 used and accessing the game server 200.

[0015] A competitive game that can be played in the game system of this embodiment is a type of game in which players deploy real game items in their respective play environments and present the deployment status to other players participating in the game. That is, each player participating in the competitive game can present information about the real game items deployed in his / her own play environment to the other players, while also being able to grasp information about the real game items deployed in the play environments of the other players by displaying it on the screen of the smartphone 100.

[0016] In addition, when a new presentation is made due to the action of any player, the action is resolved according to the game rules determined in advance between the players, and the player who has deployed the real game item corresponding to the resolved result proceeds by manipulating or deploying the real game item as necessary. Here, the presentation due to the action may include a player's declaration due to an already deployed real game item, which does not cause a change in the deployment state of the real game item.

[0017] In this embodiment, the competitive game is described as a trading card game (TCG) played between two players, each of whom uses a field sheet 400 as a play board according to the present invention and a set of game cards 500 (a prescribed number of game cards 500) placed on the field sheet 400, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the competitive game that can be played in the game system may be a game that is established by each player presenting the actual game items that they possess, and the number of players is not limited to two. That is, the actual game items that each player deploys in the play environment in the competitive game are not limited to the field sheet 400 and the game cards 500. For example, a play board such as the field sheet 400 may not be necessary, and the game cards 500, which are placed on the play table, may further include figures or other objects, or may be replaced by these. Note that in a game that progresses by the presentation of the development situation, it is preferable that the actual items used as the placed items are configured such that the effects in the competitive game are displayed on the outside like the game cards 500, so that they can be grasped.

[0018] However, due to the nature of the game, TCG allows two players to play the game without using a device such as the smartphone 100, as long as they are facing each other. For example, the field sheet 400 lists information on the placement positions of various game cards 500, and each game card 500 lists information on the necessary conditions and solutions for actions that can be taken. Since information on the operations that players should perform to progress in the game is clearly attached to each game item, both players can progress in the game while checking the game items presented on the field. In other words, TCG has the characteristic that two players can play the game between themselves if they bring game items of the same game title (game content) and there is a play environment (space) in which the players can mutually understand the contents of the presented game items.

[0019] In this game system, an environment is provided in which remote players can present the deployment status of the game real items to each other, so that the competitive game can proceed with the information attached to the game real items, regardless of the game title of the TCG. Therefore, in consideration of such characteristics of the TCG, in the game system of this embodiment, the support application is configured so that the game title of the competitive game (TCG) that realizes the online competition can be selected from a plurality of game titles. More specifically, each player selects a game title with which he / she wants to compete in the support application, and is matched with other players who also want to compete in the game title, and the competitive game can be played using the field sheet 400 and the set of game cards 500 of the game title and the smartphone 100 that runs the support application.

[0020] In this embodiment, a description is given assuming that a plurality of game titles of competitive games (TCG) in which game play can be performed are provided in the service related to the game system, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The support application and the game system may be provided exclusively for one game title.

[0021] In the game system of this embodiment, a matching start request is sent to the game server 200 when the player selects the game title to be played and performs an operation input related to starting matching on the smartphone 100. For example, when the game server 200 receives the matching start request, the game server 200 configures a room in the game server 200 or selects a room that has already been configured, and grants access authority to the room to the smartphone 100 that has similarly transmitted a matching start request for the same game title, together with the opponent's terminal. Then, a process of accessing the room to which the access authority has been granted is performed by the support application of the target smartphone 100.

[0022] As a result, two smartphones 100 that have sent matching start requests for the same game title are able to transmit and receive information via one room, and a communication connection is established between the smartphones 100. In other words, a competitive game of the selected game title can be played between two players using the smartphones 100 that have accessed one room.

[0023] In the game system of the present embodiment, in order to support the execution of a competitive game between players located remotely, a communication connection between two smartphones 100 is realized via a network 300 and a game server 200, and therefore, the description will be given assuming that the communication method between the smartphones 100 does not include short-range wireless communication. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and the communication connection method between the smartphones 100 may include short-range wireless communication. In addition, for example, one of the smartphones 100 may act as a host to play the role of the game server 200 and realize a communication connection between the smartphones 100 similar to that of the game system.

[0024] <Functional configuration of smartphone 100> Next, the functional configuration of the smartphone 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

[0025] The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the smartphone 100. Specifically, the control unit 101 reads out, for example, an operation program for each block and a program related to an assistance application recorded in a recording medium 102, and loads and executes the program in a memory 103 to control the operation of each block.

[0026] The recording medium 102 is a recording device capable of permanently retaining data, such as a non-volatile memory or a HDD. The recording medium 102 stores information such as parameters required for the operation of each block of the smartphone 100, various data used for the assistance application, and the like, in addition to the operation programs of each block. The memory 103 is a storage device used for temporary data storage, such as a volatile memory. The memory 103 is used not only as an area for developing the operation programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output in the operation of each block.

[0027] The imaging unit 104 is an imaging device unit having an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, and in this embodiment, is used to obtain information on the real game items deployed for one player, i.e., a set of the field sheet 400 and the game card 500. Although details will be described later, the imaging unit 104 operates to capture images intermittently at a predetermined timing during execution of the assistance application, and sequentially outputs the captured images obtained. That is, in the game system of this embodiment, the information on the real game items acquired during the competitive game is composed of contents corresponding to the state deployed in the play environment of each player, and is sequentially acquired in a manner reflecting changes according to the progress of the game, such as whether the real game items are ones whose identity is known or ones whose existence is unknown but whose existence can be grasped, depending on the state of the front and back of the game card 500.

[0028] The display control unit 105 controls the presentation of various information to the user in the smartphone 100. In the smartphone 100 of this embodiment, the display unit 110 that displays a screen (game screen, other OS menu screen, etc.) is described as a means for presenting various information to the user, but the means for presenting information are not limited to these, and it goes without saying that alternatives or additions are possible. The display unit 110 is a display device provided in the smartphone 100, such as an LCD, and the display content is controlled by the display control unit 105. In this embodiment, the display unit 110 is described as a display device built into the smartphone 100, but it goes without saying that the display unit 110 may be a display device that is detachably connected to the outside of the smartphone 100.

[0029] The operation input unit 106 is a user interface, such as a touch panel or buttons, included in the smartphone 100. When the operation input unit 106 detects an operation input made by a user, the operation input unit 106 outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the control unit 101.

[0030] The communication unit 107 is a communication interface that the smartphone 100 has for communicating with other devices. The communication unit 107 connects to an external device via the network 300 using a predetermined communication method, whether wired or wireless, and transmits and receives data. The program of the assistance application may be configured to be receivable from the external device via the communication unit 107.

[0031] Functional Configuration of Game Server 200 Next, the functional configuration of the game server 200 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 3. In the description of the functional configuration of the game server 200, a configuration that realizes the same functions as the configuration of the smartphone 100 will be indicated with the prefix "server" to clearly distinguish it from the configuration of the smartphone 100.

[0032] The server control unit 201 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the game server 200. Specifically, the server control unit 201 reads out the operation program of each block recorded in, for example, a server recording medium 202, and loads and executes the program in the server memory 203 to control the operation of each block.

[0033] The server recording medium 202 is a recording device capable of permanently retaining data, such as a non-volatile memory or HDD. The server recording medium 202 stores information such as parameters required for the operation of each block, in addition to the operation programs of each block held by the game server 200. The server memory 203 is a storage device such as a volatile memory used for temporary data storage. The server memory 203 is used not only as an area for expanding the operation programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output in the operation of each block.

[0034] The matching DB 204 is a database for managing information (room information) related to a room configured in response to a matching start request. For example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the room information may be configured to include a room ID 901 that uniquely identifies a room, a game ID 902 that indicates a game title (type) to be executed using the room, and terminal information 903 that indicates a terminal ID that uniquely identifies a smartphone 100 that has been granted access to the room, in association with the room ID 901. In the game system of the present embodiment, a terminal ID that uniquely identifies the smartphone 100 is assigned to the smartphone 100 that executes the assistance application and accesses the game server 200, and the terminal ID assigned to one smartphone 100 is held at least while the access is continued.

[0035] The server communication unit 205 is a communication interface that the game server 200 has for communicating with other devices. The server communication unit 205 connects to an external device via the network 300 using a predetermined communication method, whether wired or wireless, and transmits and receives data.

[0036] Service Overview Hereinafter, an outline of a service for supporting the execution of an online competitive game (TCG) provided using the game system of this embodiment will be described. The competitive game executed through this service is not particularly limited in type, as long as it uses actual game items such as a field sheet 400 and game cards 500 that are generally available, and the participating players confirm each other's deployment of these actual game items while proceeding. Note that, although explanation is omitted in this specification because it is not related to the features of the present invention, it is assumed that the smartphone 100 associated with each player is configured to acquire the voice of the player during the provision of the service and present it to the opponent player.

[0037] The provision of a service according to this game system will be described as being started on the condition that an operation related to the start of matching is performed in the support application executed on the smartphone 100. More specifically, the provision of a service will be described as being started when a matching start request transmitted in response to the operation is received by the game server 200, information (connection destination information) for accessing the corresponding room is issued and returned to the smartphone 100, and the room is accessed via the support application. Note that, for the sake of simplicity, in this embodiment, the provision of a service will be described as being started upon access to the room, but it goes without saying that the provision of a service may be started on the condition that the room is accessed from the smartphones 100 of all participating players in a competitive game, for example.

[0038] The progress of a competitive game in which online competition is realized using the game system of this embodiment is managed by an assistance application executed on each smartphone 100, including at least the following two stages. The first stage is a preparation stage as the first stage according to the present invention, in which each player lays out the field sheet 400 and the game cards 500 in an arrangement according to the selected game title in his / her own play environment (an environment in which the player lays out the field sheet 400 and the game cards 500 while operating the smartphone 100). The second stage is a play stage as the second stage according to the present invention following the preparation stage, in which the actual play of the competitive game of the selected game title is performed using the field sheet 400 and the game cards 500 laid out in the preparation stage.

[0039] In this embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation and reduce the processing load on the smartphone 100, the progress of the competitive game will be explained as being managed by only two types of stages, the preparation stage and the play stage. That is, the progress of the competitive game will be explained as being managed (referenced in control) by whether it is a preparation stage that does not include the progress of the game or a play stage that includes the progress of the game. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the progress of the competitive game may be managed by including stages other than the preparation stage and the play stage.

[0040] In this game system, in the play stage (during the execution of the match game), in order to inform each player of the deployment status of the game real items of the opponent player, information on the deployment status is presented to each player by the support application. In this embodiment, the information on the deployment status of the game real items is acquired as a captured image and presented using the display unit 110 of each smartphone 100. More specifically, in the play stage, the display control unit 105 of the smartphone 100 related to each participating player is controlled to display the captured image captured by the imaging unit 104 of the smartphone 100 related to the opponent player on the display unit 110, and different displays (display of the captured image showing the deployment status of the opponent player) are performed. That is, each player can check the operation contents performed by the opponent player, check whether the effect of the operation performed by the player is reflected or not, and make a strategy plan, etc., by referring to the captured image (image showing the deployment status of the game real items of the opponent player) displayed on the display unit 110 during the execution of the match game.

[0041] Therefore, in order to make the competitive game fair, the smartphone 100 of each participating player must be set to a state in which the deployment status of the game real item of the player is suitably captured. That is, in order for each player to take a captured image that suitably captures the deployment status of the game real item in his / her own playing environment, it is necessary for the game to proceed suitably thereafter. In other words, in each player's playing environment, the positional relationship between the smartphone 100, the field sheet 400, and the set of game cards 500 must be adjusted to a state in which suitable imaging can be performed.

[0042] In the assistance application of this embodiment, in a preparation stage preceding a play stage, a mechanism is provided for encouraging each player to set the smartphone 100 and the placement of the actual game items in a suitable state in the play environment of each player so that a captured image showing the placement of the actual game items in a suitable state can be obtained. More specifically, in the assistance application, when the preparation stage is reached, a screen is displayed in which a guide display showing the recommended placement position of the actual game items as shown in FIG. 4 is superimposed on the captured image captured by the imaging unit 104 (of the smartphone 100 on which the assistance application is executed).

[0043] In the example of FIG. 4, the guide display indicates, by a frame line 401 included in the guide display, at what position in the captured image and at what size (the size that the image should occupy, or the occupancy rate in the image) the field sheet 400 placed in the play environment should preferably appear. By checking the captured image displayed on the display unit 110 with such a guide display superimposed, the player can adjust the position and attitude of the smartphone 100 or the arrangement of the field sheet 400 so that a captured image capable of presenting the deployment status of the player's actual game item in a preferred manner is obtained. Note that the adjustment of the fixation of the smartphone 100 and the arrangement of the field sheet 400 may be performed using any member such as an arm or table adopted by each player, and may be performed using any member.

[0044] In this embodiment, information such as the placement position of the game card 500 is described on the field sheet 400, and the guide display is described as indicating the recommended placement position and recommended image capture size of the field sheet 400, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The guide display may indicate the recommended placement position and recommended image capture size of at least one of the actual game items used in the competitive game, that is, at least one of the field sheet 400 and the game card 500 (placement position of the deck, etc.).

[0045] In this embodiment, the guide display is described as showing the size (approximate size) and arrangement position of the image of the corresponding actual game item in the captured image by a frame line or the like superimposed on the captured image, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The guide display may be, for example, a different display that shows how the item should be arranged in the captured image without being superimposed on the captured image.

[0046] Since the initial arrangement of the actual game items and the size of the field sheet 400 to be used vary for each game title, the support application switches the guide display to be displayed depending on the game title selected for the competitive game. More specifically, the data related to the support application and recorded on the recording medium 102 includes information on the guide display for each game title supported by the game system, and when the preparation stage is reached, the corresponding guide display is used for the screen configuration.

[0047] However, not all players have a member such as an arm capable of holding the smartphone 100 in a suitable manner, and it may be difficult to make the real game items appear in the image acquired by the imaging unit 104 in the arrangement shown in the guide display. Therefore, in the support application of this embodiment, a guide display showing a suitable deployment mode of the real game items is displayed in the preparation stage, but control is not performed to make game play impossible because the deployment mode does not match the guide display. In other words, the image displayed in the preparation stage merely shows an index of the image capture setting for realizing a suitable game play. In this way, the support application does not need to perform an analysis process of the image capture image to grasp the deployment status of the real game items, and the required performance of the smartphone 100 is not excessively restricted, and the time required to execute the competitive game can be shortened. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which an analysis process of the image capture image is performed and an analysis result of whether or not the deployment status of the real game items in the image capture image is a mode that matches the guide display is notified.

[0048] In this embodiment, the preparation stage for the progress of the competitive game is completed on the condition that an operation input related to the completion of preparation is received in the support application executed on the smartphones 100 of both players. That is, when each player determines the imaging mode of the captured image to be presented to the other player during the play of the competitive game in the preparation stage, for example, by performing an operation input to the preparation completion button 402 shown in FIG. 4, the support application related to the player can recognize that the transition from the preparation stage to the play stage has been reached (preparation completion state). At this time, in order to improve the playing experience of the competitive game executed in the play stage, a request may be made to maintain the arrangement relationship between the smartphone 100 and the actual game items set in the preparation stage until the end of the game play. Then, information that the preparation completion state has been reached in each smartphone 100 is transmitted to the game server 200 and shared between the smartphones 100 related to the participating players via the corresponding room.

[0049] When the smartphones 100 of all the players of the competitive game are in the preparation complete state, the support application executed on each smartphone 100 transitions to the play phase, and the support application is controlled to display the captured image captured by the imaging unit 104 of the smartphone 100 of the opponent player instead of the captured image captured by the imaging unit 104 of the player's own device that was displayed in the preparation phase. That is, in the game system of this embodiment, the image showing the deployment status of the game real item of the opponent player is displayed on the condition that the opponent player is determined, communication connection with the smartphone 100 of the opponent player via the room is realized, and the transition from the preparation phase to the play phase is made. Moreover, the display in the play phase does not include the captured image captured by the player's own device, but only the captured image captured by the smartphone 100 of the opponent player. This is because the information on the real game items deployed for each player can be confirmed by that player in the real world (play environment) without going through the display unit 110, and during the play phase, only the information on the real game items deployed for the opposing player needs to be displayed on the display unit 110, and in order to ensure high visibility of the information on the real game items deployed for the opposing player, it is preferable to make the display area of ​​the image captured by the smartphone 100 for the opposing player as large as possible.

[0050] Therefore, for example, after the preparation stage is completed, the captured image captured by each smartphone 100 is sent to the game server 200 via the communication unit 107 and transmitted to the smartphone 100 of the other player who is accessing the room. The server memory 203 of the game server 200 may include a buffer for temporarily storing captured images received from the smartphone 100 currently accessing each room whose room information is managed in the matching DB 204, and the buffered captured images may be transmitted to the corresponding smartphone 100 in chronological order. That is, the server control unit 201 controls image transmission so that an image captured by one smartphone 100 is transmitted to the other smartphone 100 on the condition that both of the two smartphones 100 accessing the room have reached a preparation complete state.

[0051] In this embodiment, the preparation stage is shifted to the play stage, and a screen is switched to show the deployment status of the opponent's real game items, on the condition that the smartphones 100 related to all players of the match game are in the preparation complete state, that is, on the condition that the operation input related to the preparation completion is performed on the two smartphones 100, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the play stage may be shifted to without waiting for the opponent player to complete the preparation. In this case, the screen is switched to show the deployment status of the opponent player's real game items after switching to the play stage, and may be configured to be configured so that the preparation status of the opponent player can be confirmed, or the screen may be switched to a screen including a substitute image indicating that the preparation is waiting, instead of a captured image, until the preparation is complete on the smartphone 100 related to the opponent player.

[0052] As described above, in a game such as a TCG, each player is assigned an action order, and the game proceeds while alternately assigning turns. Usually, in a TCG, the action order of the players is determined by rock-paper-scissors, dice, coin toss, or the like. However, in a situation where the participating players are not face-to-face, such a method of determining the action order is not preferable from the viewpoint of fairness, as in the game system of this embodiment. For example, since communication delays may occur, fairness may not be guaranteed in rock-paper-scissors, which requires simultaneity. In addition, if one player is given the authority to roll the dice or toss the coin, the possibility of an artificial element occurring cannot be completely eliminated.

[0053] For this reason, in the system of the present embodiment, for one competitive game, a lottery process is executed in one of the smartphones 100 related to the players participating in the competitive game, and the lottery result is shared between the smartphones 100 involved in the competitive game. That is, of the two smartphones 100 involved in the competitive game, for example, the smartphone 100 that is given access authority to the room first executes a lottery process related to the assistance application, and information on the action order determined as a lottery result is sent to the game server 200 and shared with the other smartphone 100 via the room. Regarding the lottery process, after a lottery performance such as a coin toss is displayed on the display unit 110 of both smartphones 100, information on the lottery result (action order) corresponding to each smartphone 100, such as "It's your turn to act" or "It's your opponent's turn to act", may be displayed to notify the user.

[0054] In this embodiment, the lottery process is described as being executed by any one of the smartphones 100 involved in the competitive game, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The lottery process may be executed by the game server 200 on the condition that, for example, two smartphones 100 have reached a ready state.

[0055] In addition, in the game system of this embodiment, in order to realize easy communication between players, a function is provided for transmitting and displaying predetermined types of images (hereinafter referred to as stamps) and messages between these terminals while a competitive game is in progress (or while the access state of a plurality of smartphones 100 to a room is maintained). There may be multiple types of stamps that can be transmitted, for example, stamps that are common to the entire game system and that can be used by the support application, or stamps that are provided for each selected game title or room.

[0056] The stamp is transmitted when a desired stamp is selected from a stamp list 503 as shown in FIG. 5(b), which is displayed in response to an operation input on a communication tool icon 502 on a screen 501 (including a captured image showing the deployment status of the game object of the other player) displayed during the play stage as shown in FIG. 5(a). Specifically, the control unit 101 executing the assistance application transmits conversation information including a stamp ID that uniquely identifies the selected stamp together with a message transmission request to the game server 200 via the communication unit 107, whereby the conversation information is transferred to the smartphone 100 of another player who is accessing the room, and the stamp is displayed. At this time, the stamp selected as the target of transmission may be displayed on the screen of the smartphone 100 as the transmission source, as shown by a stamp image 504 in FIG. 5(b).

[0057] In addition, when conversation information sent from the smartphone 100 related to the opposing player is received, the display control unit 105 constructs a screen in the support application by superimposing a stamp image corresponding to the conversation information on the captured image related to the opposing player, and displays it on the display unit 110.

[0058] In addition, the assistance application may have a function of accepting text input in response to an operational input to a message icon 505 among the tools displayed through an operational input to a communication tool icon 502, for example, and composing conversation information including the input text in the same manner as a stamp, and sending the information to the game server 200 together with a message transmission request.

[0059] Such a communication function may be configured to be capable of receiving input of at least one of an image and text to be displayed on the smartphone 100 of the other player. The communication function may also include means other than images and text.

[0060] As in the preparation stage, in order to reduce the computational load on the smartphone 100 and the game server 200, the game system of this embodiment will be described as not determining the operation inputs made by each player or managing the progress of the game based on the analysis of captured images or voice recognition in the play stage. That is, the game system of this embodiment is merely a support for the execution of a competitive game through the network 300 in which actual game items are presented, and performs room allocation for matching and display control in the preparation stage and play stage, and the progress of the competitive game is carried out under the agreement between the players.

[0061] "Match Game Processing" In the smartphone 100 of the present embodiment having such a configuration, a fighting game process performed using a support application will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 6. The process corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the control unit 101 reading out a corresponding processing program stored in the recording medium 102, for example, and expanding the program in the memory 103 for execution.

[0062] The competitive game process is described as being started, for example, when an assistance application is launched on the smartphone 100 and an operation input related to starting matching for any game title is detected. In the following description, the smartphone 100 executing the competitive game process is referred to as the "own device", and the environment in which the smartphone 100 is used (the play environment in which actual game items are deployed, etc.) is referred to as the "own environment". In contrast, the smartphone 100 that is connected to the own device by matching is referred to as the "opponent device", and the environment in which the opponent device is used (the play environment in which the opponent player deploys actual game items, etc.) is referred to as the "opponent environment".

[0063] In S601, the control unit 101 forms information related to matching for the competitive game of the selected game title, transmits it to the communication unit 107, and causes it to be transmitted to the game server 200 together with a matching start request.

[0064] In S602, the control unit 101 judges whether or not connection destination information corresponding to the matching start request transmitted in S601 has been received. If the control unit 101 judges that the connection destination information has been received, the process proceeds to S603, and if the control unit 101 judges that the connection destination information has not been received, the process of this step is repeated.

[0065] In S603, the control unit 101 performs a process of accessing a room configured in the game server 200 and to which access authority has been granted, based on the received connection destination information. When the control unit 101 determines that the room has been accessed, it sets the progress stage of the competitive game of the own device to the preparation stage, and moves the process to S604.

[0066] In S604, under the control of the control unit 101, the display control unit 105 configures a screen related to assistance in adjusting the positional relationship between the smartphone 100 and the actual game object in its own environment, and displays the screen on the display unit 110. More specifically, the control unit 101 controls the imaging unit 104 to start capturing images, and to output the captured images at a predetermined time interval. The display control unit 105 reads out the captured images stored in the memory 103 at the timing of composing the screen to be displayed, and composes a screen by superimposing a guide display and a necessary GUI related to the selected game title on the captured images, and displays the screen on the display unit 110. The captured images captured by the imaging unit 104 are also transmitted to the game server 200 via the communication unit 107.

[0067] In S605, the control unit 101 judges whether or not an operation input related to completion of preparation has been made. If the control unit 101 judges that an operation input related to completion of preparation has been made, the control unit 101 manages the game device as being in a preparation complete state, sends information indicating that the preparation complete state has been reached to the game server 200, and moves the process to S606. If the control unit 101 judges that an operation input related to completion of preparation has not been made, the process returns to S604.

[0068] In S606, the control unit 101 judges whether the opponent's machine has also reached the ready state. The judgment in this step may be made based on information received via the room. If the control unit 101 judges that the opponent's machine has also reached the ready state, it sets the progress stage of the battle game of the own machine to the play stage, and moves the process to S607. If the control unit 101 judges that the opponent's machine has not reached the ready state, it repeats the process in this step.

[0069] In S607, the control unit 101 judges whether or not the own device is a target for executing a lottery process related to determining the order of actions in the competitive game. The judgment in this step may be made based on information on the order of providing access rights to the room, provided by the game server 200, for example (the smartphone 100 to which access rights are granted first is the target for execution). If the control unit 101 judges that the own device is a target for executing the lottery process, it shifts the process to S608, and if it judges that the own device is not a target for execution, it shifts the process to S609.

[0070] In S608, the control unit 101 executes a lottery process for determining the order of actions. When the control unit 101 obtains the lottery result, it stores the lottery result information in the memory 103 and moves the process to S609. The lottery result information is also shared with the opponent's machine by being transmitted to the game server 200.

[0071] In S609, under the control of the control unit 101, the display control unit 105 notifies the player's machine's turn or notifies the player whose turn is first, via the display unit 110, based on the information on the lottery result.

[0072] In S610, under the control of the control unit 101, the display control unit 105 configures a screen showing the deployment status of the game actual items in the opponent's environment, and displays it on the display unit 110. More specifically, the control unit 101 starts receiving captured images captured in the opponent's machine from the game server 200, and controls so as to store the received captured images related to the opponent's machine in the memory 103. The display control unit 105 reads out the latest captured image related to the opponent's machine stored in the memory 103 at the timing of configuring the screen to be displayed, configures a screen by superimposing a necessary GUI on the captured image, and displays it on the display unit 110.

[0073] In S611, the control unit 101 judges whether or not an operation input related to the end of the competitive game has been made. The operation input related to the end of the competitive game may be configured to be acceptable via a predetermined GUI provided on a screen displayed during the play stage, for example. If the control unit 101 judges that an operation input related to the end of the competitive game has been made, it performs processing related to the end of access to the game server 200, and completes this competitive game processing. If the control unit 101 judges that an operation input related to the end of the competitive game has not been made, it returns the processing to S610.

[0074] As described above, according to the game system of this embodiment, when a competitive game is played online in which actual game items are presented, functions for matching, establishing a communication connection, preparation before the start of the competitive game, and displaying information during the game are appropriately provided, thereby improving convenience for players.

[0075] [Variation 1] In the above-described embodiment, a display screen is constructed by receiving a captured image captured by the smartphone 100 of the opponent player during the play stage of a competitive game and superimposing a GUI on the captured image. On the other hand, in such an embodiment, the quality of the screen displaying the deployment status of the real game item of the opponent player during the play stage varies depending on the arrangement relationship between the smartphone 100 and the real game item in the play environment of the opponent player. That is, the imaging angle of the smartphone 100 of the opponent player is influenced by the members and the like used to fix the smartphone 100 in the play environment of the opponent player. Therefore, the obtained captured image may not show the deployment status of the real game item in a state suitable for the competitive game, as shown in FIG. 7(a), for example.

[0076] For this reason, for example, when the display control unit 105 of each smartphone 100 composes a screen related to the play stage, it may recognize the outer shape of the image of the relevant real game item (at least one of the field sheet 400 and the game card 500) appearing in the captured image acquired relating to the opposing player in the frame 701 of Figure 7(b), and perform extraction and transformation processing so that the outer shape of the image of the real game item becomes a predetermined shape (a rectangle having an aspect ratio corresponding to the actual shape of the real game item), thereby generating an image in a suitable state such as that shown in Figure 7(c) for screen composition.

[0077] In this way, regardless of the imaging state of the opponent player's playing environment, a screen that looks as if the opponent player's board is viewed from directly above can be presented during the game stage. In other words, each player can easily grasp the deployment status of the actual game items of the opponent player, and can play the game more comfortably.

[0078] In the above description, such transformation processing is performed by the smartphone 100 that receives the captured image. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that such transformation processing may be performed by the transmitting smartphone 100 or the game server 200.

[0079] [Embodiment 2] In the above-described embodiment and modified example, a method has been described in which a request to start matching is made to the game server 200, and the smartphones 100 associated with other players who wish to be matched under the same conditions are identified in the game server 200, and are guided to a room. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a so-called "free matching (matching in which the decision of the opponent is left to the game server 200)" method, but can also be applied to a so-called "custom matching" method in which a battle game can be played with a specific person as the opponent player.

[0080] In this embodiment, the assistance application is configured to be able to accept, for example, for each game title, not only an operation input related to starting matching for the free matching method, but also an operation input related to room configuration for the custom matching method. Then, when an operation input related to room configuration for the custom matching method is accepted, the control unit 101 transmits a room configuration request to the game server 200 via the communication unit 107. The server control unit 201 receives the room configuration request, configures a new room, and manages the room information in the matching DB 204. At this time, the smartphone 100 that made the room configuration request is granted access authority to the new room, and connection destination information for accessing the room is provided (issued) in a form that can be shared with other devices, such as a URL.

[0081] At this time, the room information stored in the matching DB 204 may differ from that in the first embodiment and may further include an access code 911 associated with the issued connection destination information, as shown in Fig. 9(b), for example. The access code may be attached to the connection destination information, and when an access request based on the connection destination information is made, the access code may be transmitted together with the request and used for authentication to which room in the game server 200. Also, the presence or absence of the access code may be used to identify whether the room is for free matching or for custom matching.

[0082] Then, the player who has obtained the connection destination information can proceed to playing a competitive game with any person who wishes to play against the player by transferring the connection destination information to the smartphone 100 related to the player. More specifically, the player can share the connection destination information returned from the game server 200 in response to the room configuration request by sending it to another person via, for example, a function of a support application, email, a predetermined messenger application, a social networking service, or the like. Then, the smartphone 100 that has obtained the shared information can use the connection destination information (access the link destination indicated by the URL) to start up the support application and access the corresponding room.

[0083] In this manner, the room is accessed from a plurality of smartphones 100 as in the first embodiment and the first modification, and a communication connection is established via the room, enabling the playing of a competitive game. That is, a communication connection is established for a prescribed number of smartphones 100 that have accessed the room based on connection destination information including the same access code, enabling the playing of a competitive game.

[0084] [Embodiment 3] In the above-mentioned second embodiment, a mode has been described in which a communication connection is realized via a room between the smartphones 100 related to players participating in a competitive game by using connection destination information, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. A competitive game executed between players via a room may be configured to be spectated by a third party (spectator). In other words, the room based on the connection destination information is configured to be accessible not only from the smartphone 100 related to the player executing the competitive game, but also from the smartphone 100 related to the spectator watching the competitive game.

[0085] In this embodiment, the assistance application includes, as operation modes, a play mode for players and a spectator mode for spectators in a competitive game, and the configuration of the screen displayed on the display unit 110 differs depending on which mode the assistance application is operating in. Here, as in the above-described embodiment and modified example, the screen displayed in the play mode presents captured images captured by the imaging unit 104 of the player's device in the preparation stage, and presents captured images captured by the imaging unit 104 of the opponent's device in the play stage. In addition, the screen displayed in the spectator mode presents all captured images captured by the smartphones 100 of each player, i.e., a screen including captured images for the number of players, in both stages, so that the deployment status of the game real items deployed by all players participating in the competitive game can be grasped at the same time.

[0086] For example, when a two-player TCG is played using the game system of this embodiment, the screen displayed on the display unit 110 of the spectator's smartphone 100 is configured with captured images captured on the smartphones 100 used by different players arranged horizontally across the screen, as shown in Figure 8.

[0087] Therefore, for a room in which a competitive game is played, the server control unit 201 controls a smartphone 100 executing a support application operating in play mode to transmit captured images received from smartphones 100 related to players other than the smartphone 100 during the play phase, while controlling a smartphone 100 executing a support application operating in spectator mode to transmit captured images received from smartphones 100 related to all players.

[0088] 8, in the mode in which the assistance application outputs a landscape display screen, the captured images of each player are arranged horizontally, but the present invention is not limited to this. The captured images of all players may be arranged in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions depending on the aspect ratio of the output screen and the number of players participating in the competitive game.

[0089] In addition, in this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the captured images of all players are arranged and displayed on the screen in the spectating mode regardless of the progress of the competitive game, that is, in both the preparation stage and the play stage, but the screen display related to the spectating including the captured images may be limited to the play stage. In this case, in the preparation stage, a screen including a display indicating that preparation is in progress may be presented to the spectator.

[0090] In addition, which operation mode the support application operates in may be determined based on the first-come, first-served access to the room based on the connection destination information. Since a competitive game cannot be executed unless a specified number of players are present, information is provided from the game server 200 so that the support application of the smartphone 100 with the earliest access order based on the connection destination information is operated in the play mode, and the support application of the smartphone 100 that has accessed after the required number is operated in the spectator mode. More specifically, the server control unit 201 may be configured to assign a role (a battle terminal used by a player or a spectator terminal used by a spectator) to each smartphone 100 in the first-come, first-served order of access to each configured room, update the room information, and transmit the role information to each smartphone 100, thereby changing the operation mode of the support application executed on the smartphone 100.

[0091] [Variation 2] In the above-mentioned third embodiment, the operation mode of the assistance application is switched in the order of access to the room, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be configured to allow transfer of player authority between the smartphones 100 accessing the room. Alternatively, the present invention may be configured to give host authority to the user of the smartphone 100 that has made a room configuration request related to the issuance of connection destination information, and allow the user to set player authority to any smartphone 100.

[0092] [Variation 3] The above-mentioned third embodiment and second modification have described an aspect in which some of the smartphones 100 that have accessed based on the connection destination information can operate in the spectator mode, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the spectatorship of a competitive game executed via the game system according to the present invention does not need to require the issuance of connection destination information or access based on the connection destination information.

[0093] For example, the support application may have a function of accepting the start of matching for a competitive game, as well as the start of watching (matching to a room where watching is available). In this case, when the support application detects that an operation input related to the selection of a game title desired to be watched and a watching request has been made, the watching request is sent from the smartphone 100 to the game server 200, and the server control unit 201 determines a room in which a competitive game of the game title is in progress, i.e., a room to which a communication connection of the smartphone 100 related to the player has already been realized, grants access authority, and returns connection destination information for the room.

[0094] Also, for example, the support application may be configured to provide reference to a list of rooms in which a competitive game is currently in progress or rooms in which players have been confirmed, and a spectator may select the room they wish to watch from these lists, thereby accessing the relevant room.

[0095] [Variation 4] In the above-described embodiment and modified example, a room is configured in the game server 200, and each smartphone 100 using the service accesses the room to execute a competitive game including transmission and reception of captured images, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, transmission and reception of captured images between the smartphones 100 and the room function may be performed via an external device different from the game server 200 or by using a service different from this game system, and the game server 200 may indirectly realize a communication connection between the smartphones 100 by performing matching and guidance to the configured room.

[0096] The function of the connection device according to the present invention, which has been explained using the game server 200, may be realized, for example, by any one of the smartphones 100 involved in the competitive game serving as the host.

[0097] Various aspects of the implementation of the present invention have been described above, divided into embodiments 1 to 3 and variants 1 to 4. However, it goes without saying that the elements of these embodiments are shown separately for illustrative purposes, and the elements may be implemented in any combination.

[0098] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The game system, information communication terminal, or connection device according to the present invention can also be realized by a program that causes one or more computers to function as the game system, information communication terminal, or connection device. The program can be provided / distributed by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, or through an electric communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 100: smartphone, 101: control unit, 102: recording medium, 103: memory, 104: imaging unit, 105: display control unit, 106: operation input unit, 107: communication unit, 110: display unit, 200: game server, 201: server control unit, 202: server recording medium, 203: server memory, 204: matching DB, 205: server communication unit, 300: network, 400: field sheet, 500: game card

Claims

1. A game support system that supports the execution of a competitive game that is realized between players and progresses by presenting actual game items, comprising: The competitive game includes a plurality of selectable game titles, an information communication terminal associated with each player, the information communication terminal including: a selection means for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of titles for playing a game; an acquisition means for acquiring an image of an actual game object presented to the player; a display control means for controlling information display on a display means; and an information communication means; a connection device including a connection means for realizing a communication connection between a plurality of the information communication terminals associated with players participating in the competitive game; Including, The competitive game progresses by including a preparation stage of actual game items for each player provided for the competitive game, and a play stage in which the competitive game is played using the actual game items prepared in the preparation stage; The information communication terminal includes a first information communication terminal and a second information communication terminal that are communicatively connected to each other; The display control means of the first information communication terminal displaying, on the display means, the captured image acquired by the acquisition means of the first information communication terminal together with a GUI related to the one title whose selection has been accepted in the preparation stage; A game support system that, during the play stage, displays on the display means the captured image acquired by the acquisition means of the second information communication terminal in place of the captured image displayed during the preparation stage.

2. The game support system as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple titles of games include games in which the initial arrangement of the actual game items differs.

3. The game object includes a game board and a placement object placed on the game board, 3. The game support system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of titles of games include games in which the game board and the initial placement positions of objects on the game board are different.

4. The connection device further includes a matching means for acquiring information on the one title selected and accepted at the information and communication terminal, and matching the information and communication terminal with another information and communication terminal selected for the same title, The connection means realizes a communication connection between the plurality of information communication terminals matched by the matching means. The game support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information communication terminal of the game support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. An information and communication terminal corresponding to each player is provided for implementing a competitive game in which players present actual game items to progress, The competitive game includes a plurality of selectable game titles, The information communication terminal includes: a selection means for accepting a selection of one title for which a game is to be executed from among the plurality of titles; An acquisition means for acquiring an image of a real object for a game presented to a player; A display control means for controlling information display on the display means; Information and communication means; Equipped with The competitive game progresses by including a preparation stage of a real game item for a player provided for the competitive game, and a play stage of playing the competitive game using the real game item prepared in the preparation stage; The display control means displaying, on the display means, the captured image acquired by the acquisition means together with a GUI related to the one title whose selection has been accepted in the preparation stage; During the play stage, an information communication terminal causes the display means to display the captured image acquired by the acquisition means of the information communication terminal of the opposing player, in place of the captured image displayed during the preparation stage.

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