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Network game system, a network game terminal, a method of displaying a game screen, a computer program product and a storage medium

  • US 8,556,694 B2
  • Filed: 10/30/2007
  • Issued: 10/15/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A network game system comprising a server apparatus and a plurality of terminal apparatuses connected to the server apparatus via a network, each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses operated by a player for allowing a plurality of player characters to participate in a network game, each of the plurality of player characters controlled by the player and existing in a common virtual space,wherein each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses comprises:

  • a character login processor that logs each of the plurality of player characters into the network game and displays a tab for each player character on a display device in response to the player character being logged into the network game;

    an active character controller that controls a first character of the plurality of player characters as an active character that is activated among the plurality of player characters during a progress of the network game;

    an active character switcher that switches the active character during the progress of the network game from the first character to a second character of the plurality of player characters different than the first character in accordance with a first operation of the player of the terminal apparatus, the player causing the plurality of player characters to participate in the network game;

    an active character information transmitter that transmits active character information to the server apparatus via the network, the active character information specifying the active character switched by the active character switcher and non-active characters, the non-active characters including the plurality of player characters other than the active character;

    a movement instruction input controller that inputs a movement instruction in accordance with a second operation of the player, the movement instruction being used to move the active character switched by the active character switcher in the virtual space;

    a movement information transmitter that transmits movement information to the server apparatus via the network, the movement information corresponding to the movement instruction inputted by the movement instruction input controller to the server apparatus via the network;

    a visible range information receiver that receives visible range information transmitted from the server apparatus via the network, the visible range information specifying each of the plurality of player characters that exists in a visible range, the visible range being set to a predetermined range of the virtual space within a range displayed on the display device with which the terminal apparatus is provided, at least the active character being included in the visible range of the virtual space; and

    a display controller that causes the display device to display the visible range, each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information received by the visible range information receiver being arranged in the visible range, andwherein the server apparatus comprises;

    an active character information receiver that receives the active character information transmitted by the active character information transmitter of each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses;

    an active character manager that manages the active character switched from among the plurality of player characters on the basis of the active character information received from each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses by the active character information receiver;

    a movement information receiver that receives the movement information transmitted by the movement information transmitter of each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses;

    a character position manager that manages a position of each of the plurality of player characters on the basis of the movement information received by the movement information receiver;

    a visible range specifier that specifies the visible range information for each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, the visible range information, for each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, including the position managed by the character position manager for the active character; and

    a visible range information transmitter that transmits the visible range information to each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses via the network, the visible range information, for each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, including the position of each of the plurality of player characters that exists in the visible range,wherein the display controller of each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses causes the display device to display the visible range in which each of the plurality of player characters specified by the visible range information is arranged so that each of the plurality of player characters that exists in the visible range is distinguished from other player characters, controlled by other players, which exist in the visible range, and so that the active character is distinguished from the non-active characters that exist in the visible range,wherein the first operation includes a selection of the tab of the second character by the player during the progress of the video game, andwherein the active character controller controls one of the plurality of player characters that is finally logged into the network game as the first character until the active character switcher switches the first character to the second character in accordance with the first operation.

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