JP2020089529A - Training game program and training game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even a user who has a limited time to practice a training game to enjoy communication with a communication robot linked to it.
SOLUTION: A breeding game program of a breeding game that virtually breeds a breeding character that works in conjunction with an external communication robot by a computer determines the growth degree of the breeding character with respect to the degree of practice of the breeding game by the user according to the available game period. The correspondence standard to be defined is determined, based on the determined correspondence standard, the growth degree of the training character is updated according to the practice of the training game by the user, and according to the implementation date when the user communicates with the communication robot, The updated growth degree is transmitted to the communication robot.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 7

Description

The present invention relates to a training game program and a training game device.

Service-providing robots are being put to practical use. Among such service robots, there is a communication robot that has a voice recognition function and a speech function and can communicate with a user through dialogue (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

For example, in the case where the user can communicate with the communication robot according to the date of the event, it will be more interesting if the communication is changed according to the depth of the user's previous involvement with the communication robot. From such a viewpoint, an application that allows a user to communicate with a character that simulates a communication robot on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone has become known. It is possible to change the communication level of the communication robot by adopting a so-called breeding game format in which a character is raised through communication and by passing the degree of the breeding up to the communication robot.

JP 2012-86348 A

However, the time during which the training game can be practiced before the event date varies depending on the user. If the user who started the training game after the event date approaches, and has only very simple communication with the communication robot, such user loses the motive to participate in the event.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and makes it possible for a user having a limited time to practice a training game to enjoy communication with a communication robot linked to the user to some extent. It is a thing.

The training game program according to the first aspect of the present invention is a training game program for a training game in which a computer virtually trains a training character that works in conjunction with an external communication robot, and the user conducts communication with the communication robot. Depending on the setting step for setting the day, the confirming step for confirming the start date when the user starts the raising of the raising character, and the available game period from the start date confirmed by the confirming step to the implementation date set by the setting step. Based on the determination step of determining the correspondence criterion that defines the growth degree of the breeding character with respect to the practice degree of the breeding game by the user, and the correspondence criterion determined in the determining step, the breeding character according to the practice of the breeding game by the user. The computer is caused to execute an updating step of updating the growth degree of the above and a transmitting step of transmitting the growth degree updated in the updating step to the communication robot based on the implementation date. In this way, by adjusting the standard of the growth degree of the breeding character according to the available game period, it is possible to enjoy communication with the linked communication robot to some extent.

The above-mentioned training game program has a correction step for correcting the correspondence standard based on the degree of practice of the training game by the user during the available game period, and the updating step, if the correspondence standard is modified, makes the corrected correspondence. The growth degree may be updated based on the standard. In this way, by adjusting the standard of the growth degree of the breeding character even after the game starts, it is possible to enjoy communication with the interlocking communication robot to some extent even if the degree of practice of the game is lowered midway. In addition, an increasing step may be provided for increasing the degree of growth in accordance with the item acquired by the user in the training game. For example, if the degree of growth is improved by giving a bonus item to a user who has a high degree of practice, it is possible to increase the motivation for practicing the game.

The breeding game device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a breeding game device for a breeding game in which a computer virtually breeds a breeding character that interlocks with an external communication robot, and the user starts the breeding character start. Depending on the available game period from the day until the day when the user communicates with the communication robot, the correspondence standard that defines the growth degree of the training character with respect to the practice level of the training game by the user is determined, and based on the correspondence standard. A game execution unit that updates the growth degree of the breeding character according to the practice of the breeding game by the user, and a transmission unit that transmits the updated growth degree to the communication robot based on the implementation date. Such a breeding game device can enjoy communication with the linked communication robot to some extent, as in the first aspect.

According to the present invention, even a user who has a limited time to practice a training game can enjoy communication with a communication robot linked to the user to some extent.

It is a figure which shows the mode of each stage of the communication which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mode of the raising game run on a game terminal. It is a system configuration diagram of a game terminal. It is a graph which shows an example of change of a correspondence standard and a growth degree when a game possible period is long. It is a graph which shows an example of change of a correspondence standard and a growth degree when a game possible period is short. It is a graph which shows an example of change of a correspondence standard and a growth degree when practice of a game is interrupted. It is a flow diagram showing a processing procedure of a breeding game.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are essential as means for solving the problem.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of each stage of communication according to the present embodiment. The game terminal 300 that functions as a training game device is, for example, a tablet terminal or a smartphone, and a computer executes a program to enable communication such as artificial dialogue with a user. The game terminal 300 provides a user with a training game for virtually training a training character 901 that is a pseudo character that imitates the communication robot 100. The user trains the trained character 901 through communication such as artificial dialogue practiced in the training game. The raising game stage is a stage in which the user practices the raising game on the game terminal 300, and an environment where the communication robot 100 does not exist, such as the user's home, is assumed.

The external communication robot 100 is, for example, a service robot that can move autonomously, and can execute an artificial dialogue with a user when a computer executes a program. Since such a service robot is generally large and expensive, it is not owned by an individual. For example, a company arranges it at an event site and temporarily provides it to a user. Therefore, a schedule for allowing the user to enjoy communication with the communication robot 100 is often predetermined. The actual device communication stage is a stage in which the user enjoys communication with the communication robot 100, for example, on the event date.

The communication robot 100 and the game terminal 300 can exchange information with each other via the system server 500 connected to the Internet 600. The game terminal 300 is connected to the system server 500 via the wireless router 700 by, for example, a wireless LAN. Similarly, the communication robot 100 is connected to the system server 500 via the wireless router 700 by, for example, a wireless LAN. The system server 500 mediates the exchange of history information and the like between the communication robot 100 and the game terminal 300 which are associated with each other. Further, the system server 500 transmits, to the game terminal 300, an execution date which is scheduled to be communicated with the communication robot 100 by the user, such as an event date registered in advance.

When the user talks to the game terminal 300 at the training game stage, for example, "My name is Taro. What is your name?", the training character 901 says, "My name is Robota. Nice to meet you, Mr. Taro." Such dialogue information is sent to the communication robot 100 as a part of the history information. When the user talks to the communication robot 100, for example, "You finally met Mr. Robota." in the actual communication stage, the communication robot 100 replies "I'm happy to meet Mr. Taro" based on the received dialogue information. In addition, the growth degree of the breeding character 901, which will be described later, is received, and communication is performed at a communication level corresponding to the growth degree.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of a breeding game executed on the game terminal 300. The game terminal 300 includes a microphone 301 and a speaker 302. The game terminal 300 takes in the voice uttered by the user from the microphone 301, and utters the generated response utterance sentence as voice from the speaker 302.

The display panel 303 is, for example, an organic EL display. The breeding character 901 displayed on the display panel 303 is an illustration imitating the communication robot 100, for example. The breeding character 901 may be accompanied by a motion as an animation, and may be configured to change the facial expression of the face according to a user utterance or a response utterance. The breeding character 901 may be an illustration obtained by deforming the communication robot 100, or may be an image of the communication robot 100 that is an actual machine. When there are a plurality of types of external communication robots, the user selects the breeding character corresponding to the external communication robot that is scheduled to communicate before use. When user registration has already been made on the external communication robot side, the corresponding breeding character may be automatically selected via the system server 500.

The breeding character 901 is programmed to react to the user's approach. For example, when the user speaks "It's hot today," the game terminal 300 generates a response utterance suitable for this user utterance, such as "What kind of drink does Taro-kun like?". The generated response utterance sentence is converted into a voice signal and emitted from the speaker 302. Further, as if the breeding character 901 displayed on the display panel 303 is speaking, it is displayed as a character in the text box 911 in a balloon format.

The approach is not limited to talking, but may be performed by stroking the head of the breeding character 901 by using the touch panel function of the display panel 303, for example. The breeding character 901 shows an expression that is pleasing to the drag operation of stroking the head, and an operation of shaking hands with the drag operation of shaking the hand up and down. The user can grow the breeding character 901 by repeating such communication, and the growth degree is encoded and updated.

The coded growth degree is divided into communication levels for each fixed range and displayed on the display panel 303. Specifically, it is displayed in the level display box 921 like "level A" shown in the figure. Further, an achievement indicator 922 is displayed so that the degree of growth until reaching the next level can be visually recognized. The user can experience the growth of the breeding character 901 using these indexes as a guide. The upbringing character 901 also becomes highly responsive to the user's action in accordance with the communication level.

A home icon 931 is displayed on the display panel 303, and the user can switch to the home screen by touching the home icon 931. On the home screen, you can select menu items such as game settings.

Next, the system configuration of the game terminal 300 will be described. FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the game terminal 300. Here, although the main elements related to the execution of the breeding game program will be described, the game terminal 300 may include other elements, and other elements that contribute to the execution of the breeding game program may be added. obtain.

The control unit 310 is, for example, a CPU, controls the entire game terminal 300, and executes various calculations. The microphone 301 has a main function of collecting a voice uttered by the user. The microphone 301 converts the collected voice of the user's utterance into a voice signal and delivers it to the control unit 310 as an input utterance from the user. The speaker 302 receives the voice signal converted by the control unit 310 and outputs the output utterance as voice.

The display panel 303 displays the breeding character 901 and the like according to the video signal generated by the control unit 310. The display panel 303 may display the user utterance converted into characters in a text box, for example, in a chat format. The communication unit 320 is, for example, a wireless LAN unit, and performs wireless communication with the wireless router 700.

The memory 330 is a non-volatile storage medium, and for example, a solid state drive is used. The memory 330 stores a control program for controlling the game terminal 300 and a breeding game program, as well as various parameter values, functions, lookup tables and the like used for control and calculation. In particular, the reference table 331 and the history data 332 are stored.

The reference table 331 is a look-up table prepared for each possible game period in which the user can practice the breeding game and describing the corresponding criteria that defines the growth degree of the breeding character 901 with respect to the degree of practice of the breeding game by the user. The details will be described later. The history data 332 is data including dialogue information executed so far between the user and the breeding character 901, and the updated degree of growth of the breeding character 901. In addition, the implementation date scheduled to communicate with the communication robot 100, the start date when the user starts the breeding character 901 (that is, the game start date), and the like are also managed as the history data 333.

The utterance database 340 is composed of, for example, a recording medium such as a hard disk drive, and each term organized as a corpus is stored together with reproducible utterance data. The utterance database 340 may not be built in the game terminal 300 and may be connected to the Internet 600, for example. The character database 350 is composed of, for example, a recording medium such as a hard disk drive, and stores image data of the breeding character 901. For the breeding character 901, when there are a plurality of types of external communication robots, video data corresponding to each type is stored.

The control unit 310 also plays a role as a function calculation unit that executes various calculations related to control and processing. The analysis unit 311, the utterance unit 312, and the game execution unit 313 are examples of the function calculation unit.

The analysis unit 311 analyzes the input utterance received from the microphone 301, converts it into text, and recognizes the utterance content of the user. The analysis unit 311 specifically recognizes the utterance content of the user by using a general voice recognition technique. For example, a text analysis is performed on the input utterance, and the utterance content is recognized using a DNN model or a logistic regression model.

The utterance unit 312 has a utterance function of the breeding character 901. That is, the utterance unit 312 refers to the utterance database 340 to generate a response utterance sentence suitable for the user utterance analyzed by the analysis unit 311 and utters the response utterance sentence as a voice from the speaker 302 and also as a character on the display panel 303. Display to.

The game execution unit 313 executes the training game program. Specifically, the analysis unit 311 and the utterance unit 312 are caused to function to establish a dialogue, or the character image is updated in response to a user operation on the touch panel to realize communication between the breeding character 901 and the user. Further, the reference table 331 is referred to determine a correspondence criterion that defines the growth degree of the breeding character 901 with respect to the degree of practice of the user, and the growth degree of the breeding character is updated based on the practice degree of communication by the user and the correspondence criterion. To do. Further, the communication performed and the updated degree of growth are recorded in the history data 332.

The degree of practice and the degree of growth will be further explained. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of changes in the correspondence standard and the growth degree when the available game period is long. The vertical axis represents the growth degree of the breeding character 901, and the horizontal axis represents the flow of time.

The implementation date is the date on which the user communicates with the communication robot 100, and is acquired and set via the system server 500 or via the input of game settings. The start date is the date on which the user starts the breeding of the breeding character 901, and is fixed with the start of the breeding game. The game available period is a period from the start date to the implementation date, and is a period in which the user can enjoy communication with the breeding character 901 in the breeding game.

The breeding character 901 is set to grow as the user actively communicates. For example, the practice time of communication, the number of words in dialogue, and the number of touches on the touch panel are measured, and the evaluation value is calculated according to the measured value. The evaluation value is calculated for each communication trial as the degree of communication practice. The evaluation value is converted into an increment value of the growth degree according to the corresponding standard. The growth degree of the breeding character 901 is the cumulative value of this increment value.

A reference line 801 indicated by a dotted line in the figure represents a growth degree when a preset constant evaluation value is continuously generated. That is, it can be seen that the correspondence criterion is substantially expressed as a conversion coefficient, and the conversion coefficient is set relatively large in the early stage of the game and set smaller as the execution date approaches. Such a correspondence standard is set for the confirmed game available period. Specifically, the conversion coefficient at each time point during the set available game period is described in the reference table 331 as a lookup table.

An achievement line 811 represented by a solid line in the figure represents an example of a result of the user communicating with the breeding character 901. The growth degree is updated by adding the increment value converted using the correspondence criterion as described above for each communication practice to the growth degree accumulated by the trials performed so far. In this example, it can be seen that from the middle stage to the final stage, the user practiced communication at a pace that exceeded a certain preset evaluation value.

In the achievement line 811, the growth degree on the set implementation date is the confirmed growth degree. The determined degree of growth is classified into five communication levels from A to E, for example, as shown in the figure, according to the value. The communication level represents the variety and depth of communication set in the communication robot 100.

That is, the communication robot 100 is adjusted so that the higher the communication level (A<B<C<D<E) is set, the more versatile and profound communication can be practiced. In the example of the figure, the achievement line 811 has reached the communication level D with the determined growth degree. When the determined growth degree is transmitted to the communication robot 100, the user can enjoy communication with the communication robot 100 at the event level at the communication level D, for example. The determined growth degree transmitted to the communication robot 100 may be the growth degree itself or the corresponding communication level.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of changes in the correspondence standard and the growth degree when the available game period is short. Similarly to FIG. 4, in FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents the growth degree of the breeding character 901 and the horizontal axis represents the flow of time.

As described with reference to FIG. 4, the game available period is long to some extent, and a high communication level can be reached if the training game can be continuously tried, but the game available period varies depending on the user. If the user who started the training game after the event date approaches, and has only very simple communication with the communication robot 100, such user loses the motivation to participate in the event. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by adjusting the above-described correspondence standard according to the available game period, even a user with a limited time to practice the training game can enjoy communication with the communication robot 100 to some extent. To do so.

The start date shown in FIG. 5 is closer to the implementation date than the start date shown in FIG. 4, and the available game period is shorter. Similar to the reference line 801, the reference line 802 represents the degree of growth when a preset constant evaluation value is continuously generated, but the inclination of the tangent line to the reference line 801 is set to be large. That is, the preset constant evaluation value is adjusted so as to be converted into a larger increment value. By adjusting in this way, the user can accumulate the degree of growth by practicing communication to some extent even if the available game period is short. That is, it is possible to reach a higher communication level.

However, it is preferable that the growth degree of the reference line 802 reaching the implementation date is set smaller than the growth degree of the reference line 801 reaching the implementation date. By setting the growth degree to be larger as the available game period is longer, the user can be motivated to start the training game as soon as possible. As described above, as for the correspondence reference corresponding to the reference line 802, the conversion coefficient at each point in the set available game period is also described in the reference table 331 as a lookup table.

The achievement line 812 represented by the solid line in the figure represents an example of the result of the user communicating with the breeding character 901 similarly to the achievement line 811. In this example, as a result of practicing more communication in the final stage, it can be seen that the communication level D reached higher than the communication level C reached by the reference line 802. Since the user can reach a growth degree larger than that when the reference line 801 is applied as it is, the user can enjoy communication with the communication robot 100 more.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of changes in the correspondence standard and the growth degree when the practice of the game is interrupted. Similarly to FIG. 4, in FIG. 6, the vertical axis represents the growth degree of the breeding character 901, and the horizontal axis represents the flow of time.

As described with reference to FIG. 4, if the game available period is long to a certain extent and the training game can be continuously tried, it is possible to reach a high communication level. However, the user can continuously try the training game during the game available period. Not exclusively. If an interruption period occurs along the way, you will not be able to reach a high communication level and you will lose your incentive to participate in the event. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by correcting the above-described correspondence criterion according to the interruption period, even a user who has temporarily interrupted the training game can enjoy communication with the communication robot 100 to some extent. ..

The start date shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the start date shown in FIG. 4, and the gameable period is also the same. Therefore, the reference line 803 set at the start of the game is similar to the reference line 801 in FIG. However, when the user interrupts the training game at a certain point and continues for a certain period (interruption period), the achievement line 813 represented by practice gradually deviates from the reference line 803. Therefore, at the time when the raising game is restarted, for example, when the deviation ratio between the growth degree of the reference line 803 and the growth degree of the achievement line 813 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the correspondence criterion is corrected.

Specifically, as shown in the figure, the reference line 803 up to that point is discarded, and a new reference line 804 is applied. As the new reference line 804, for example, a line showing a value that is increased by a certain percentage (for example, increased by 10%) with respect to the growth degree of the achievement line 813 at that time is selected. After the breeding game is restarted, the correspondence standard corresponding to the standard line 804 is applied. With such a modification, the user can accumulate the degree of growth by practicing communication to some extent even if the interruption period is sandwiched. That is, it is possible to reach a higher communication level. As described above, as for the correspondence reference corresponding to the reference line 804, the conversion coefficient at each point in the set available game period is also described in the reference table 331 as a lookup table.

Next, the flow of processing of the breeding game executed by the game execution unit 313 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the raising game. In the flow of the figure, the process of starting or ending the training game by the user for each communication trial is omitted.

In step S101, the game execution unit 313 acquires and sets the implementation date when the user communicates with the communication robot 100. The game execution unit 313 records the set implementation date in the history data 333. And it progresses to step S102 and waits until a user starts communication with the breeding character 901. When the user starts communication with the breeding character 901, the process proceeds to step S103, and the start date when the user starts the breeding character 901 is fixed. The game execution unit 313 records the confirmed start date in the history data 333.

The game execution unit 313 proceeds to step S104, and defines the period from the start date to the implementation date as the game available period. As described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the game execution unit 313 selects the correspondence criterion corresponding to the available game period from the reference table 331, so that the breeding character 901 responds to the degree of practice of the breeding game by the user. Determine the corresponding criteria that define the degree of growth.

The game execution unit 313 proceeds to step S105, and for each trial in which the user practices communication with the breeding character 901, calculates the evaluation value for the communication. Then, in step S106, it is determined whether or not there was an interruption period before the trial. If it is determined that there is an interruption period, the process proceeds to step S107, the correspondence criterion is corrected and the process proceeds to step S108 as described with reference to FIG. If it is determined that there is no interruption period, the process directly proceeds to step S108.

When proceeding to step S108, the game execution unit 313 converts the evaluation value calculated at step S105 into an increment value of the growth degree according to the set correspondence standard. Then, the increment value is added to the growth degree accumulated by the trials up to that point to update the growth degree. After updating the growth degree, the process proceeds to step S109, and it is determined whether or not the current time point is included in the deadline for transmitting the updated growth degree. If it is determined that it is not included, the process returns to step S105 and the series of processes is repeated. If it is determined to be included, the process proceeds to step S110.

The game execution unit 313 transmits the updated growth degree to the communication robot 100 via the communication unit 320 in step S110. The transmission deadline is set based on the implementation date. For example, a fixed period is set with the implementation date or the day before the implementation date as the final deadline date. After transmitting the growth degree to the communication robot 100, the game execution unit 313 ends the series of processes. In addition, you may make it transmit a growth degree many times during the said fixed period. In that case, the process returns to step S105 without ending the series of processes, and ends the series of processes when the deadline time is reached. The communication robot 100 recognizes the latest received growth degree as the final growth degree.

In the present embodiment described above, description has been made in units of days such as “implementation date” and “start date”, but the reference unit of time need not be days. Further, the correspondence criterion is not limited to the look-up table format, and a conversion formula represented by a function may be used. In this case, the conversion formula is stored in the memory 330, and the conversion formula is appropriately referred to as necessary. Further, in the correction of the correspondence criterion described with reference to FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the correction is performed by paying attention to the interruption period. You can judge it. For example, even if the growth is not interrupted but the growth degree is remarkably low, the correspondence standard may be corrected and rescued.

Further, an element for increasing the degree of growth may be provided during the training game. For example, when the user makes an utterance that pleases the breeding character 901, a bonus item is generated, and when the user acquires the item, the growth degree is discontinuously raised. By providing such an element in the training game, the user can work on the training game more happily.

100 communication robot, 300 game terminal, 301 microphone, 302 speaker, 303 display panel, 310 control unit, 311 analysis unit, 312 speech unit, 313 game execution unit, 320 communication unit, 330 memory, 331 reference table, 332 history data, 340 utterance database, 350 character database, 500 system server, 600 Internet, 700 wireless router, 801, 802, 803, 804 reference line, 811, 812, 813 achievement line, 901 training character, 911 text box, 921 level display box, 922 Achievement Indicator, 931 Home Icon

Claims (4)

A training game program of a training game for virtually training a training character linked to an external communication robot by a computer,
A setting step for setting an implementation date for the user to communicate with the communication robot,
A determination step of determining the start date when the user started the breeding of the breeding character;
Correspondence that defines the growth degree of the breeding character with respect to the degree of practice of the breeding game by the user, according to the gameable period from the start date determined by the determining step to the implementation date set by the setting step A decision step to determine the criteria,
An updating step of updating the growth degree of the breeding character according to the practice of the breeding game by the user based on the correspondence criterion determined in the determining step;
A training game program for causing a computer to execute a transmission step of transmitting the growth degree updated in the update step to the communication robot based on the implementation date. A correction step of correcting the correspondence criterion based on the degree of practice of the training game by the user during the game available period,
The breeding game program according to claim 1, wherein, in the updating step, when the correspondence criterion is modified, the growth degree is updated based on the modified correspondence criterion. The training game program according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a promotion step of promoting the growth degree in accordance with an item acquired by the user in the training game. A training game device for a training game in which a training character that is linked to an external communication robot is virtually trained by a computer,
Depending on the gameable period from the start date when the user starts the raising of the raising character to the implementation date when the user communicates with the communication robot, the raising character of the raising character with respect to the degree of practice of the raising game by the user A game execution unit that determines a correspondence criterion that defines a growth degree, and updates the growth degree of the breeding character according to the practice of the breeding game by the user based on the correspondence criterion;
A breeding game device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the updated growth degree to the communication robot based on the implementation date.

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