JP2000112886A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system which has high real time characteristic without deteriorating the effective management function of a host computer by transmitting the movement information on characters to the host computer and then to another client terminal from the host computer. SOLUTION: When a movement request (variation information) on characters of a client (personal computer 1A) itself is inputted from a player via a mouse 7, the computer 1A moves the characters existing on its own image toward its position by one step and also records this movement at a data storing part 17 of the client. Then, the computer 1A notifies a host computer 5 of the XY coordinates (variation result information) of the moving destination of the characters. The computer 5 transmits the received variation result information to another client terminal (personal computer) which reflects the variation of characters of the computer 1A in its own displayed image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a computer system having a plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer through a communication line such as a telephone line, that is, a computer having a network function such as a personal computer or a home game terminal.
The present invention relates to a network system in which each character appears in a large common virtual area and controls the character, and more particularly to a system suitable for a network game in which each character plays in a common virtual game area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer or a server via a communication line include:
A network game in which one's own character appears in a large common virtual game area or game space, and the movement of this character or the battle or conversation between the characters under the control of the host computer is performed by hundreds or thousands at a time. Is a very large one that can participate, and is becoming widespread with the development of communication means in recent years. In such a network game, each client terminal displays a portion around the position of its own character in the common virtual game space on a display, and a player or a client looks at an image displayed on this display to move their own character or battle. Enter a request to advance the game. The request input from the client terminal is transmitted to the host computer, and the host computer determines whether the request is appropriate and transmits necessary image change information such as updated character position information to each client terminal, whereby the client The display image of the display of each client terminal including the terminal is changed, and the character moves or the battle starts.

[0003]

In a network game, it is necessary for the host computer to manage requests such as movement from the client terminal side in order to prevent unauthorized operation of the player. When the processing is reflected on the display of the client terminal after the processing of the host computer, the problem is small when the number of participating players is small, but when a large number of players participate, the connection to the host computer and the communication line is reduced. Is too large, and high-speed information processing cannot be expected. Therefore, it takes a long time from input of a request for movement or the like to each client terminal to image change such as movement on the display, and the real-time property which is an essential element for a comfortable game progress is impaired. I will.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network system having a high real-time property without impairing an effective management function of a host computer.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a network system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer via a communication line (communication network) such as a public line or a LAN. A network system in which each character appears in a large common virtual area, and each of the client terminals displays only the character surrounding area in the common virtual area. The host computer that changes its own display image in response to the change information related to the character itself, transmits change result information or change start information to the host computer, and receives the change result information or change start information. The change result information or the change start information The other related client terminals that transmitted to the terminal and received the change result information or the change start information from the host computer change the character of one of the client terminals according to the change result information or the change start information. Is reflected on the own display image. In the related art, character change request information input to one client terminal, for example, a request to move one's own character or an attack request by one's own character input by a client is first transmitted to the host computer. The host computer determines whether the received change request information is appropriate or not, and if the change request information is appropriate or satisfied, notifies the client terminal including one client terminal of the change of the character or the target character. Each client terminal that has received the character change notification reflects the character change on its own display image. On the other hand, in the present invention, for example, when movement information or a movement request of the own character is input from a client through an input unit such as a keyboard or an input device, the input information is stored in a package software installed in the own client terminal. Is processed and reflected on the display image, and the character moves within the display image of the client terminal. Then, the movement information of the character is transmitted to the host computer, and the other computer terminals,
Usually, it is transmitted to all other client terminals (often transmitted also to the client terminal), or to other client terminals displaying the character and other client terminals displaying the character. You. The transmitted character movement information is processed by the package software installed on the client terminal, and is reflected on each display image. Therefore, the movement display of the own character on the own image is performed in real time.

In many cases, it is determined whether or not a request to move a character from a client is appropriate. This determination should be made on the host computer side to prevent fraudulent acts on the client side. The character movement notification from the host computer to another client terminal is performed when it is determined that the movement request is appropriate. When the host computer determines that the movement request or the movement information is inappropriate, that is, when it is determined that it is inappropriate to move the character in accordance with the movement request, a character movement improper notification is sent to the client terminal that transmitted the movement information. Send The transmitted non-movable information is processed by the package software of the client terminal, and the character is returned to a position immediately before the movement or to a movable position in the display image.

The present invention also relates to a phenomenon in which the affected area changes over time, that is, the affected area moves or spreads over time, such as throwing a stone or emitting a therapeutic beam from the tip of a stick. It also covers phenomena. Taking the indirect attack phenomenon as an example of this time change phenomenon,
When attack information or an attack request by a character is input from a client using an input device such as a keyboard, the input information is processed by package software installed in the client terminal of the client and reflected on a display image. May be configured to display the attack mode (phenomenon image or phenomenon start image) of the own character in the display image of (1). Then, the attack information of the character is transmitted to the host computer, and the other computer terminals,
Usually, it is transmitted to all other client terminals or other client terminals displaying the character.
The transmitted attack information is processed by the package software installed on the client terminal and reflected on each display image, and each display image displays the attack mode of the character.

[0008] In many cases, it is determined whether the character attack start request from the client is appropriate, for example, whether the attack object input at the current character position can be used. This determination should be made on the host computer side to prevent fraudulent acts on the client side. The character attack start notification from the host computer to the other client terminals is performed when it is determined that the attack request is appropriate. When the host computer determines that the attack request or the attack information is inappropriate, for example, when it determines that the requested attack object cannot be used, the host computer transmits an attack refusal notice to the client terminal that transmitted the attack information. The transmitted attack disapproval information is processed by the package software of the client terminal, and the character in the display image is a state before the start of the attack or a non-attack state (this case includes the case where the attack object disappears while the character remains as it is). Is returned to. In order to further reduce the load on the host computer and the communication line, the host computer may be configured not to transmit an attack disable notification when the host computer determines that the attack request or the attack information is inappropriate. In this case, the display image of the client terminal that transmitted the attack information is automatically returned to the state before the start of the attack or the non-attack mode after a predetermined time has elapsed.

In many cases, an attack image (phenomenon image) is composed of an attack start image (phenomenon start image) and a successful attack image (phenomenon success image). Should be displayed after the attack result determination. Conventionally, all attack result determinations have been made by the host computer. However, in the present invention, the attack result determination is processed on the client terminal side to reduce the load on the host computer and achieve a speedy game progress. be able to. The attack result determination can be performed by the attacking character's client terminal.However, even though the attacked character is moving, transmission of the movement information to the attacking character's client terminal is delayed, and the attack succeeds. If determined, the interest of the client or the player in the game is reduced. Therefore, one client terminal receives attack information from the character of another client terminal with respect to its own character, determines an attack result, and reflects a change of its own character corresponding to the determination result on its own display image. Along with transmitting the determination result to the host computer, the host computer receiving the determination result transmits the determination result to another client terminal, usually all other client terminals or other client terminals displaying the character. The other client terminal that has received the determination result from the host computer should reflect the change in the character of one client terminal according to the determination result to its own display image.

The invention described here can be expressed as follows. (1) One client terminal displays a phenomenon start image in response to a request for activating a phenomenon in which the influence range of the own character input from the client changes over time, and transmits phenomena activation information to a host computer; The host computer that has received the phenomenon activation information transmits the phenomenon activation information to another client terminal, and the other related client terminals that have received the phenomenon activation information from the host computer transmit the phenomenon activation information to the other client terminals. In response, the client terminal that reflects the phenomenon triggered by the character of one of the client terminals in its own display image to display a phenomenon start image, and reflects the phenomenon in its own display image, displays the character's own character. Determined whether or not it was affected by this phenomenon and was determined to be affected In this case, the change in the character is reflected in the display image of the user, the phenomenon success image is displayed, the determination result is transmitted to the host computer, and the host computer receiving the determination result transmits the determination result. This determination result is transmitted to all or specific client terminals other than the client terminal, and the relevant client terminal that has received the determination result from the host computer is the client of the determination result transmission client terminal according to the determination result. A network system that reflects a change in a character on its own display image and displays a phenomenon success image. (2) Upon receiving the phenomenon trigger information, the host computer determines whether the trigger of the phenomenon is appropriate, and transmits the phenomenon trigger information to the other client terminals only when determining that the trigger is appropriate, (1). The described network system.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of a network game system in which the system of the present invention is applied to a network game, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the network game system.

The personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C (client terminals) are connected to a public line 3 (communication line) via a communication modem or a communication adapter (not shown). From the common game services. Each of the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C transmits and receives data to and from the host computer 5 through the public line 3, and the personal computers 1A,.
And the host computer 5 are provided with input / output control units 11 and 13 for managing the transmission and reception of the data. The personal computer 1A... Receives the information from the host computer 5 or the input information from the mouse and keyboard input unit 7. Is reflected on the display 9 and displayed. Each personal computer 1
A, 1B, and 1C have game package software installed therein, and include a game control unit 15 that executes the software and a client-side data storage unit 17 that stores information on a large number of characters used in the game.
The host computer 5 has a game management control unit 19 that manages the entire game by mediating the transmission and reception of data between the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C, and a host-side data storage unit 21 that stores information on each character. The client-side data storage unit 17 stores character position information of the user himself / herself represented by XY coordinates, position information tables of other client characters and non-player characters represented by XY coordinates, and a phenomenon information table. Indicates the type of each phenomenon that has been activated, the activation time, and X
The firing position and the like indicated by the Y coordinate are recorded. The host-side data storage unit 21 has a character information table.
It consists of position information indicated by coordinates, collision flag information, and status information.

Each of the personal computers 1A, 1B, 1C and the host computer 5 has a large common virtual game area 23 as shown in FIG.
1C displays on the display 9 only a narrow activity area centered on each of the characters 1a, 1b, and 1c appearing in the common virtual game area 23 or an area around the position where the character exists. Here, each character 1
a, 1b, 1c possess indirect attack objects such as bows or projectiles, and can emit a ring of light that heals the wound of another injured character, attacking another character while moving, or attacking another character. Revive the character.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computer 1A and the host computer 5 when the player inputs a request for moving the character 1a.

When a request for movement (change information) of the player's own character 1a is input from the player via the mouse 7 (S
1) The personal computer 1A moves (walks) the character 1a on its own image by one unit (here, one step) in the position direction input from the mouse 7 (S3), and stores this movement on the client side data. This is recorded in the self-character position information of the part 17. Since the character 1a moves immediately on the image after the moving operation of the player, the discomfort or stress received by the player is greatly reduced. However, even if the movement of the character 1a is immediately reflected on the image on the personal computer 1A side, the host computer 5 determines whether or not the movement is possible or impossible (S10).
6) Until the position information of the character 1a is updated as determined as appropriate or possible (S7), the character 1a
If the host computer 5 determines that the movement is inappropriate or impossible, the position of the character 1a that has been moved on the image of the personal computer 1A must be corrected. Therefore, if the character 1a is moved to a position far away from the determined position on the image of the personal computer 1A before the determination by the host computer 5 is determined, the correction of the character 1a when it is determined that the character 1a cannot be moved is performed. The distance increases, and the comfort of the game progress is rather impaired. So, PC 1A
Prior to the movement of the character 1a, the scheduled movement position separated from the position of the character 1a by one step in the movement request direction and the latest regular distribution position information of the character received from the host computer 5 (S13 in FIG. 5). It is confirmed whether there is an opening or an error exceeding a preset allowable range between the determined position of the character 1a included in the character 1a and the movement is permitted if the expected movement position exceeds the allowable range. (S2).

After moving the character 1a, the personal computer 1A notifies the host computer 5 of the XY coordinates (change result information) of the destination (S4). Host computer 5
Receives the movement notice (S5), judges whether the movement is appropriate or not, and judges whether the movement of the character 1a is appropriate or possible (S6). The position information for the character 1a is updated (S7). If it is determined that the character 1a is inappropriate or impossible, for example, if it is determined that the vehicle has entered an off-limits area or has collided with a wall, the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 is determined. A collision flag is set in the collision flag information column for the character 1a of the character 1a (S8). If the collision flag is already set when it is determined that the movement is appropriate or possible,
The position information is updated and the collision flag is lowered (S7).

FIG. 5 shows the host computer 5 and the personal computer 1A for distributing information on the character position in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 1B, 1C.

Information on the character position in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 is periodically distributed to the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C. When the distribution time comes (S11), the host computer 5 distributes all the position information of the characters in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 to the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C, and applies the respective collision flag information. The data is distributed to the personal computers 1A, 1B and 1C (S12). The personal computer 1 that has received the periodic distribution from the host computer 5
In A, 1B and 1C (S13), the position information table of the self-confidence character in the client-side data storage unit 17 and the position information tables of the characters of the other clients and the non-player characters are overwritten with the position information of the distributed characters, and are determined. Then, based on the information of the determined other client character and the non-player character position information table, the movement of the character other than the own character is reflected on the image (S14). It is checked whether or not a collision flag is set in the regular distribution information for the own character (S15). If the collision flag is set, the self-confident character overwritten in the client-side data storage unit 17 is checked. The own character is pulled back to the position indicated by the position information (the position immediately before the movement with the collision flag set) (S16).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the aspect of the time-varying phenomenon used in the network game. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the personal computers 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1C when the player requests the character 1a to activate the time-varying phenomenon. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer 5.

In this network game system, indirect attacks with a bow and arrow and indirect rescue with a circle of magic light are prepared as a time change phenomenon. In the indirect attack, as shown in FIG. 6a, a flying object 1e such as an arrow emitted from the character 1a moves over time,
Other characters 1b, 1c, 1d existing on the movement route
Is a phenomenon in which the physical strength of these characters 1b, 1c, and 1d is attenuated or the characters 1b, 1c, and 1d are killed. The ring 1f spreads over time, recovering the physical strength of the other characters 1b, 1c, and 1d entering the ring of light 1f, or restoring the characters 1b, 1c, and 1d.

The personal computer 1A receives the character 1 from the player.
When an instruction (change information) for invoking the time-varying phenomenon due to a is received (S21), the type of this time-varying phenomenon (for example, a bow and arrow or a magic light ring), a starting position, a starting time, and a moving direction (bow and arrow etc.). And recording the phenomenon information (change start information) in the phenomenon information table of the client-side data storage unit 17 and the host computer 5.
(S22), and a phenomenon animation (phenomenon start image) of this time-varying phenomenon, which includes the flying of an arrow or the like, is started on its own image (S23). The host computer 5 that has received the phenomenon information from the personal computer 1A (S24)
It is determined whether or not the phenomenon can be activated, for example, whether or not the character 1a has used up the arrow (S25). If it is determined that the phenomenon can be activated, the neighborhood, that is, at least the principal of the phenomenon activation is determined. The phenomenon information (change start information) is notified to the personal computers 1B and 1C displaying the character 1a (S26). Personal computers 1B and 1C that have received the phenomenon information
(S27), the phenomena information is recorded in the phenomena information table of the client-side data storage unit 17, and the phenomena animation mainly based on the character 1a displayed on the own image is started on the own image (S27). S2
8). Immediately after the trigger of the phenomenon is input, the phenomenon animation is displayed on its own image, so that the discomfort or stress of the player is greatly reduced. Here, the host computer 5 is not configured to transmit a phenomenon inability to be notified to the personal computer 1A when it is determined that the phenomenon cannot be activated.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computers 1A, 1B, 1C and the host computer 5 when the time change phenomenon is activated.

When the personal computer 1A... Recognizes that a phenomenon animation is displayed on its own image by searching the phenomenon information table of the client-side data storage unit 17 (S31), the disappearance condition for each phenomenon is determined. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied (S32). The extinction condition is set in advance for each type of phenomenon, and it is determined whether the vehicle has collided with a wall or the like, a predetermined time has elapsed since activation (time limit), or a predetermined distance from the activation position (movement limit). 1A... Determine that the disappearance condition is satisfied, stop the phenomenon animation on their own image (S33). The personal computer 1A... Advances the temporal change of the phenomenon animation of the phenomenon determined that the disappearance condition is not satisfied (S34), and the phenomenon in which the own character 1a. Is included in the non-player character (NPC) based on the information recorded in the position information table and the phenomenon information table of the other client character and the non-player character in the client-side data storage unit 17. 1d is affected or not, ie whether the phenomenon hits NPC1d or NPC1
It is determined whether or not d is within the influence range of the phenomenon (S3).
5) If it is determined that the NPC 1d is affected, the NPC 1d is notified of the NPC influence information to the host computer 5 (S36), and, for example, the arrow 1 is sent to the NPC 1d on its own image.
An action animation is started in which e hits and the NPC 1d weakens (S37). Next, PC 1A
.. Indicates that if the phenomena determined that the extinction condition is not satisfied include phenomena in which the characters 1a... Of other clients are the main actors (phenomena based on change start information), the client Based on the own character position information in the side data storage unit 17 and the information recorded in the phenomenon information table, the own character 1a.
.. Are determined to be affected, that is, whether the phenomenon has hit the character 1a... Or whether the character 1a. ), When it is determined that the characters 1a are affected, the host computer 5 is notified of its character influence information (S3).
9), on your own image, for example, your own character 1a
The action animation (successful phenomenon image) with the content of reviving after entering into the ring of magic light 1f is started (S40).
As described above, the load on the host computer 5 can be significantly reduced by causing the client-side personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C to perform the result of the influence of the phenomenon. Also,
Since the determination as to whether or not the own character has been affected is made based on the latest information in the own client-side data storage unit 17, the own character 1a... If you move
The player's own character position information in the client-side data storage unit 17 is immediately rewritten, and the hit determination is made based on the rewritten own character position information. The occurrence of a situation that reduces the interest in is prevented. When the NPC 1d is also configured to be the main subject of the time change phenomenon, the phenomena from the NPC 1d are processed in the same way as the phenomena in which the characters 1a of the other clients are the main subject.

The host computer 5 receiving the notification of the influence information from the personal computers 1A... Determines whether the notification is the NPC effect information notification or the character effect information notification of its own (S
41) In the case of the NPC influence information notification, it is verified that the NPC 1d is affected by the position information of the NPC 1d recorded in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 and the information of the phenomenon. And then, based on the received NPC influence information, the host-side data storage unit 2
The status information for the NPC 1d in the character information table 1 is updated (S42). The update is, for example, setting the physical strength holding point to 100, and when hitting the arrow 1e, reducing the physical strength by 10 points,
When the value falls within the range of influence of f, it is increased by 10 points. When the notification is the own character influence information notification, the status information for the characters 1a, 1b, and 1c in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 is similarly updated based on the received influence information (S43). ).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer 5 and the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C when distributing status information in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21.

The personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C periodically transmit status information in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit 21 for at least other client characters 1a, 1b, and 1c displayed on their own images. Will be delivered to When the distribution time comes (S51), the host computer 5 sends the status information for each of the characters 1a, 1b, and 1c to the nearby PCs 1A, 1B, and 1C that displays at least the character on the image.
B and 1C (S52). Host computer 5
PCs 1A, 1B, 1 that have received status information from
C (S53), based on the status information, the action animation of the other client characters 1a, 1b, 1c, for example, the other client characters 1a, 1b,
When the arrow 1e hits 1c, the physical strength points are reduced by 10 points, and the animation of the contents in which the characters 1a, 1b, and 1c weaken is started (S54).

[0028]

As described above, when the network system according to the present invention is adopted, real-time deployment for reducing the stress of the client without impairing the management function of the host computer can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection form of a network game system configured by applying the system of the present invention to a network game.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the network game system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a range of a display image of each personal computer in the network game system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations of a personal computer and a host computer when a player inputs a request to move a character.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer and the personal computer when distributing information about the character position in the character information table of the host-side data storage unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of a time change phenomenon used in a network game.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computer and the host computer when a request for activating the time-varying phenomenon by a character is received from a player.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the personal computer and the host computer when the time change phenomenon is activated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer and the personal computer when distributing status information in the character information table of the host-side data storage.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B, 1C Personal computer (client terminal) 1a, 1b, 1c Character 3 Public line (communication line) 5 Host computer 23 Common virtual game area (common virtual area)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Toyoda Nextcom Building 6F, 1-12-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Satoshi Fukuda 1-12-1 Shibuya Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Next Tocom Building 6th floor F-term in Nextech Corporation (reference) 2C001 BA01 BA08 BC01 BC03 BC10 CB08 DA06 5B085 AA08 BA06 BE07 BG07 5B089 GA01 GA21 GB03 HA01 JA09 JB03 KA01 KA07 KA18 KB09 LB14

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer via a communication line cause respective characters to appear in a wide common virtual area, and each of the client terminals executes its own character in the common virtual area. A network system in which only a character surrounding area is displayed, wherein one of the client terminals changes its own display image in response to the received change information relating to its own character, and changes result information or change start information. To the host computer, the host computer having received the change result information or change start information transmits the change result information or change start information to another client terminal, and the change result information from the host computer. Or other related parties that received the change initiation information. A network system, wherein the client terminal reflects a change in the character of one of the client terminals on its own display image according to the change result information or the change start information. 2. A plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer via a communication line cause respective characters to appear in a wide common virtual area, and each of the client terminals executes its own character in the common virtual area. A network system in which only a character surrounding area is displayed, wherein one of the client terminals moves and moves the character in its own display image in response to a movement request of the character input from a client. The host computer that has transmitted the result information to the host computer, and has received the movement result information, has transmitted the movement result information to the other client terminal, and has received the movement result information from the host computer. The client terminal of the movement result information A network system, wherein the movement of the character of one of the client terminals is reflected in its own display image in response. 3. The host computer, upon receiving the movement result information, determines whether or not the movement is appropriate, and transmits the movement result information to another client terminal only when determining that the movement is appropriate. The network system according to claim 2, wherein 4. When the host computer determines that the movement is inappropriate, the host computer transmits a movement disable notification to the one client terminal that transmitted the movement result information, and The client terminal,
4. The network system according to claim 3, wherein said own character in said own display image is returned to an appropriate position. 5. A plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer via a communication line cause respective characters to appear in a wide common virtual area, and each of said client terminals displays its own character in the common virtual area. A network system in which only a character surrounding area is displayed, wherein one of the client terminals displays a phenomenon image in response to a request for initiating a phenomenon in which the influence range of the character input by a client changes over time. Along with transmitting the phenomenon trigger information to the host computer, the host computer receiving the phenomenon trigger information transmits the phenomenon trigger information to the other client terminals, and receives the phenomenon trigger information from the host computer. The other client terminal concerned is triggered by this phenomenon. A network system, wherein a phenomenon triggered by the character of one of the client terminals is reflected in its own display image in accordance with information. 6. When the host computer receives the phenomenon trigger information, the host computer determines whether the phenomenon trigger is appropriate, and transmits the phenomenon trigger information to the other client terminals only when the phenomenon trigger is determined to be appropriate. The network system according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The host computer, when determining that the phenomenon activation is inappropriate, transmits a phenomenon activation non-permission notification to the one client terminal that transmitted the phenomenon activation information, and transmits the phenomenon activation non-permission notification. 7. The network system according to claim 6, wherein the one received client terminal stops displaying the phenomenon image. 8. A plurality of client terminals connected to a host computer via a communication line cause each character to appear in a large common virtual area, and each of said client terminals displays its own character in the common virtual area. A network system in which only a character surrounding area is displayed, wherein one of the client terminals receives information on the activation of a phenomenon in which the influence range of the other client terminal from the character to the character changes over time. And determine the phenomenon result, reflect the change of the character corresponding to the phenomenon determination result in the display image of the user, transmit the phenomenon determination result to the host computer, and receive the phenomenon determination result. The host computer transmits this phenomenon determination result to the other client terminal. The other related client terminal that has received the phenomenon determination result from the host computer reflects the change in the character of one of the client terminals according to the phenomenon determination result in its own display image, Network system.