JP2014184316A - Device, information processing method, program and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to play a game from a game situation corresponding to a reproduction position of a moving image representing play contents of a game.SOLUTION: A device includes an execution request reception part for receiving an execution request of a game during a moving image from a second user, the second user different from a first user using client 14, wherein the moving image representing play contents of the game is displayed in game play by the first user, and an operation reception part for receiving from the second user an operation in the game played by the second user, which is executed from a situation specified on the basis of a reproduction position of the moving image to be associated with an execution request.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information storage medium.

  There is a moving image distribution site that distributes moving images registered by a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In some moving image distribution sites, a large number of moving images representing the content of a user playing a video game are registered.

  Then, a user who cannot easily clear a video game can obtain hints for clearing the game by browsing a moving image registered on the moving image distribution site and showing play by other users. There are things you can do. In addition, the user may be interested in the game shown in the moving image registered in the moving image distribution site and purchase the game.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0276272

  If a user is browsing a moving image that is registered in the moving image distribution site and represents the content of another user playing the game, the user may want to play the game. Here, for example, when the user designates the playback position of the moving image being browsed, if the user can play the game from the situation of the game according to the playback position, the user plays the game more It seems that you will be able to enjoy it. This applies not only to moving images registered in the moving image distribution site, but also to moving images representing the content of a user playing a video game.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, Comprising: It aims at the user being able to play a game from the condition of the game according to the reproduction | regeneration position of the moving image showing the play content of a game.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing system according to the present invention includes an execution request receiving unit that receives an execution request for a game, which is associated with a playback position of the moving image representing the play content of the game, Game situation data acquisition means for acquiring game situation data specified on the basis of the reproduction position associated with the execution request from storage means for storing game situation data indicating the game situation associated with the reproduction position; And game execution means for executing the game from the situation indicated by the game situation data acquired by the game situation data acquisition means.

  In addition, the information processing method according to the present invention relates to an execution request reception step for receiving an execution request for the game, which is associated with a playback position of the moving image representing the play content of the game, and the playback position of the moving image. The game situation data acquisition step for acquiring the game situation data corresponding to the reproduction position associated with the execution request from the storage means for storing the game situation data indicating the game situation, and the game situation data acquisition step A game execution step of executing the game from the situation indicated by the game situation data to be played.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention includes an execution request accepting unit that accepts an execution request for a game that is associated with a reproduction position of a moving image that represents the play content of the game, and the game associated with the reproduction position of the moving image. Game situation data acquisition means for acquiring game situation data corresponding to the playback position associated with the execution request from a storage means for storing game situation data indicating the situation of the game, and a game situation acquired by the game situation data acquisition means The computer is caused to function as game execution means for executing the game from the situation indicated by the data.

  The above program can also be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium.

  According to the present invention, since the game is executed from the situation indicated by the game situation data specified based on the reproduction position of the moving image associated with the game execution request, the reproduction position of the moving image representing the game play content is set. The user can play the game from the state of the corresponding game.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the execution request accepting unit accepts a game execution request associated with a reproduction position of the moving image during reproduction of the moving image representing the play content of the already played game. Features. If it carries out like this, a user can play a game from the condition of the game according to the reproduction | regeneration position of the moving image showing the play content of the game already played.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the game situation data acquisition unit acquires game situation data specified based on a reproduction position in the moving image of a frame image that was reproduced when the game was requested to be executed. It is characterized by that. In this way, the user can play the game from the situation of the game corresponding to the scene that was being played at the time of the game execution request.

  In this aspect, the game situation data acquisition unit is configured to reproduce the associated reproduction position of at least a part of the game situation data stored in the storage unit when the game execution request is made. The game situation data closest to the reproduction position in the moving image of the frame image may be acquired. In this way, the user can start from the situation closest to the situation at the time of the game execution request among the game situations indicated by at least a part of the game situation data stored in the storage means. You can play games.

  Further, in this aspect, the timing at which the game situation data acquisition means indicates the associated playback position is before the timing indicated by the playback position in the moving image of the frame image that was played when the game execution request was made Any of the game situation data stored in the storage means may be acquired. In this way, the user plays the game from the situation closest to the situation that was being played at the time of the game execution request among the situations of the game before the scene that was being played at the time of the game execution request. can do.

  Also, in one aspect of the present invention, the game situation data acquisition means has a timing indicated by an associated playback position in the game situation data stored in the storage means when the game execution request is made. The game situation data that is closest to the timing that is back by a predetermined time from the timing indicated by the playback position of the frame image included in the moving image that was being played back is acquired. In this way, the user can play the game from a situation closest to the situation of the game in a scene that has been played back for a predetermined time from the scene that was played at the time of the game execution request.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes game situation data at the start of a game stage corresponding to the progress stage of the game, and the game situation data acquisition means is associated with the execution request. The game situation data at the start of the game stage corresponding to the playback position is obtained. In this way, the user can play the game from the beginning of the game stage corresponding to the playback position associated with the game execution request.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the game system further includes game situation data generating means for generating the game situation data indicating the current situation of the game being executed during the execution of the game. In this way, game status data indicating the current status of the game being executed is generated.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the computer network which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a game screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a replay moving image display screen. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the relationship between the cloud service which concerns on this embodiment, and a client. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by the cloud service which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of return data.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a computer network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a cloud service 10, a moving image management system 12, and clients 14 (14-1 to 14-n), each of which is configured mainly by a computer, are connected to a computer network 16 such as the Internet. ing. The cloud service 10, the moving image management system 12, and the client 14 can communicate with each other.

  The client 14 is a computer used by a user of the cloud service 10 or the moving image management system 12, and is, for example, a personal computer, a game console, a television receiver, a portable game device, a portable information terminal, or the like. The client 14 is, for example, a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM or RAM, a storage device such as a hard disk drive, an output device such as a display or a speaker, a game controller, a touch pad, a mouse, a keyboard, or a microphone. It includes an input device, a communication device such as a network board, an optical disc drive for reading an optical disc (computer-readable information storage medium) such as a DVD-ROM or a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, and the like.

  Further, the client 14 according to the present embodiment has a web browser and a plug-in program for the cloud service 10 installed in advance, and these application programs are executed. The client 14 receives various services provided by the cloud service 10 and the moving image management system 12 through a web browser. Details of the plug-in program for the cloud service will be described later.

  The moving image management system 12 is, for example, a computer system that registers moving images received from the client 14 or the cloud service 10 or distributes moving images to the client 14 in response to a request from the client 14.

  The cloud service 10 is, for example, a distributed computing environment that functions as an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and includes a plurality of Web application servers, a plurality of database servers, Storage device and the like. The server included in the cloud service 10 includes, for example, a control unit such as a CPU, a storage unit such as a ROM or RAM, a storage unit such as a hard disk drive, and a communication unit that is a communication interface such as a network board. Yes. These elements are connected via a bus.

  The client 14 using the cloud service 10 can use various services provided by the cloud service 10 without being particularly aware of the location of resources such as servers and storage devices existing in the cloud service 10.

  In the present embodiment, when the client 14 accesses the cloud service 10 through a web browser, inputs a user ID and password, and then accesses a predetermined URL, a screen corresponding to the predetermined URL appears on the display of the client 14. Is displayed. After entering the user ID and password, the cloud service 10 can specify the user ID of the user who uses the client 14 by referring to a cookie, for example.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when a certain user (user A) transmits a shooting game start request from the client 14 to the cloud service 10, the cloud service 10 starts executing the game. While this game is being executed, the cloud service 10 sequentially distributes the frame images representing the play contents of this game to the user A's client 14. The frame images are sequentially displayed on the display of the client 14 of the user A via the browser. Hereinafter, a moving image composed of a group of frame images that are sequentially streamed in this manner is referred to as a live image. User A can enjoy the game by pressing a button on the game controller while watching the live video.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the game screen 20 displayed on the display of the user A's client 14. On the game screen 20, the above-described live video is displayed. In the present embodiment, on the game screen 20, a player object 22 representing a fighter or the like operated by a player in a shooting game, a bullet object 24 representing a bullet fired from the player object 22, and an enemy representing an enemy that the player object 22 should defeat. An object 26 is included. The user A can perform operations such as movement of the player object 22 and firing of the bullet object 24 in the shooting game by performing key input such as pressing a button on the game controller. The user A fires the bullet object 24 toward the enemy object 26 while defeating the approaching enemy object 26, and defeats the enemy object 26.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described shooting game is composed of a plurality of game stages corresponding to the progress stage of the game. When an event occurs such that the user A clears the game stage or the game is over, the cloud service 10 represents the play contents of the game from the start time of the game stage to the event occurrence time. A moving image (hereinafter, this moving image is referred to as a replay moving image) is registered in the moving image management system 12. In this way, in this embodiment, a replay moving image representing the play content of a shooting game that has already been played by the user A is registered in the moving image management system 12. When another user (user B) transmits a replay video playback request from the client 14 to the video management system 12, the video management system 12 distributes the replay video to the user B client 14 by streaming. To do.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the replay moving image display screen 28 displayed on the display of the client 14 of the user B. The replay moving image display screen 28 displays the above-described replay moving image. In addition, the replay moving image display screen 28 has a return link 30 for requesting a return to a situation corresponding to the playback position of the replay video (execution of a game from a situation corresponding to the playback position of the replay video). include. Further, on the replay moving image display screen 28, various buttons for controlling the reproduction of moving images and a knob 32 that moves from left to right as the moving images are reproduced are arranged. When the user B clicks the return link 30 during the reproduction of the replay moving image, the client 14 transmits a game execution request from the situation according to the reproduction position to the cloud service 10. Then, the cloud service 10 starts executing the game from this situation. Then, while this game is being executed, the cloud service 10 distributes the live video representing the play contents of this game to the user B client 14 in a streaming manner. Then, on the client 14 of the user B, a game screen 20 similar to that in FIG. 2 is displayed. And user B can enjoy this game from the situation according to the reproduction position designated by user B.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the relationship between the cloud service 10 and the client 14 according to the present embodiment. In the cloud service 10 according to the present embodiment, for example, a management process 34, a service providing process 36, and an emulator 38 are executed. In addition, image files of various game programs are stored in advance in a storage device such as a storage device included in the cloud service 10. A game ID, which is a game identifier, is associated with the game program.

  The service providing process 36 is a process generated when, for example, a server included in the cloud service 10 starts a program that implements various services provided by the cloud service 10 such as a shopping site or an SNS (Social Networking Service). It is.

  The management process 34 is a process generated when, for example, a server included in the cloud service 10 starts a management program installed in a server or storage device included in the cloud service 10. Processing, processing for starting and stopping the emulator 38, processing for connecting and disconnecting the client 14 and the emulator 38 in response to a request from the client 14, and the like are executed.

  For example, the emulator 38 is a process that functions as a virtual machine for executing a game program stored in a server or a storage device included in the cloud service 10. The emulator 38 is generated when the management process 34 starts an emulator program installed in a server or storage device included in the cloud service 10 in response to a request from the client 14. In response to a request from the client 14, the management process 34 reads an image file of the game program designated by the client 14 and loads it into the emulator 38. As a result, the game program is executed on the emulator 38. The emulator 38 may load the game program designated by the client 14 into its own process.

  Further, the emulator 38 operates on the emulator 38, for example, an emulated memory image or register (for example, a program counter) managed by the emulator 38 in response to a request from the client 14 or the management process 34. An input / output access log by a game program, a log of a CPU instruction or a GPU instruction executed on the emulator 38, and the like are output.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, one client 38 can occupy one emulator 38 (see game program P1). In addition, a plurality of clients 14 can be connected to one emulator 38 (see game program P2). A plurality of game programs can be executed on one emulator 38 (see game programs P3 and P4).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when an emulator program is installed in the client 14, the management process 34 instructs the client 14 to start the emulator 38 in response to a request from the client 14. Output a stop instruction. The client 14 activates the emulator program installed in the client 14 in response to the activation instruction received from the management process 34. Further, the client 14 stops the emulator 38 being executed in response to the stop instruction received from the management process 34. And the game program memorize | stored in the client 14 can also be run with the emulator 38 currently run by the client 14 (refer game program P5). Further, the emulator 38 running on the client 14 can be connected from another client 14 (see the game program P6).

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions realized by the cloud service 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 5 only shows functions that are particularly related to the following description. In the cloud service 10 according to the present embodiment, functions other than the functions shown in FIG. 5 are also realized. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cloud service 10 according to the present embodiment functionally includes, for example, an emulator management unit 40, a game execution unit 42, a replay moving image management unit 44, a data storage unit 46, and a return data generation unit. 48, a game situation monitoring unit 50, a return request receiving unit 52, a reproduction position specifying unit 54, and a game situation data obtaining unit 56. For example, the data storage unit 46 is realized mainly by a storage device such as a memory, a hard disk drive, or a storage device included in a server included in the cloud service 10. The game execution unit 42 corresponds to a function realized by the emulator 38, for example. The other elements correspond to functions realized by the management process 34, for example.

  As described above, the cloud service 10 is mainly configured by a computer, and each functional element shown in FIG. 5 is realized by executing a program. The program is supplied to the cloud service 10 via a computer-readable information storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or via a communication network such as the Internet.

  In this embodiment, for example, the emulator management unit 40 starts and stops the emulator 38 in response to a request from the client 14. The emulator management unit 40 executes connection processing and disconnection processing between the client 14 and the emulator 38 in response to a request from the client 14. The emulator management unit 40 also loads an image file of the game program to the activated emulator 38. The emulator management unit 40 also executes location management processing for the emulator 38.

  In this embodiment, the game execution unit 42 executes a game program loaded on the emulator 38, for example.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when the user A transmits a shooting game start request from the client 14 to the cloud service 10, the emulator management unit 40 of the cloud service 10 starts and starts the emulator 38 in response to the start request. The image file of the shooting game is loaded into the emulator 38. Then, the game execution unit 42 starts the loaded shooting game.

  In the present embodiment, the game execution unit 42 updates a game situation data update process for updating game situation data indicating a game situation every predetermined game update time (for example, 1/60 seconds) after the start of the shooting game, These three processes are executed in the order of a frame image generation process for generating a frame image representing game play contents based on the updated game situation data and a frame image transmission process for transmitting the generated frame image to the client 14. To do. That is, the game execution unit 42 repeatedly executes a process of sequentially executing the above three processes at a game update time interval.

  In the present embodiment, the game execution unit 42 executes a process of updating game situation data indicating the position and orientation of the player object 22, the bullet object 24, and the enemy object 26, for example, in the game situation update process. In the present embodiment, the game execution unit 42 also executes a collision determination process between updated objects, a game stage clear determination process, a mistake determination process, and the like based on the collision determination result in the game situation update process. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the game execution unit 42 executes a process of generating a frame image based on game situation data indicating the position and orientation of the updated object group in the frame image generation process, for example. In the present embodiment, in the frame image transmission process, for example, the game execution unit 42 transmits the generated frame images to the client 14 in association with frame IDs that are identifiers of frame images that are ordered in the order of generation time. .

  In the present embodiment, the client 14 receives frame images sequentially transmitted from the cloud service 10. Then, the client 14 displays and outputs the game screen 20 including the received frame image on the display. In the present embodiment, the client 14 displays and outputs frame images in the order of associated frame IDs. The frame images to be displayed and output are sequentially updated. In this way, the live video is streamed from the cloud service 10 to the client 14.

  In the present embodiment, when the client 14 receives a key input such as a button press by the user during the game, the key information corresponding to the input (for example, a signal indicating the type of the pressed button). ) Is transmitted to the cloud service 10. Then, the game execution unit 42 of the cloud service 10 updates the game situation data according to the key information (for example, movement of the player object 22 in the direction indicated by the pressed button, the bullet object 24 from the player object 22). Launch).

  In this embodiment, for example, when the game execution unit 42 generates a frame image, the replay moving image management unit 44 associates the frame image with a frame ID that is an identifier of the frame image that is ordered in the order of generation time. To the data storage unit 46.

  In this embodiment, the return data generation unit 48 returns to a situation corresponding to the replay moving image reproduction position (replay moving image reproduction position, for example) at a predetermined return data generation interval (for example, every 5 seconds). Return data 58 used for the execution of the game from the corresponding situation) is generated and output to the data storage unit 46 (see FIG. 6). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the return data 58. In the present embodiment, when the game stage is started, the return data generation unit 48 generates return data 58 at the start time of the game stage and outputs it to the data storage unit 46. For this reason, the data storage unit 46 stores return data 58 at the start of the game stage. As shown in FIG. 6, the return data 58 includes, for example, a moving image ID that is an identifier of the above-described replay moving image, a game ID that is an identifier of the game being played, and an elapsed time from the start time of the game stage. Elapsed time data and game situation data indicating the game status at that time (FIG. 6 shows an example of the game situation data in the present embodiment by executing a shooting game at a time corresponding to the elapsed time data. The snapshot data indicating the contents of the memory image managed by the emulator 38 and the register values are shown. Based on the elapsed time data included in the return data 58, the return data 58 and the frame image included in the replay moving image are associated with each other.

  In the present embodiment, when the return data generation timing arrives, the return data generation unit 48 acquires the memory image contents and register values of the emulator 38 at that time. Then, the return data generation unit 48 indicates the moving image ID that is the identifier of the replay moving image, the game ID that is the identifier of the game being played, and the time from the start point of the game stage to the generation timing of the return data. Return data 58 including elapsed time data and snapshot data corresponding to the acquired content is generated.

  In this way, in the present embodiment, when the game execution unit 42 is streaming the live video to the client 14, the replay video management unit 44 stores the frame image in the data storage unit 46 simultaneously. The output and the generation output of the return data 58 by the return data generation unit 48 are performed. In the present embodiment, during the execution of the game, snapshot data indicating the current state of the game being executed is sequentially generated.

  For example, the game situation monitoring unit 50 monitors the progress of the game processing of the shooting game being executed by the game execution unit 42. In this embodiment, the frame image at the end of each game stage and the frame image at the time of game over are stored in the data storage unit 46 in advance. Hereinafter, these frame images are referred to as determination images. In the present embodiment, the game situation monitoring unit 50 monitors a frame image generated by the game execution unit 42, for example. When the game situation monitoring unit 50 confirms that the monitored frame image matches one of the determination images stored in the data storage unit 46 using a known image processing technique. Then, it is determined that the game stage has ended or the game is over. In this way, in the present embodiment, the end point of the game stage and the game over point can be detected.

  In this embodiment, the game situation monitoring unit 50 notifies the replay moving image management unit 44 when the game stage is finished and when the game is over. Then, when the replay moving image management unit 44 receives this notification, the replay moving image management unit 44 outputs one or more of the game stage output to the data storage unit 46 from the start time of the game stage to the time when the notification is received. A replay moving image including the frame image and the above moving image ID is generated. The frame image included in this replay moving image is associated with the frame ID.

  Then, the replay moving image management unit 44 transmits the replay moving image to the moving image management system 12. Then, the moving image management system 12 receives the replay moving image and outputs it to a storage device such as a hard disk drive included in the moving image management system 12. In this way, the replay moving image is registered in the moving image management system 12.

  In this embodiment, when the moving image management system 12 receives a character string as a search condition from the client 14 of the user B, a summary screen (not shown) of replay video images that match the search condition. Is transmitted to the client 14 of the user B. Then, the client 14 of the user B receives this list screen and outputs it on the display. Then, when the user B clicks a portion of the list screen where the outline of the replay video is shown, the user B client 14 transmits a replay video playback request to the video management system 12. . Then, the moving image management system 12 receives this reproduction request. Then, in response to the reproduction request, the moving image management system 12 generates a replay moving image display screen 28 corresponding to the corresponding replay moving image, transmits the replay moving image display screen 28 to the client 14 of the user B, and streams the replay moving image. Start distribution.

  In the present embodiment, when the user B client 14 receives the replay moving image display screen 28 from the moving image management system 12, the plug-in program for the cloud service 10 installed in the user B client 14 is a cloud. The service 10 transmits the moving image ID of the received replay moving image to inquire whether the return data 58 corresponding to the received replay moving image exists. Then, when receiving from the cloud service 10 that the return data 58 exists, the plug-in program embeds the return link 30 in the replay video display screen 28 as shown in FIG.

  When the user B clicks a button for controlling playback of a moving image such as playback, slow playback, fast forward, rewind, pause, etc., which is arranged on the replay moving image display screen 28, the client 14 A corresponding signal is transmitted to the moving image management system 12. Then, the moving image management system 12 receives this signal and performs reproduction control of the moving image according to the signal. When the user B performs an operation of moving the knob 32 using a mouse or the like, the client 14 transmits a signal indicating a reproduction position corresponding to the position after the movement to the moving image management system 12. Then, the moving image management system 12 reproduces the replay moving image from the reproduction position indicated by this signal.

  Here, when the user B clicks the return link 30 during the reproduction of the replay moving image, the client 14 associates with the combination of the moving image ID of the replay moving image being reproduced and the frame ID of the frame image at the time of reproduction. The game return request, which is a request to return to the situation corresponding to the frame image (that is, a game execution request from the situation corresponding to the frame image), is transmitted to the cloud service 10. Then, the return request receiving unit 52 of the cloud service 10 receives this game return request.

  Based on the received moving image ID and frame ID, the reproduction position specifying unit 54 reproduces the replay moving image at the time when the return link 30 is clicked (for example, progress from the start time of the game stage). Time, number of frames, etc.). Then, the playback position specifying unit 54 specifies the game being played based on the moving image ID associated with the game return request. Also, the playback position specifying unit 54 is the time from the start of the game stage to the timing when the frame image of the frame ID associated with the game return request received by the return request receiving unit 52 is played back (hereinafter referred to as a return time). The snapshot data associated with the elapsed time data indicating the time shorter than the return elapsed time and indicating the time closest to the return elapsed time is specified.

  In the present embodiment, the game situation data acquisition unit 56 acquires the snapshot data specified by the reproduction position specification unit 54, for example. Then, the emulator management unit 40 activates the new emulator 38 and executes connection processing between the user B client 14 and the emulator 38. Then, the emulator management unit 40 loads the game image file specified by the reproduction position specifying unit 54 into the emulator 38. Then, the game execution unit 42 starts executing the shooting game from the situation indicated by the snapshot data. Specifically, the game execution unit 42, for example, according to the snapshot data acquired by the game situation data acquisition unit 56, the contents of the memory image managed by the emulator 38 executing the shooting game and the register After setting the value, execution of the above-described shooting game is started. In this way, the user B can enjoy the shooting game started from the situation corresponding to the playback position of the replay moving image at the timing when the return link 30 is clicked on the client 14 of the user B.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

  For example, the game situation data acquisition unit 56 acquires the snapshot data associated with the elapsed time data indicating the time closest to the time that is back by a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) from the elapsed time at the time of return. It may be. In this way, for example, the game can be started from a situation at a timing slightly backward from the timing at which the return link 30 is clicked.

  Further, for example, when the return request receiving unit 52 receives a game return request, it is desired to start the game from the beginning of the game stage, or a scene represented by a frame image that was reproduced when the game return request was received. A selection screen (not shown) for prompting selection of whether or not to start the game from the vicinity may be output. Then, when the client 14 transmits the latter option to the cloud service 10, the playback position specifying unit 54 indicates a time that is equal to or less than the return elapsed time and the time that is closest to the return elapsed time. When the snapshot data associated with the time data is specified and the former option is transmitted to the cloud service 10, the snapshot data at the start of the game stage corresponding to the game return request may be specified. Good.

  In addition, for example, the playback position specifying unit 54 includes elapsed time data indicating the elapsed time closest to the elapsed time at the return regardless of before or after the timing indicated by the frame image of the frame ID associated with the received game return request. You may make it identify the snapshot data linked | related to.

  Further, for example, after the cloud service 10 identifies the game being played and the snapshot data in response to the received game return request, the emulator 38 associated with the game ID and snapshot data of this game May be transmitted to the client 14. Then, the client 14 may receive the activation instruction and activate the emulator 38. Then, the client 14 may load an image file of a game program corresponding to the received game ID stored in the hard disk drive or the like of the client 14 into the emulator 38. Then, the client 14 may set an emulator according to the received snapshot data, and start the emulated game. Note that the client 14 may read a game program recorded on the optical disk from the optical disk drive and load it into the emulator 38 instead of the image file stored in the hard disk drive or the like.

  In addition, for example, when the cloud service 10 receives a user A's live video distribution request from the user B's client 14, the game played by the user B's client 14 and the user A is loaded. The emulator 38 may be connected. The cloud service 10 may also distribute the live video that has been streamed to the user A client 14 to the user B client 14. Thereafter, when the cloud service 10 receives a game return request from the client 14 of the user B, the return data 58 may be specified based on the playback position of the live video at that time. Then, the cloud service 10 may activate the new emulator 38 and load a game program corresponding to the game ID included in the specified return data 58 into the activated emulator 38. Then, the cloud service 10 disconnects the connection between the user B client 14 and the emulator 38 loaded with the game played by the user A, and connects the user B client 14 and the new emulator 38. May be. Then, the game execution unit 42 may start the execution of the game after setting the emulator 38 according to the snapshot data included in the specified return data 58.

  Further, for example, during the reproduction of the live video or the replay video that is distributed from the cloud service 10 by the client 14, the client 14 plays the video ID of the video that is being played and the frame image at the time of playback. A bookmark request associated with the combination with the frame ID may be transmitted to the cloud service 10. Then, when the cloud service 10 accepts the bookmark request, the cloud service 10 does not stop the distribution of the moving image, and stores the combination of the moving image ID and the frame ID associated with the accepted bookmark request as bookmark data. The data may be output to the unit 46. Then, the cloud service 10 may transmit a list of bookmark data to the client 14 in response to a request from the client 14. Then, the client 14 may display and output a list of bookmark data on the display. Here, when the client 14 transmits the bookmark data selected from the list by the user to the cloud service 10, the cloud service 10 specifies the game and snapshot data corresponding to the bookmark data, and is specified. You may make it start execution of the shooting game from a condition. The cloud service 10 does not execute the charging process for the requesting user when the bookmark request is received, but executes the charging process for the requesting user when the execution request for the shooting game is received. May be.

  Further, in this case, when the client 14 is reproducing the live video, the cloud service 10 uses the bookmark request reception as a trigger to the frame image data storage unit 46 by the replay video management unit 44. Output and generation / output of return data by the return data generation unit 48 may be started.

  Further, for example, when the return request receiving unit 52 receives a game return request, a screen for confirming whether or not to start the game may be transmitted to the client 14. Only when the return request receiving unit 52 receives from the client 14 that the execution of the game is started, the playback position specifying unit 54 specifies the playback position of the replay video when the return link 30 is clicked. It may be.

  For example, the cloud service 10 may provide a service provided by the moving image management system 12 described above. Further, the cloud service 10 may output the key information received from the client 14 to the data storage unit 46 as a key log in association with data indicating the received timing. Then, the replay moving image management unit 44 may generate each frame image included in the replay moving image based on the key log and distribute it to the client 14 in a streaming manner.

  In addition, for example, the contents of the emulated memory image managed by the emulator 38 and the register value at the end of the game stage or at the time of game over are stored in the data storage unit 46 in advance instead of the determination image. May be stored. Then, the game situation monitoring unit 50 monitors the contents of the emulated memory image and the register values managed by the emulator 38, and the monitoring result and the above-mentioned data stored in the data storage unit 46. Based on the comparison result, the end time of the game stage and the game over time may be detected.

  Further, for example, when the replay moving image management unit 44 generates a replay moving image, the replay moving image management unit 44 may receive information specifying a frame image range for generating the replay moving image from the user A client 14. Then, the replay moving image management unit 44 may generate a replay moving image including a frame image in a specified range. Then, the replay moving image management unit 44 may delete the return data 58 corresponding to the frame image outside the designated range from the data storage unit 46.

  Further, for example, the moving image ID may include information indicating whether or not the return data 58 exists. When the user B client 14 receives the replay moving image display screen 28 from the moving image management system 12, the plug-in program for the cloud service 10 installed in the user B client 14 receives the replay received. Based on the moving image ID of the moving image, it may be determined whether or not the return data 58 corresponding to the replay moving image exists. The plug-in program may embed the return link 30 in the replay moving image display screen 28 when it is determined that the return data 58 corresponding to the replay moving image exists.

  In addition, when the user B clicks the return link 30 and the client 14 transmits a game return request to the cloud service 10 during playback of the replay video, the cloud service 10 returns the return data corresponding to the replay video. It may be confirmed whether or not 58 exists. Then, when the return data 58 exists, as described above, the reproduction position specifying unit 54 may specify the game being played and the snapshot data.

  Further, for example, the user A may click the return link 30 while browsing the replay moving image display screen 28 on which the replay moving image representing the content of play played by the user A is played. In this case, the client 14 of the user A transmits a game return request corresponding to the reproduction position to the cloud service 10. Then, the cloud service 10 starts the execution of the game from the situation according to the game return request, and distributes the live video representing the play content of the game to the user A's client 14 in a streaming manner. In this way, for example, when the user A is watching a replay moving image representing the content that he / she has played and wants to enjoy the game again, the game is determined from the situation according to the playback position designated by the user A. Can enjoy.

  Further, for example, the game situation data may be data indicating a parameter or a status in the game, for example. Further, the moving image ID may be attribute data associated with the replay moving image instead of the meta information included in the replay moving image as described above. Further, for example, the function realized by the cloud service 10 may be realized by a single server.

  Further, the game program does not need to be executed on the emulator 38, and may be executed on the system software (operating system or the like) of the cloud service 10 or the client 14, for example. Further, for example, when the client 14 is a game device, when the user B clicks the return link 30 during the reproduction of the replay moving image, the client 14 selects the moving image ID of the replay moving image being reproduced. You may make it produce | generate the game condition data which show the position and direction of an object group corresponding to the combination with frame ID of the frame image at the time of reproduction | regeneration. Then, the client 14 that is a game device may execute a game corresponding to the replay video from the situation indicated by the generated game situation data.

  In addition, the moving image management system 12 may be a general server in which a moving image distribution service is provided by a provider different from the provider that provides the cloud service 10.

  Moreover, the specific numerical values and character strings described above and the specific numerical values and character strings in the drawings are examples, and are not limited to these numerical values and character strings.

  10 cloud service, 12 moving image management system, 14 clients, 16 computer network, 20 game screen, 22 player object, 24 bullet object, 26 enemy object, 28 replay moving image display screen, 30 return link, 32 knob, 34 management process 36 Service providing process, 38 emulator, 40 emulator management unit, 42 game execution unit, 44 replay moving image management unit, 46 data storage unit, 48 return data generation unit, 50 game status monitoring unit, 52 return request reception unit, 54 Playback position specifying unit, 56 game situation data acquisition unit, 58 return data.

Claims (7)

A device used by a second user different from the first user, in which a moving image representing the play content of the game is displayed during play of the game by the first user,
Execution request accepting means for accepting an execution request for the game from the second user during display of the moving image;
Input accepting means for accepting an input in the game played by the second user from the second user, which is executed from a situation specified based on the playback position of the moving image associated with the execution request;
The apparatus characterized by including. Receiving means for receiving, from the server, a moving image representing a play content of the game generated by a server that executes the game played by the second user;
Display control means for displaying a moving image received by the receiving means,
The apparatus according to claim 1. Game execution means for executing the game played by the second user from a situation specified based on a playback position of the moving image associated with the execution request;
The operation accepting means accepts an input in the game executed by the game executing means from the second user;
The apparatus according to claim 1. In response to the execution request, the game execution means is stored in storage means for storing game situation data indicating a situation of a game played by the first user, and the moving image associated with the execution request Executing the game played by the second user from the situation indicated by the game situation data specified based on the reproduction position of the image;
The apparatus according to claim 3. A device used by a second user, which is different from the first user, displays a moving image representing the play content of the game while the game is played by the first user. Receiving a game execution request from the second user;
The step of receiving from the second user an input in the game played by the second user, which is executed based on a situation specified based on the playback position of the moving image associated with the execution request. When,
An information processing method comprising: A computer used by a second user different from the first user, in which a moving image representing the play contents of the game is displayed while the game is played by the first user,
A procedure for receiving an execution request for the game from the second user during display of the moving image;
A procedure of receiving an input in the game played by the second user from the second user, which is executed based on a situation specified based on the playback position of the moving image associated with the execution request;
A program characterized by having executed.   A computer-readable information storage medium storing the program according to claim 6.

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