JP2023126721A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To determine each user's role so that a collaborative play can be started smoothly in a game in which a plurality of users selects roles and participates in the collaborative play.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: a selection reception unit for receiving selection operation in which each user selects a role played by the user in a collaborative play of a game that a plurality of users can participate in from a plurality of roles at a stage that one or more users that participate in the collaborative play are determined; and a right imparting unit for imparting a right on the selection of the role to a user who selects a specific role in a first collaborative play and satisfies a predetermined condition. The selection reception unit receives selection operation by a user who has the right in priority to the selection operation by a user who does not have the right about the role in a second collaborative play performed after the first collaborative play.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

In a game where multiple users can play together, each user may be assigned a role in the game from among multiple roles, and each user may participate in the joint play using the configured role. (For example, see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes that the role of each user is set according to a predetermined setting procedure before starting to play a game together, and users with different roles play the game together.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-124489

In a game where a role is set for each of a plurality of users, such as the game described in Patent Document 1, each user may be able to select a role before starting joint play. In such cases, the number of users who select some of the roles may be uneven, but in that case, the number of users who select a certain role may not reach the required number, etc. You may not be able to start playing, which may interfere with game play.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus that can determine the role of each user so that the joint play starts smoothly in a game in which a plurality of users can select roles and participate in joint play; The objective is to provide information processing methods and programs.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention allows a user participating in the joint play to perform a selection operation in which each user selects from a plurality of roles regarding a role played by a user in a joint play of a game in which a plurality of users can participate. a selection reception unit that accepts a selection when one or more users have been determined, and a rights granting unit that grants rights regarding role selection to users who select a specific role in the first joint play and meet predetermined conditions. The selection reception unit is characterized in that the selection reception unit receives a selection operation by a user who has the right to play a role in a second joint play performed after the first joint play, with priority given to a selection operation by a user who does not have the right. shall be.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a user who selects a specific role in a first cooperative play and satisfies a predetermined condition is given priority over other users in a second cooperative play after the first cooperative play. You can choose a role. As a result, when a plurality of users select roles and participate in a joint play, the roles of each user can be determined so that the joint play starts smoothly.

It is a diagram showing an example of an area in which a game can be played. This is an example of a play screen when participating in a joint play in the first role. This is an example of a play screen when participating in a joint play in the second role. It is a figure showing a play screen in a state where a guide object is displayed. It is an explanatory diagram about input operation. It is a figure which shows the transition of a play screen until starting a joint play. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system including an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing functions of an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of user information. It is a figure which shows an example of an inquiry screen. It is a figure showing an example of a use confirmation screen. It is a figure showing the flow of the processing flow concerning the 1st joint play among the information processing flows concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the flow of the processing flow concerning the 2nd joint play among the information processing flows concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the role selection screen based on another example of this invention. It is a figure showing the function of the information processing device concerning another example of the present invention.

Regarding the information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention, a plurality of preferred embodiments (first and second embodiments) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Note that the embodiment described below is only one specific example given to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. That is, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiments described below without departing from the spirit thereof. Naturally, the present invention also includes equivalents thereof.
In addition, the screen examples shown in the drawings referred to in the following explanation are only examples, and the screen configuration examples, displayed information contents, GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc. It can be designed freely according to the design specifications of the system, the user's preferences, etc., and can be changed as appropriate.

[About games that can be played with the present invention]
Games that can be played through the information processing apparatus of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as "games") will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an area in which the game can be played, and specifically shows an overall image of the area. 2 and 3 are examples of game play screens. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a play screen in which a guide object K, which will be described later, is displayed. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a charging operation described later. Note that the illustrated example of the play screen is displayed on the operating terminal of the user viewing the play screen.

The game is, for example, an online game that can be played using data communication. Online games include browser games using a web browser, social games provided on SNS (Social Networking Service), games that can be played by downloading dedicated application software such as mobile games, and play-by-play games. This includes regularly updated online games such as web games (PBW).

Furthermore, the game has a plurality of areas (or stages) that are in-game spaces, and clear conditions are set for each area. In the following, a game in which a field is set in each area and the player aims to reach the goal in each area while defeating enemies E on the field will be described as an example. However, the genre of the game is not particularly limited.
Note that the field of each area is a topography set for each area, and is, for example, a two-dimensionally spread area such as a floor, the ground, or a water surface.

A user (that is, a game player) who plays a game through the information processing device of the present invention plays the game while looking at a screen on a game operation terminal. When starting to play the game, the user selects either a solo play mode in which one person plays the game or a joint play mode in which multiple users play together. The cooperative play mode will be explained below.

In the joint play mode, multiple users can jointly play the same area in the game at the same timing (that is, at the same time) through data communication. In addition to cooperative play where users cooperate with each other with the common goal of clearing an area, cooperative play also includes users competing with each other within the same area, and multiple users forming multiple teams. It involves teams being divided into two groups and competing against each other in the same area. Note that in the following explanation, performing a joint play is also referred to as "participating in a joint play."

Each of the plurality of users participating in the joint play selects a role before starting the joint play. A role is a game role played by each of a plurality of users participating in a joint play, and in the present invention, each user selects one of the plurality of roles.

The plurality of roles are, for example, a first role and a second role, where the first role is a role that operates a moving character J1 that will be described later, and the second role is a role that operates a support character J2 that will be described later. This is the role of However, the first role and the second role may be opposite roles to those described above, where the first role is the role of operating the support character J2, and the second role is the role of operating the moving character J1. It may also be a manipulative role. Further, the plurality of roles may include roles other than the first and second roles, that is, three or more types of roles may be included.

Each user selects either the first role or the second role before starting the joint play. Here, before the start of the joint play is a stage before the point at which each of the multiple users participating in the joint play actually operates the moving character J1 or the support character J2 in the area that is the target of the joint play. means.

Then, after each user's role is set according to the selection result of each user, collaborative play is started. During collaborative play, each user plays the game in a set role.

Specifically, in the joint play, the users who have selected the first role operate the moving character J1 to advance the game during the joint play. The moving character J1 is an example of a playing character (operable character), and moves on a field set within the area shown in FIG. move. Although the appearance (display image) of the moving character J1 can be arbitrarily set depending on the content of the game, in the following description, it is assumed that the moving character J1 has a humanoid shape as shown in FIG. Further, the number of movable characters J1 that can be operated by each user may be one or two or more, but in the following description, it is assumed that it is one.

The user who has selected the first role performs a movement operation while viewing the moving character J1 on the game play screen (hereinafter referred to as screen G1) using his or her operating terminal. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the field, specifically, a certain area including the current position of the moving character J1 (the area surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 1) is displayed on the screen G1.
Note that the screen G1 shown in FIG. 2 is a screen when a part of the field is viewed from directly above, but the screen G1 is a screen when a part of the field is viewed from an arbitrary line-of-sight angle (viewing angle). Alternatively, the angle may be able to be changed arbitrarily according to the user's preference during collaborative play.

The movement operation is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, by dragging the moving character J1 displayed on the screen G1 to a destination (position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2) while touching the screen G1. When a movement operation is performed, the moving character J1 moves on the field in response, and accordingly, the portion displayed on the screen G1 in the field changes. The user can grasp the current position (post-movement position) of the moving character J1 through the switched screen G1.
Note that the method of movement operation is not particularly limited, and may be performed by using the direction keys of a controller (not shown), by voice input, by detecting the user's body movements such as motion capture, or by the user while playing the game. It may also be a method of analyzing brain waves.

Furthermore, an enemy E appears on the field as shown in FIG. 1, and auxiliary items H are arranged on the field according to a certain rule or irregularly.
The enemy E appears on the field and obstructs the game operation (for ease of understanding, the movement of the mobile character J1, etc.) by the user who has selected the first role. Furthermore, the user who has selected the first role can operate the moving character J1 to attack and defeat the enemy E.
The auxiliary item H is used by the user who has selected the first role during the joint play, and for example, when the moving character J1 approaches or comes into contact with the auxiliary item H, an effect corresponding to the auxiliary item H is exerted. Effects depending on the auxiliary item H include, for example, granting benefits that can be used during cooperative play, changing parameters such as recovery of physical strength, changing field conditions such as reducing the number of enemies E on the field, and boss enemies. Examples include the occurrence of a predetermined event such as the appearance of .

The user who has selected the second role assists/assists the user who has selected the first role during collaborative play. Supporting/assisting the user who has selected the first role means performing a game operation different from that of the user who has selected the first role so that the user who has selected the first role can progress through the game advantageously during joint play. It means to go and play the game.

Specifically, the user who has selected the second role performs operations on the support character J2 while viewing the support character J2 on the game play screen (hereinafter referred to as screen G2) on his or her own operating terminal during collaborative play. (hereinafter referred to as flight operations). The support character J2 is a character whose motif is an aircraft such as a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), and moves (flies) above the field. Specifically, the moving character J1 and the support character J2 exist in different layers in the same area, and the support character J2 can move in a layer higher than the layer in which the moving character J1 moves. However, the movable range of the support character J2 is not limited to the sky above the field, but may also be underground, etc. of the field. Furthermore, unlike the mobile character J1, the support character J2 cannot attack the enemy E on the field, nor can the support character J2 acquire the auxiliary item H on the field.
Note that the number of support characters J2 that can be operated by each user may be one or two or more, but in the following description, it is assumed that the number is one.

As shown in FIG. 3, the screen G2 viewed by the user who has selected the second role includes the support character J2 and a portion corresponding to the position of the support character J2 in the field (encircled by a dashed line in FIG. 1). area) is displayed from a bird's-eye view.
Note that screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is a screen when a part of the field is viewed from directly above, but screen G2 is a screen when a part of the field is viewed from an arbitrary line of sight angle (viewing angle). Alternatively, the angle may be able to be changed arbitrarily according to the user's preference during collaborative play.

The flight operation is performed, for example, by dragging the support character J2 displayed on the screen G2 to a destination while touching it on the screen G2, as shown in FIG. When the flight operation is performed, the support character J2 moves within the area where the joint play is being performed, and accordingly, the portion displayed on the screen G2 changes during the field. The user can grasp the current position (post-movement position) of the support character J2 through the switched screen G2.
Note that the method of flight operation is not particularly limited, and may be performed by using the direction keys of a controller (not shown), by voice input, by detecting the user's body movements such as motion capture, or by the user during game play. It may also be a method of analyzing brain waves.

Further, the support character J2 can move throughout the field in the area where the joint play is being performed, and can freely move even within the range where the moving character J1 cannot move. For example, the moving character J1 cannot move within an area where obstacles or the like are placed in the field, whereas the support character J2 can move above the area. Therefore, the user who has selected the second role can look around the entire field by continuously performing flight operations on the support character J2.
Note that the screen G2 viewed by the user who has selected the second role may display a portion of the field or may display the entire field. Further, when the user performs an operation for displaying enlargement/reduction, a portion of the field may be enlarged/reduced at a magnification according to the amount of the operation and displayed on the screen G2.

The support character J2 cannot attack the enemy E on the field, does not come into contact with the enemy E on the field, and is not attacked by the enemy E. Therefore, the user who has selected the second role does not perform any operation to satisfy the area clearing conditions, such as defeating the enemy E within the area. On the other hand, the user who has selected the second role can perform a guide operation and an input operation as auxiliary operations for the user who has selected the first role during collaborative play. These auxiliary operations correspond to game operations performed by users who have selected the second role during collaborative play.

The guide operation is an operation that informs the user who has selected the first role of the position or direction of a predetermined enemy E on the field. Specifically, the user who has selected the first role cannot notice the presence of the enemy E who is not displayed on the screen G1 displayed on his/her operating terminal. On the other hand, the user who has selected the second role can look around the entire field by continuing to fly the support character J2 over the field, and can confirm the enemy E present at each position on the field. I can do it.

Then, the user who has selected the second role moves the support character J2 to a position corresponding to the enemy E on the field that he or she has focused on (hereinafter referred to as the notified character). Guide operations can be performed to notify the presence. The position corresponding to the notified character is, for example, a position directly above the notified character. When the guide operation is performed, the guide object K is displayed on the play screen G1 viewed by the user who has selected the first role, as shown in the left and right figures of FIG. The guide object K is a mark indicating the direction in which the notified character is located, starting from the position of the moving character J1, and is easily understood as a straight line connecting the current position of the moving character J1 and the current position of the notified character. is an object.

By displaying the guide object K, the user who has selected the first role can be informed of the position or direction of the enemy E (notified character) that is not displayed on the screen G1. The display mode of the guide object K, for example, the display time of the guide object K, display pattern such as lighting or blinking, color, thickness, etc., can be arbitrarily set, and may be changed after setting.

Furthermore, the moving character J1 can perform an action of firing a bullet or the like toward the enemy E as an attack against the enemy E on the field. When causing the moving character J1 to perform this action, the user who has selected the first role performs a predetermined operation (hereinafter referred to as a shooting operation), and specifically instructs the firing direction of a bullet or the like. Here, when a shooting operation is performed while the guide object K is displayed, the firing direction of the bullet, etc. may be automatically set so that the bullet, etc. is directed toward the notified character that exists beyond the guide object K. . As a result, the user who has selected the first role can reliably hit the notified character with a bullet or the like, without having to specifically specify the firing direction.

The input operation is an operation for inputting the input object T onto the field as support supplies for the user who has selected the first role during the cooperative play. Specifically, the user who has selected the second role selects an object to be inserted as the input object T from among the objects that he or she owns in the game while looking at the play screen shown in the left diagram of FIG. Specify the placement position of the input object T on the field. When the input operation is performed in this manner, the input object T is input onto the field from the support character J2 operated by the user who performed the input operation, as shown in the right diagram of FIG.

The input object T is used by the user who has selected the first role, specifically the user who operates the moving character J1 that approaches the input object T, and the effect of the input object T is imparted to that user. The effect of the thrown object T changes depending on the type of the thrown object, and the content of the effect is determined depending on the content of the game. Note that the effects of the input object T may include, in addition to the effect of assisting the user who has selected the first role, the effect of hindering the user who has selected the first role.

[About cooperative play procedures]
Next, the procedure for performing joint play will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Each figure in FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transition of the play screen until starting the joint play. Note that (a), (c), and (e) in FIG. 6 are play screens displayed on the host user side, and (b), (d), and (f) in FIG. 6 are play screens displayed on the guest user side. This is the play screen displayed on the side.

When starting a joint play, one of the users selects a joint play mode on the play mode selection screen (see FIG. 6(a)), and further selects an area for joint play. This user participates in the joint play as a host, requests implementation of the joint play by performing the above operations, and recruits one or more guests to participate in the joint play. Note that the procedure for the host to request implementation of a joint play, that is, the procedure for recruiting guests, is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, a user who wishes to participate in a collaborative play as a guest can, for example, specify one of the hosts currently recruiting guests on the host selection screen (see Figure 6(b)), and then contact that host. You can apply for collaborative play. Note that the procedure for a guest to apply for joint play is not particularly limited.

Through the above steps, matching (combination) between the host and one or more guests participating in the joint play is performed. After matching, a role selection screen (see FIGS. 6(c) and 6(d)) is displayed on each play screen of the host and guest. Each user selects either the first role or the second role on the role selection screen, and specifically, out of the two role buttons displayed on the role selection screen, the button corresponding to the selected role Press the button. For example, to select the first role, press a button labeled "Field Move", and to select the second role, press a button labeled "Support". This operation corresponds to a selection operation. Note that the selection operation is not particularly limited, and may be any operation other than the above-mentioned button operations.

During the role selection period, the selection results of each user are displayed on the role selection screen at any time (see Figures 6(e) and (f)), and each user can select the role selected by other users participating in the same cooperative play. , can be confirmed through the role selection screen. Then, after all users participating in the collaborative play have selected their roles, the host presses the confirm button on the role selection screen (the button labeled "Start Play" in the figure), and at that point each user The role is confirmed. That is, the role of each user during joint play is set based on the selection result of each user. Immediately after the roles of each user are set, collaborative play begins.

One joint play, for example, means clearing the area that was the target of the joint play, specifically, when the moving character J1 reaches a predetermined position on the field, or when a predetermined point appears on the field. The game ends when the conditions such as defeating enemy E are achieved. However, the conditions for one joint play to end may be conditions other than the above, such as a predetermined period of time elapsed from the start of the joint play, or one of the users participating in the joint play leaving the joint play. The termination condition may be that the joint play is interrupted by, for example, doing so.

By the way, for each of the first role and the second role, an upper limit is set for the number of users who can play at the same time in one joint play, and multiple users participating in the joint play can play each role. Select roles within the range that does not exceed the maximum number of users.

In other words, a plurality of slots are assigned to each of the first role and the second role, and the number of slots assigned to each role corresponds to the upper limit of the number of users who select each role. . Each of the plurality of users participating in the joint play specifies any one of the plurality of frames set as the role to be selected during the selection operation. The frame for each role is a concept that represents the remaining number (vacancies) of users who can select each role, and is indicated by a broken line frame in Figures 6(c) to (f). (In other words, selecting a role) consumes one slot assigned to that role. Therefore, roles that currently have slots remaining can be selected, while roles that currently have no slots (slots filled) may be selected because the number of users who have selected that role has reached the upper limit. , it will no longer be possible to choose.

In addition, for each of the first role and the second role, the minimum number of users required for one joint play is determined, that is, the number of users who select each role during one joint play is determined. A lower limit number is set for each role. Therefore, only when the number of users who have selected the first role is equal to or greater than the lower limit number, and the number of users who have selected the second role is equal to or greater than the lower limit number, can a joint play be started. On the other hand, when at least one of the number of users who have selected the first role and the number of users who have selected the second role is below the lower limit, it is not possible to start the joint play.

However, while the number of users who select some of the multiple roles may be unbalanced, some users may choose certain roles, such as roles that are unpopular and tend to be avoided. The number of users may not reach the lower limit. In that case, co-op play cannot be started, which increases the waiting time for each user participating in co-op play, and as a result, the users' motivation for co-op play decreases, such as giving up on participating in co-op play. There is a risk of causing

Therefore, in the present invention, when one or more participating users selects a specific role and satisfies a predetermined condition in a joint play, that user is given priority to select a role in the subsequent joint play. (hereinafter referred to as "priority choice rights"). In other words, in the present invention, priority selection rights are given as motivation for selecting a specific role, and thereby each user's role selection can be adjusted so that joint play can start smoothly. In addition, users participating in the joint play first select a specific role in order to obtain the priority selection right, and in the subsequent joint play, they can freely select a role by exercising the priority selection right. This allows users to be guided to select various roles, including a specific role, in collaborative play.

Here, the specific role is a role for which the number of users who selected the role before starting the joint play is less than the lower limit number. Alternatively, a pre-designated role (for example, a role designated by the host when requesting implementation of a joint play) may be used as the specific role. When the host specifies a specific role, for example, on the host selection screen displayed on the guest side (the screen shown in Figure 6(b)), select ``Select support role in joint play with host X''. Then, a message such as "Priority selection is available" may be displayed, and information regarding the specific role and that priority selection will be granted if the specific role is selected may be displayed. In this case, users other than the matched users can be motivated to participate in the joint play in a specific role in order to obtain priority selection rights.
Note that although a case in which the second role corresponds to a specific role will be described below, the content described below may also be applied to a case in which the first role corresponds to a specific role.

Furthermore, the user who has been given the priority selection right can use the priority selection right when performing a joint play again with the same participating user as the one in the joint play that triggered the granting of the priority selection right. However, without being limited to this, a user who has been given a priority selection right may have priority in a joint play in which some or all of the participating users are different from the joint play in which the priority selection right was granted. You may be able to use your options.
Note that the use of the priority selection right will be explained in detail later.

[About the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and each user's operation terminal]
Next, an information processing apparatus and each user's operation terminal according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention will be described. Note that the following explanation assumes that four users A to D participate in a joint play and cooperate to clear the same area. It is also assumed that user A is a host and users B to D are guests.

In collaborative play, the information processing device according to the first embodiment is configured by a computer, specifically a server 10, and as shown in FIG. Execute information processing. The operation terminals 11 to 14 are client terminals, and are specifically configured with a personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a television receiver capable of inputting information, a wearable terminal, or the like. The communication network 15 that connects the operating terminals 11 to 14 and the server 10 is a communication line network consisting of, for example, the Internet or a mobile communication network, and includes a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, and an Ethernet. (registered trademark) etc.

The server 10 constitutes the "information processing device" of the present invention, and is a computer that executes generation, transmission and reception of data necessary for progressing the game, and various information processing related to the progress of the game, and is, for example, an SNS server. The server 10 may be composed of one computer, or may be composed of a plurality of computers distributed in parallel. Further, the server 10 may be a server computer for ASP (Application Service Provider), SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). In this case, since a series of information processes related to game progress (excluding input and display of information) are executed by the server 10, the operation terminals 11 to 14 of each user input information to be transferred to the server 10, Then, the information distributed from the server 10 may be output.

As shown in FIG. 7, the server 10 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, a communication interface 23, and a storage 24 as hardware devices, which are electrically connected via a bus 25. The processor 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), or an ASIC (Application Processing Unit). Specific Integrated Circuit) etc.

The memory 22 is preferably configured with semiconductor memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The communication interface 23 may be configured by, for example, a network interface card, a communication interface board, or the like. The standard of data communication by the communication interface 23 is not particularly limited, and may include communication by wireless LAN based on Wi-Fi (registered trademark), communication by 3G to 5G or later generation mobile communication system, or Examples include communication based on LTE (Long Term Evolution).

The storage 24 includes flash memory, HDD (Hard Disc Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), FD (Flexible Disc), MO disk (Magneto-Optical disc), CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and SD. It is preferable to use a card (Secure Digital card), a USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), or the like. Furthermore, the storage 24 may be built into the server 10 or may be attached to the server body in an external manner. Furthermore, the storage 24 may be configured by an external computer (for example, a database server) etc. that are communicably connected to the server main body. Note that as a technology for recording various data, a distributed ledger technology such as blockchain may be used for the purpose of avoiding unauthorized data tampering.

Additionally, the server 10 has installed as software a program for an operating system (OS) and an information processing program for playing the game. These programs correspond to "programs" of the present invention, and are programs that control the server 10, which is a computer. That is, by being executed by the processor 21 described above, the server 10 functions as an information processing device of the present invention.

Note that the program may be obtained by reading it from a computer-readable recording medium (media), or may be obtained (downloaded) via a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

During game play, the server 10 receives operations for progressing the game from each of the users A to D by executing the above program, and executes a series of processes for progressing the game. Specifically, before starting the joint play, the server 10 receives a role selection operation from each of users A to D and sets the role of each user, and during the joint play, each user selects the role of each user. The game progresses by accepting operations performed according to the role (specifically, movement operations, flight operations, etc.).

Furthermore, during the joint play, the server 10 executes a process of generating play screen display data according to the role of each user and transmitting it to the operating terminals 11 to 14 of each user. As a result, for example, on the operating terminal of the user operating the moving character J1, a range in which the moving character J1 and its surroundings are displayed in the area that is the target of the joint play is displayed.

Further, if one or two of the users A to D select a specific role, that is, the second role and satisfy a predetermined condition before starting the joint play, the server 10 selects the second role. Grant priority selection rights to the selected users. After that, when users A to D play together again with the same participating users, the user who has the priority selection right can use the priority selection right. In that case, the server 10 receives the selection operation of the user using the priority selection right, giving priority to the selection operation of the user over other users.

In addition, in the following, the joint play that triggered the granting of the priority selection right will be referred to as the "first joint play", and the joint play that occurs after the first joint play and for which the priority selection right is used will be referred to as the "first joint play". The play will be referred to as "second joint play."

To explain the configuration of the server 10 again from a configuration perspective, the server 10 includes an operation reception section 31, a role setting section 32, a game progress section 33, a display control section 34, and a storage section 35, as shown in FIG. , a requesting section 36 , a rights granting section 37 , an inquiry section 38 , and a usage confirmation section 39 . Among these functional units, the storage unit 35 is realized by the memory 22 or the storage 24, and the other functional units are realized by cooperation between various hardware devices that constitute the server 10 and programs installed in the server 10. This is achieved by working hard. Each functional unit will be explained in detail below.

(Operation reception department)
The operation reception unit 31 receives operations for game progress performed by users A to D through the operation terminals 11 to 14 for each user. Obtained from ~14. The operations accepted by the operation reception unit 31 include user operations during collaborative play, specifically, various selections, specifications, instructions, requests, commands, permissions or denials, registration, and other input operations.

More specifically, during collaborative play, the operation reception unit 31 receives a movement operation for the moving character J1 from the user who has selected the first role, and a flight operation for the support character J2 from the user who has selected the second role. accept. Further, during collaborative play, if the user who has selected the second role performs an auxiliary operation (for example, a loading operation, etc.) for the user who has selected the first role, the operation reception unit 31 accepts the auxiliary operation. .

Further, the operation reception section 31 includes a selection reception section 40 as shown in FIG. The selection reception unit 40 receives selection operations from each of users A to D regarding roles in the joint play. The period during which the selection reception unit 40 accepts the selection operation is the stage at which one or more users who will participate in the joint play has been determined before the start of the joint play, and for example, the joint play starts after matching of participating users is completed. This is the period until the Hereinafter, the period during which the selection accepting unit 40 accepts a selection operation will also be referred to as a "role selection period."
Note that the role selection period may be started from the time when the host and one or more guests who will participate in the joint play have been determined, or may be started after all the users who will be participating in the joint play have been determined. Further, the role selection period may start from the time when the host starts recruiting guests. In addition, even after each user participating in a joint play has selected a role, other guests may not apply for (participate in) the joint play until the host instructs the start of the joint play. may be newly accepted.

Furthermore, even after performing the selection operation, each user can reselect a role and perform the selection operation again during the role selection period. In this case, the selection accepting unit 40 discards the previous selection operation by the user who has reselected the role, and accepts the selection operation performed again. For users who have performed multiple selection operations during the role selection period in this way, the selection reception unit 40 will only accept the most recent selection operation.

Further, when the user who has been given the priority selection right in the first joint play uses the priority selection right in the second joint play, the selection reception unit 40 has the priority selection right regarding the role in the second joint play. A selection operation by a user is accepted before a selection operation by a user who does not have priority selection rights. To be more specific, since the second collaborative play is performed by the same participating users as those in the first collaborative play, the selection reception unit 40 determines the role of the plurality of users who participated in the first collaborative play regarding the role in the second collaborative play. Each user's selection operation is accepted. At this time, until the user who has priority selection rights selects a role, acceptance of selection operations by users who do not have priority selection rights is restricted, and more specifically, selection operations are not accepted.

(Role setting section)
The role setting unit 32 sets each role of the users A to D in accordance with the selection operation received from each user by the selection reception unit 40 at the start of the joint play. Set to one of the roles. Note that if there is a user who has performed a selection operation multiple times before starting the joint play, the role setting unit 32 determines the role of that user according to the selection operation that the selection reception unit 40 most recently received from that user. Set.

(Game progress department)
The game progression unit 33 advances the game in response to game progression operations received from each of the users A to D during joint play. Specifically, the game progression unit 33 moves the moving character J1 operated by the user on the field in response to the moving operation of the user who has selected the first role. Furthermore, when the user who has selected the first role performs an operation to attack the enemy E on the field, the game progress unit 33 executes a process of causing the moving character J1 to attack the enemy E. When the enemy E is defeated due to an attack by the moving character J1, such as reducing the physical strength of the enemy E to 0, the game progress unit 33 gives points to the user who made the attack, and The number of enemies E defeated by the user is counted up (added).

In addition, the game progression unit 33 causes the support character J2 operated by the user to move (fly) above the field in response to the flight operation of the user who has selected the second role. Further, when the user who has selected the second role performs an auxiliary operation, the game progress section 33 executes a production process according to the auxiliary operation. For example, when a throw operation is performed as an auxiliary operation, the game progress unit 33 executes a process of arranging (throwing) the throw object T on the field based on the type and placement position of the object specified at the time of the throw operation. do. Accordingly, the game progress unit 33 subtracts the number of objects used as the input object T from among the items owned by the user who performed the input operation, and counts up the number of times the input operation has been performed ( to add.

In addition, the game progression unit 33 starts cooperative play only when the number of users who have selected the first role is equal to or greater than the lower limit number, and the number of users who have selected the second role is equal to or greater than the lower limit number. , if the number of users is less than the lower limit, cooperative play will not start.
Note that the lower limit number set for each role is not particularly limited, but below, a case in which the lower limit number is one person will be described as an example.

(Display control section)
During collaborative play, the display control unit 34 controls the operation terminals 11 to 14 of each of the users A to D to display the play screen, and strictly speaking, generates display data for the play screen for each user and controls each operation. Display data is transmitted to terminals 11-14. To explain in more detail, the display control unit 34 transmits the display data of the screen G1 to the operating terminal of the user who has selected the first role, and transmits the display data of the screen G2 to the operating terminal of the user who has selected the second role. Send display data.

Furthermore, when the moving character J1 moves on the field in response to a moving operation by the user who has selected the first role, the display control unit 34 generates and transmits display data for the screen G1 after the movement. As a result, the portion displayed on the screen G1 changes at any time during the field in conjunction with the movement of the moving character J1. Similarly, when the support character J2 flies over the field in response to the flight operation of the user who has selected the second role, the display control unit 34 generates and transmits display data for the screen G2 after movement. As a result, the portion displayed on the screen G2 changes at any time during the field in conjunction with the flight of the support character J2.

(Storage part)
The storage unit 35 stores various information necessary for progressing the game. The information stored in the storage unit 35 includes, for example, user information shown in FIG. 9 . The user information is information about users who play the game, and includes each user's name, identification ID, area in play, type and number of owned objects (owned items), and type and number of in-game currency owned.
In addition, the user information of the users participating in the joint play includes information on the joint play, other users participating in the joint play, role selection results, and if the first role is selected, the joint play is in progress. It further includes the number of enemies E defeated, the number of auxiliary operations performed during joint play if the second role is selected, and a priority selection flag. The priority selection right possession flag indicates whether or not the priority selection right is possessed. If the priority selection right is possessed, it is "1" and if it is not possessed, it is "0".
Note that the user information is not limited to the information shown in FIG. 9, and may further include information other than the information shown in FIG. 9 regarding the user.

(request part)
The requesting unit 36 issues a selection change request to users participating in the joint play when role change conditions are satisfied during the role selection period before the start of the joint play. The selection change request is to output a message, voice, etc. to request a user who has already performed a selection operation to change the role selection (that is, the initially selected role type).

As a role change condition, for example, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the selection reception unit 40 started accepting selection operations from each user regarding a role in a certain joint play (specifically, a joint play corresponding to the first joint play), , the number of users who have selected the second role is less than the lower limit number. In this case, the requesting unit 36 issues a selection change request to the user who has selected a role other than the second role (that is, the first role).
Note that the above-mentioned predetermined time is a preset time and can be set to any time, but it may be set to a suitable time (for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes) to smoothly start cooperative play. Preferably, it is set.

The case in which the requesting unit 36 makes a role selection request is not limited to the above case, and for example, the role selection request may be made in accordance with an instruction from a host of a joint play. Specifically, after the host and one or more guests who will participate in the joint play (more specifically, the joint play corresponding to the first joint play) have been decided, the selection reception unit 40 selects the roles to be played in the joint play. Accept each user's selection operation. In this case, during the role selection period, when the number of users who have selected the second role is less than the lower limit, user A, the host, selects a role other than the second role on the request destination specification screen (not shown). (that is, the first role), the request destination user is specified from among the guests who have selected the role. Thereafter, the requesting unit 36 issues a selection change request to the guest specified by the host among the guests who have selected the first role.

In other cases, for example, when the number of users who have selected the second role is less than the lower limit number during the role selection period, the server 10, which is the information processing device of the present invention, may select the first role. The request destination user may be automatically designated from among the guests. In this case, the requesting unit 36 issues a selection change request to the guest specified on the server 10 side among the guests who have selected the first role.

Further, when the user who has been given the priority selection right in the first joint play uses the priority selection right in the second joint play, the requesting unit 36 uses the priority selection right during the role selection period for the second joint play. Users who have the following information are excluded from the selection change request. In other words, even if the number of users who select the second role is less than the lower limit while the selection reception unit 40 accepts the selection operation for the role in the second cooperative play, the user who has the priority selection right , no selection change request is made.

(Rights Granting Department)
The rights granting unit 37 grants a preferential selection right to a target user who selects a second role in a certain joint play (more specifically, a joint play corresponding to the first joint play) and satisfies a predetermined condition. . Specifically, if the number of users who selected the second role during the role selection period for the first cooperative play is less than the lower limit number, the requesting unit 36 requests the user who selected the first role to Make a selection change request. If there is a target user who has selected the second role in response to this selection change request (that is, a user who has changed the role selection), the rights granting unit 37 grants priority selection rights to the target user. The target user is a user to whom priority selection rights are granted.

Note that the conditions for granting priority selection rights are not limited to responding to a selection change request as described above. For example, if the number of users who selected the second role during the role selection period for the first cooperative play is less than the lower limit, the user who selected the first role voluntarily selects the role without being requested to change the selection. When the user changes the role and selects the second role, the rights granting unit 37 may grant the priority selection right to the user.

In addition, if the target user who has selected the second role in response to a selection change request or voluntarily for the role in the first joint play satisfies the predetermined play conditions during the first joint play, the target user The right granting unit 37 may grant the priority selection right. Here, the predetermined play condition is that a predetermined result is obtained based on the game operation performed by the target user as the second role during the first joint play, and specifically, This means that the number of times the auxiliary operation has been performed is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

Although different from the above case, in a case where the specific role is the first role, the target user who selected the first role may defeat the enemy E by operating the moving character J1 during the first joint play. The condition for granting the priority selection right (ie, the predetermined play condition) may be that the number of the players is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

(Inquiry Department)
After the cooperative play ends, the inquiry unit 38 presents the inquiry screen shown in FIG. 10 to each of the users A to D who participated in the cooperative play, and allows the same participating users as in the previous cooperative play to continue the cooperative play. Please inquire whether or not to do so. For example, immediately after the first collaborative play that triggered the granting of priority selection rights to the target user, the inquiry unit 38 asks each of the plurality of users who participated in the first collaborative play to The user inquires whether to perform the second joint play with the same participating users as before.

Each user who participated in the first joint play answers whether or not the second joint play will be performed by the same participating users as those during the first joint play through screen operations on the inquiry screen shown in FIG. Specifically, a user who answers that the second collaborative play will be performed by the same participating users as in the first collaborative play clicks the YES button on the screen. On the contrary, a user who answers that he/she will not perform the second collaborative play with the same participating users as in the first collaborative play clicks the NO button on the screen.
Note that each user's response operation to the inquiry by the inquiry unit 38 is accepted by the operation reception unit 31 before the start of the second joint play.

Then, each of the plurality of users who participated in the first joint play (that is, all users A to D who participated in the first joint play) performs a second joint play with the same participating users as in the first joint play. If the answer is yes, the process moves to role selection for the second joint play. In this case, the selection reception unit 40 receives selection operations from each of the plurality of users who participated in the first joint play regarding the role in the second joint play.

Here, the second joint play is a joint play that is performed after the first joint play ends, and hereinafter, the second joint play is performed following the first joint play (that is, the second joint play is performed consecutively with the first joint play. shall be carried out). However, the second joint play only needs to be performed after the first joint play ends, and in cases where the first joint play and the second joint play are not consecutive, for example, the second joint play starts from the first joint play. It may be possible to play together after several times.

(Usage confirmation section)
The usage confirmation unit 39 determines that when each of the plurality of users who participated in the first joint play performs the second joint play with the same participating user as the first joint play, priority selection rights are granted in the first joint play. It is confirmed whether or not the target user will use the priority selection right when selecting a role for the second joint play. Specifically, during the role selection period for the second joint play, the usage confirmation unit 39 displays the usage confirmation screen shown in FIG. 11 on the operation terminal of the target user, and confirms whether or not the priority selection right is used. . The target user answers whether or not to use the priority selection right through screen operations on the usage confirmation screen shown in Figure 11. If he or she wants to use it, he or she clicks the YES button on the screen, and if he or she does not want to use it, he or she clicks the NO button. .

Then, when the target user answers that he or she will use the priority selection right, the selection reception unit 40 accepts the selection operation of the target user (that is, the user who has the priority selection right) during the role selection period for the second joint play. , will be accepted before users other than the target user (that is, users who do not have priority selection rights). The number of times the priority selection right can be used is set for the priority selection right. For example, if the target user uses the priority selection right once, that priority selection right will be consumed, and from then on, the target user will be able to use the priority selection right once. The right of first choice can no longer be used.

[About the information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention]
Next, as an example of the information processing method of the present invention, an information processing flow for progressing the game (hereinafter referred to as this information processing flow) will be described. Note that this information processing flow is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the order of execution of the steps may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

This information processing flow is executed by a computer that constitutes an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, by the server 10. Further, this information processing flow is divided into a processing flow related to the first joint play and a processing flow related to the second joint play performed immediately after the first joint play. Each processing flow will be explained below.
In addition, in the following, similar to the case described above, four users A to D participate in a joint play and cooperate to clear the same area, and user A becomes the host and users B to D become guests. This will be explained using an example.

In the process flow related to the first joint play, first, as shown in FIG. 12, a step of determining a plurality of users who will participate in the joint play, that is, matching of participating users is performed (S001). Specifically, user A, the host, performs an operation to request a joint play and recruit guests, and users B to D perform an operation to participate as a guest in the joint play with user A (apply). )I do. Each operation performed by users A to D for matching is accepted by the server 10 (specifically, the operation reception unit 31), and as a result, matching is completed for the users participating in the joint play.

Thereafter, the server 10 (specifically, the selection reception unit 40) receives selection operations from each of the users A to D regarding roles in the first joint play before the start of the first joint play (S002). In this step S002, if the number of users who have selected the first role and the number of users who have selected the second role are each greater than or equal to the lower limit number (No in S003), the server 10 (more specifically, the game processing unit 33) starts the first joint play based on the joint play start instruction from user A, who is the host (S007).

On the other hand, if the number of users who have selected the second role is less than the lower limit number after a predetermined period of time has passed since the start of the role selection period (Yes in S003), the server 10 (specifically, the request unit 36) , a selection change request is made to the user who has selected the first role at that time (S004). Note that in step S004, the target of the selection change request (request destination) may be a guest specified by the user A who is the host among the users who have selected the first role, or a The user may be automatically specified in .

If one or more of the users for whom the selection change request was made reselects the role from the first role to the second role in response to the selection change request (Yes in S005), the server 10 (for details, The granting unit 37) grants priority selection rights to the user who has responded to the request, that is, the target user (S006).
Note that in step S006, the condition for granting the priority selection right is to select the second role in response to the selection change request, but in addition to this condition, The condition may further include a condition that a predetermined result is obtained by performing a game operation, for example, that an auxiliary operation for a user who has selected the first role is performed a predetermined number of times or more.

In the following, a case will be described as an example in which the user B corresponds to the target user who responded to the selection change request and the priority selection right is granted to the user B.

When user B responds to the selection change request, the number of users who have selected the second role becomes equal to or greater than the lower limit number, so the process moves to step S007 and the first joint play is started. After that, the game progresses according to each game operation of users A to D, and the first joint play ends when the end conditions for the joint play are met, such as clearing the area targeted for the first joint play. At that point, the processing flow related to the first joint play ends.

Following the process flow related to the first cooperative play, the process flow related to the second cooperative play is started and proceeds according to the procedure shown in FIG. 13. When starting the second collaborative play, first, the server 10 (specifically, the inquiry unit 38) asks each of the users A to D whether the second collaborative play will be performed by the same participating users as in the first collaborative play. It is inquired whether or not (S021). Specifically, the inquiry screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on each of the operating terminals 11 to 14 of users A to D.

Each user answers the above inquiry, and the server 10 (specifically, the operation reception unit 31) receives each user's answer (S022). Here, it is assumed that each of the users A to D (that is, all of the users A to D) answers that the second collaborative play will be performed by the same participating users as in the first collaborative play.

The flow after that is generally the same as the flow of the first cooperative play. Specifically, before the start of the second joint play, the server 10 (specifically, the selection reception unit 40) receives selection operations from each of the users A to D regarding roles in the second joint play (S023). At this time, the server 10 (specifically, the usage confirmation unit 39) confirms whether or not the user B who has the priority selection right is using the priority selection right (S024). Specifically, the usage confirmation screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the operation terminal 12 of user B.

User B replies whether or not to use the priority selection right, and when using the priority selection right, the selection operation of user B (i.e., the user with the priority selection right) will be used by other users A, C, and D. (that is, a user who does not have priority rights) is accepted with priority over a selection operation. To be more specific, user B's selection operation is accepted before the selection operations of users A, B, and D. Specifically, users A, C, and D wait until user B's selection operation is accepted. , after user B's selection operation is accepted, the selection operation can be performed.
Note that once the priority selection right is used, it cannot be used thereafter.

In addition, when the selection operations of each of users A to D are accepted for the role of the second joint play, and the number of users who selected the first role and the number of users who selected the second role each become the lower limit number or more ( (No in S026), the server 10 (specifically, the game processing unit 33) starts the second collaborative play based on the user A's instruction to start the collaborative play (S029).

On the other hand, if the number of users who have selected the second role is less than the lower limit number (Yes in S026) when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the start of the role selection period for the role in the second cooperative play, the server 10 In this case, the requesting unit 36) issues a selection change request to the user who has selected the first role at that time (S027). At this time, if user B has selected the first role using the priority selection right, the server 10 removes user B from the selection change request target. In other words, even if user B, who has priority selection rights, has selected the first role, no request to change the selection is made to user B. In this case, the priority selection right that user B has is used (consumed), and user B can no longer use the used priority selection right. On the other hand, when user B selects the second role (a role other than the role related to the selection change request) in the second joint play, the priority selection right held by user B is not consumed.
In addition, in step S027, the target of the selection change request (request destination) may be a guest specified by user A who is a host among the guests who have selected the first role, or a It may also be a guest that is automatically specified. However, even in that case, user B will be excluded from the selection change request.

After that, when one or more users reselect from the first role to the second role in response to the selection change request (Yes in S028), the number of users who have selected the second role becomes greater than or equal to the lower limit number. The process moves to step S029, and the second joint play is started. Although not particularly shown in FIG. 13, users who respond to a role change request during the role selection period of the second collaborative play are given priority selection rights as in the first collaborative play. It's okay.
After the second joint play starts, the game progresses according to each game operation of users A to D, and users A to D clear the area targeted for the second joint play, etc. The second joint play ends when the end condition of is satisfied, and at that point, the processing flow related to the second joint play ends.

[About the second embodiment of the present invention]
In the first embodiment of the present invention described above, regarding the role of the second cooperative play, in order to receive the selection operation of the user who has the priority selection right more preferentially than the selection operation of the user who does not have the priority selection right, We decided to accept the selection operation of the user who has selection rights first. However, other modes than the above are possible for preferentially accepting the selection operation of a user who has priority selection rights, and another mode will be described below as a second embodiment.
Note that, in the following, the points of the second embodiment that are different from the first embodiment will be mainly explained, and the explanation of the points that are common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, a plurality of frames are allocated to each of the plurality of roles (i.e., the first role and the second role) in the second cooperative play, and the plurality of frames are arranged as shown in FIG. includes a priority frame Fy and a normal frame Fx. FIG. 14 shows a screen for a selection operation in the second embodiment, where the left-hand diagram shows the stage before the user who has the priority selection right performs the selection operation, and the right-hand diagram shows the stage before the user who has the priority selection right performs the selection operation. Each stage after the user performs a selection operation is shown.

The priority slot Fy is a special slot provided for users who have the priority selection right, and each of the first role and the second role has a number of slots (according to the number of users who have the priority selection right). Specifically, the same number of priority slots Fy as the number of people concerned are allocated. The normal frame Fx is a frame other than the priority frame Fy, and the number of regular frames assigned to each role is the upper limit of the number of users who select each role in the second cooperative play and the priority frame assigned to each role. This is the difference between the number of frames Fy and the number of frames.

A plurality of users who participate in the second joint play designate any one of the plurality of frames when performing a selection operation regarding a role in the second joint play. At this time, the user who has selection priority can designate the priority frame Fy and perform a selection operation. On the other hand, a user who does not have selection priority rights cannot specify the priority frame Fy, but must specify the fruit of the normal frame Fx and perform a selection operation. For example, if user B has selection priority among users A to D participating in the second collaborative play, user B is allowed to specify the priority frame Fy, but other users A, C, and D Designation of priority frame Fy is not permitted. Then, when the selection operation is accepted, one frame designated at the time of the selection operation is consumed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, both the priority slot Fy for selecting the first role and the priority slot Fy for selecting the second role are secured for the user who has the priority selection right. has been done. Therefore, when selecting a role for the second joint play, the user who has priority selection rights can freely select the role he/she desires.

Furthermore, after the user who has the priority selection right specifies the priority frame Fy and performs a selection operation, the remaining priority frame Fy (that is, the unspecified priority frame Fy) is released, as shown in FIG. Changes to normal frame FX. To explain with a specific example, when user B who has selection priority selects the first role by specifying the priority slot Fy, the priority slot Fy for the second role that was not specified is released and the normal The frame is changed to Fx. This increases the number of normal slots Fx for the second role, that is, the opportunity to select the second role.

The configuration of an information processing device for realizing the above contents will be explained with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the functions of the information processing device according to the second embodiment. The information processing device according to the second embodiment is configured by a server 10X, and has a frame number setting unit 41 and a frame changing unit 42 in addition to the functions of the information processing device (i.e., server 10) according to the first embodiment. . Each functional unit illustrated in FIG. 15 is realized by cooperation between various hardware devices that constitute the server 10X and programs installed in the server 10X.

The slot number setting unit 41 sets the number of priority slots Fy to be assigned to each of the plurality of roles (that is, the first role and the second role) in the second joint play. The number of priority slots Fy allocated to each role is set according to the number of users who have priority selection rights among the users participating in the second cooperative play, and is set to the same number of slots as the number of users, for example. .

During the role selection period of the second joint play, the frame changing unit 42 releases the unspecified priority frame Fy and changes it to the normal frame Fx after accepting the selection operation of the user who has the priority selection right.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, each of the plurality of users participating in the second cooperative play specifies one of the frames assigned to each role when performing a selection operation regarding the role in the second cooperative play. . The selection operation of each user is accepted by the selection reception unit 40, and at this time, the selection reception unit 40 allows the user who has the priority selection right to specify the priority frame Fy. On the other hand, for users who do not have priority selection rights, the selection reception unit 40 does not permit designation of the priority frame Fy, but only allows designation of the normal frame Fx.

[Other embodiments]
Up to this point, the information processing device, information processing method, and program of the present invention have been described by citing specific embodiments, but the embodiments described above are merely examples, and other embodiments are also possible. obtain.

In the above embodiment, the server 10 as an example of a computer functions as the information processing device of the present invention, but some of the functions of the server 10 may be provided on the user's operation terminals 11 to 14. . For example, the game progress section 33 may be provided in the user's operation terminals 11 to 14. In this case, in the joint play, the operation terminals 11 to 14 of each user receive data for progressing the game from the server 10, and execute processing to progress the game according to each user's operation.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the communication method used when the operation terminals of each of the plurality of users who play together communicate is a method via the server 10 (client-server method); A P2P (peer-to-peer) method that does not involve an intermediary may also be used. In that case, the operating terminals of each user will work together to function as the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

[summary]
The present invention is achieved by the configurations shown in [1] to [12] below, and each configuration can provide various effects.

[1] The information processing device of the present invention allows the users participating in the joint play to perform a selection operation in which each user selects from a plurality of roles regarding the role played by the user in the joint play of a game in which a plurality of users can participate. A selection receiving unit that accepts a selection at a predetermined stage for one or more users, and a rights granting unit that grants rights regarding role selection to users who select a specific role in the first joint play and meet predetermined conditions. , the selection reception unit is characterized in that regarding roles in a second joint play performed after the first joint play, a selection operation by a user who has the right is given priority over a selection operation by a user who does not have the right. do.
According to the information processing device of the present invention, a user who selects a specific role in the first cooperative play and satisfies a predetermined condition has the right to preferentially select a role in the second cooperative play in return. will be granted. Thereby, users participating in the first joint play can be motivated to select a specific role, and it becomes easier to secure users who select a specific role. As a result, it becomes possible to smoothly start a joint play in which a plurality of users select roles.

[2] After the first collaborative play ends, the information processing device of the present invention performs a second collaborative play for the plurality of users who participated in the first collaborative play with the same participating users as in the first collaborative play. It may also have an inquiry section that makes inquiries about the information. Then, when each of the plurality of users who participated in the first joint play answers that the second joint play will be performed by the same participating users as in the first joint play, the selection reception unit selects the second joint play in the second joint play. Regarding the role, it is preferable to accept a selection operation from each of the plurality of users who participated in the first joint play.
According to the above configuration, a user who selects a specific role during the first cooperative play can exercise the above rights and give priority to the role in the second cooperative play performed by the same participating users as during the first cooperative play. You can choose your role accordingly. As a result, the above rights will be effectively utilized.

[3] In the information processing device of the present invention, the selection reception unit may receive a selection operation by a user who has the right for the role in the second joint play before a selection operation by a user who does not have the right. Good too.
The above configuration is one form for accepting the selection operation of a user who has the right with respect to the role in the second joint play with priority over the selection operation of a user who does not have the right, and if such a form , the information processing device and information processing method of the present invention can be implemented relatively easily.

[4] Further, in the information processing device of the present invention, a plurality of slots including a priority slot and a normal slot other than the priority slot are assigned to each of the plurality of roles in the second cooperative play, and at the time of selection operation, The user may specify any one of a plurality of frames. In this case, it is preferable that the selection receiving unit allows the user who has the right to specify the priority frame for the role in the second joint play, and does not allow the user who does not have the right to specify the priority frame.
The above configuration is one form for accepting the selection operation of a user who has the right with respect to the role in the second joint play with priority over the selection operation of a user who does not have the right, and if such a form , the information processing device and information processing method of the present invention can be implemented relatively easily.

[5] In the information processing device of the present invention, while the selection reception unit receives each user's selection operation regarding the role in the second joint play, an unspecified priority frame is selected after receiving the selection operation of the user who has the right. It is more preferable to have a frame changing section that changes the frame to a normal frame.
With the above configuration, by releasing the unspecified priority slot and changing it to a normal slot after accepting the selection operation of the user who has the rights, there is an opportunity to select the role corresponding to the released unspecified priority slot. can be increased.

[6] The information processing device of the present invention sets the number of priority slots to be assigned to each of the plurality of roles according to the number of users who have the right among the users participating in the second joint play. It may also include a frame number setting section.
With the above configuration, the number of priority frames is set according to the number of users who have the rights, so the opportunity to specify the priority frame and select it is appropriately secured for the users who have the rights. Become so.

[7] The information processing device of the present invention may include a requesting unit that issues a selection change request to the user who performed the selection operation while the selection reception unit accepts the selection operation from each user. In this case, the rights granting unit may grant rights to the user who has selected a specific role in response to the selection change request regarding the role in the first joint play. Further, it is preferable that the requesting section excludes the users who have the rights from the selection change request while the selection receiving section receives each user's selection operation regarding the role in the second joint play.
With the above configuration, the user who has the right is excluded from the selection change request, so it becomes easier to benefit from the right, and the effect of the right is that the user can preferentially select the role in the second cooperative play. will be properly insured.

[8] Further, in the information processing device of the present invention, the predetermined condition is based on a specific role selected in the first cooperative play and a game operation performed as the specific role during the first cooperative play. It may also include obtaining a result.
In the above configuration, in addition to selecting a specific role in the first joint play, the condition for granting rights is that a predetermined result is obtained during the first joint play. In such a case, the conditions for granting rights will be stricter than in the case where the only condition for granting rights is to select a specific role in the first joint play, so it is difficult to enhance the gameplay (interest). can.

[9] Furthermore, in the information processing device of the present invention, a lower limit may be set for the number of users who select a specific role in joint play. If the number of users who have selected a specific role is less than the lower limit while the selection reception unit receives selection operations from each user before the start of the first collaborative play, the rights granting unit responds to the selection change request. It is a good idea to grant rights to users who have selected a specific role.
In this case, the effect (merit) of granting rights to a user who has selected a specific role becomes more meaningful. Specifically, while the number of users selecting a specific role is below the minimum number, cooperative play cannot be started, but granting rights can motivate users to select a specific role. It becomes easier to ensure that the number of users who select a specific role exceeds the lower limit number. As a result, it becomes easier to start cooperative play smoothly.

[10] Furthermore, in the information processing device of the present invention, the plurality of users participating in the collaborative play are divided into one or more guests and a host recruiting guests, and the host participating in the first collaborative play and the one or more users After the guest is determined, the selection reception unit may accept each user's selection operation regarding the role in the first joint play. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus of the present invention may include a requesting section that requests the user who has performed the selection operation to change the selection while the selection reception section receives the selection operation from each user. If the number of users who have selected a specific role is less than the lower limit while the selection reception unit accepts selection operations from each user before the start of the first collaborative play, the request unit selects a role other than the specific role. A selection change request may be made to a guest specified by the host among the guests whose role has been selected.
According to the above configuration, the target of the selection change request (request destination) can be determined according to the host's intention. Further, since a user who responds to a selection change request is granted a right in return, it becomes easier to motivate the user to respond to the selection change request.

[11] The information processing device of the present invention may include a requesting unit that issues a selection change request to the user who performed the selection operation while the selection reception unit accepts the selection operation from each user. Then, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the selection reception unit started accepting selection operations from each user regarding the role in the first cooperative play, if the number of users who have selected a specific role is less than the lower limit number, the request unit , it is preferable to make a selection change request to a user who has selected a role other than a specific role.
According to the above configuration, a role change request is made when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the selection period for the role in the first joint play started. In this way, the role change request can be utilized as a means for smoothly starting the first joint play. Further, since the user who responds to the selection change request is granted rights in return, it becomes easier to motivate the user to respond to the selection change request.

[12] The information processing method of the present invention is characterized in that, regarding the role played by a user in a joint play of a game in which a plurality of users can participate, a computer performs a selection operation in which each user selects from a plurality of roles. The computer grants the right to select a role to the user who selects a specific role in the first collaborative play and satisfies the predetermined conditions, and Regarding the role in the second joint play performed after the second joint play, the computer is characterized in that it accepts the selection operation of a user who has the right with priority over the selection operation of a user who does not have the right.
According to the information processing method of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly start a joint play in which a plurality of users select roles.

[13] The program of the present invention allows users participating in the joint play to perform a selection operation for each user to select from a plurality of roles on a computer regarding the role played by the user in the joint play of a game in which a plurality of users can participate. The computer grants the right to select a role to a user who selects a specific role in the first collaborative play and satisfies a predetermined condition. The present invention is characterized in that the computer is made to accept a selection operation by a user who has the rights with priority over a selection operation by a user who does not have the rights regarding the role in the second joint play that will be performed later.
By causing a computer to execute the program of the present invention, it becomes possible to smoothly start a joint play in which a plurality of users select roles.

10,10X server (information processing device)
11, 12, 13, 14 Operation terminal 15 Communication network 21 Processor 22 Memory 23 Communication interface 24 Storage 25 Bus 31 Operation reception section 32 Role setting section 33 Game progress section 34 Display control section 35 Storage section 36 Request section 37 Rights grant Section 38 Inquiry section 39 Usage confirmation section 40 Selection reception section 41 Number of frames setting section 42 Frame change section 43 Designation reception section E Enemy Fx Normal frame Fy Priority frame H Auxiliary item K Guide object J1 Moving character J2 Support character

Claims (1)

A selection reception unit that accepts a selection operation for each user to select from a plurality of roles regarding a role to be played by a user in a joint play of a game in which a plurality of users can participate, when one or more users have decided to participate in the joint play. and,
a rights granting unit that grants rights regarding role selection to a user who selects a specific role in the first joint play and satisfies a predetermined condition;
The selection reception unit is configured to prioritize the selection operation of a user who has the right over the selection operation of a user who does not have the right for a role in a second joint play performed after the first joint play. An information processing device that accepts information.