JP2024061815A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of enhancing a user's willingness to play a game by generating a variety of game spaces.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: An information processing device includes a game control unit for controlling a game including an event that can be played by a plurality of users, and an organization unit for organizing a group of the plurality of users playing the event. The game control unit executes control so that the plurality of users in the group can start to play the event using a game space determined on the basis of a game medium provided by at least one user in the group after the group is organized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

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

Conventionally, in computer games such as online games, users can play in a pre-defined game space. Some games also allow users to customize the game space using items, etc.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that users can customize (develop) the game space, which is the fishing spot, by changing its appearance and enhancing its functions according to their own preferences.

Patent Publication 2016-063884

However, even if users can customize the game space as in Patent Document 1, they can only play within the scope of a pre-defined game space. This means that there is a risk that users will get bored and lose their motivation to play.

The present invention aims to provide an information processing device, information processing method, and program that can generate a variety of game spaces to increase users' motivation to play.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a game control unit that controls a game including an event that can be played by multiple users, and an organization unit that organizes a group of multiple users who will play the event. After the group is organized, the game control unit controls the multiple users in the group to be able to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to generate a variety of game spaces and increase the user's motivation to play.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information processing system including an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an event play screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a game space generation screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a game space list screen. A figure showing an example of a game medium identification screen. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of game medium information. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an information processing flow according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the flow of a group formation process. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of a game space generation process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is merely an example given to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Naturally, the present invention also includes equivalents thereof.

The examples of screens described in this specification and the drawings are merely examples, and the screen configuration and design, the content of the displayed information, and the GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc., can be freely designed according to the system design specifications and user preferences, etc., and can be changed as appropriate.

<About the game according to this embodiment>
The communication system shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as information processing system S) is a communication system including an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as server 10) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and provides a game to a user (hereinafter referred to as a user) who is a player of the game.

A game is content that a user plays by operating a user terminal 12 while viewing a game screen on the user terminal 12 for gameplay, and in this embodiment, it is an online game (electronic game) provided using the information processing system S. Online games include browser games that use 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 regularly updated online games such as play-by-web (PBW). The genre (classification) of the game is not particularly limited.

In this embodiment, when a user performs operations for playing a game on the user terminal 12, the user terminal 12 receives data for progressing through the game that is distributed from the server computer of the game provider, i.e., the server 10. The user terminal 12 outputs video and audio corresponding to the received data, and the user progresses through the game while checking the output video and audio. The user terminal 12 also transmits data indicating the user's operations to the server 10, and the server 10 transmits data for progressing through the game corresponding to the user's operations. This data transmission and reception between the server 10 and the user terminal 12 is repeated until the user finishes playing the game.

In a game, a user can obtain (acquire) game media and own (possess) it as an asset, and can use or consume the game media that he or she owns. Game media are game objects that a user can use to progress through a game, including playing the game, and include characters, items, cards, and avatars used in the game. Game media also include in-game currencies, such as tickets, points, coins, gold, or stones, that have value as a consideration that can be exchanged for other game media such as items or characters in the game, or consumed to play lotteries, events, attractions, etc. In-game currencies include paid in-game currencies that can be obtained by paying, and free in-game currencies that can be obtained without paying. Users can obtain game media by purchasing them at an in-game shop, playing or clearing events, playing lotteries, which are a method of randomly providing items called gacha, and so on.

Each game medium has its own personality, and various parameters that indicate the name, rarity, attributes, appearance, and action effects or abilities are set for each game medium. Parameters are indicators that affect the progress of the game, and include those expressed numerically, those expressed as ranks written in alphabets such as "A, B, C...", and those expressed by indicators such as gauges. In addition, parameters include those that change as the game progresses, and those that are constant and do not change regardless of the progress of the game.

In this embodiment, as an example of a game, a game in which players can obtain game media such as items, place buildings, and play fishing games (events where players can experience fishing) in a digitized world such as an island will be described.

An event is a mini-game included in a game, and when we say a game, we mean the entire game including the event. That is, a game includes everything, such as the selection of a character to be used as an avatar, the acquisition of game media such as items, matching of multiple users in group formation, generation of a game space such as a fishing spot, playing in a unique game space, and playing an event such as a fishing game in a shared game space. Events also support so-called multiplay (hereinafter referred to as cooperative play) in which multiple users belonging to the same group form a group and play simultaneously in a common game space by operating each user terminal 12. The cooperative play is performed through the communication function of each user's user terminal 12, and the progress of the play is synchronized between users who play cooperatively, i.e., within the group. The cooperative play may be either a cooperative play game in which multiple users cooperate with each other, or a competitive game in which users compete against each other.

A group is a collection of multiple users who play an event together. Specifically, for each event play, a specific user (host) recruits users from among other users to play together, and a group is formed by adding other users (guests) who respond to the recruitment. At this time, the host may recruit without specifying a specific user, or may specify and invite a specific user.

In the game of this embodiment, there are unique game spaces in which each user can place buildings and the like, and a shared game space in which a fishing game can be played together with other users. A unique game space is set for each user, and the user can customize the appearance and function of their unique game space to their liking, for example by placing buildings in the unique game space. Note that each user cannot place buildings in the unique game space of another user. On the other hand, the shared game space corresponds to the game space of the present invention, and is a field for playing events such as a fishing game (a fishing spot in the case of a fishing game), and is generated each time such an event is played based on game media provided by multiple users. Note that no user can place buildings and the like in the shared game space.

In addition, the game medium can be obtained in either the unique game space or the shared game space. In the game of this embodiment, the game medium is obtained in the unique game space, and the obtained game medium is used to generate the shared game space. The game medium obtained in the shared game space can also be used to install buildings in the unique game space, or to generate the shared game space. This game cycle allows the user to play in a way that develops both the unique game space and the shared game space.

A fishing game held in a shared game space is an event that can be played collaboratively by multiple users. In a fishing game, users belonging to a group (e.g., a group of four people) organized by multiple users each walk around a fishing spot, which is a game space, within a set time limit to collect game media such as items and catch game media such as fish, with the goal of ultimately catching a giant fish that is a boss character. The fishing game may be a team game in which the group cooperates with each other (e.g., the game is cleared when the group catches a giant fish), or an individual game in which users belonging to a group compete against each other (e.g., the user who catches the giant fish wins).

In a fishing game, for example, as shown in the event play screen G1 in FIG. 2, characters operated by multiple users are placed in a game space (a fishing spot consisting of islands, bridges, the sea, etc.). The multiple users then play the fishing game by operating characters that serve as their own avatars.

Below, we will explain the flow of a fishing game from start to finish as an example of an event. Note that it is assumed that each user owns game media such as items required to generate a fishing spot, which is the game space of the fishing game.

(1) Group Formation First, a group formation screen (not shown) for forming a group of multiple users who will play the fishing game event together is displayed on the user terminal 12 of the user. On the group formation screen, users are matched with each other in response to a call from the host user, and users who will play the fishing game event together are recruited. In this embodiment, one group is formed with a total of four users, one host and three guests. Note that in this embodiment, a game space is generated after the group is formed, i.e., after multiple users are matched.

(2) Game space generation (game medium designation)
Once the group formation is complete, a game space generation screen G2 as shown in Fig. 3 is then displayed on the user terminal 12 of each user belonging to the group. The game space generation screen G2 is a screen on which each user designates a game medium (first designation operation) and multiple users belonging to the group all provide game media to generate a fishing spot, which is a game space. Note that Fig. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on the user terminal 12 operated by the host, but a roughly similar screen is also displayed on the user terminal 12 operated by each guest (however, the event start button 80 is not displayed on the user terminal 12 operated by the guest).

The game space generation screen G2 has a game space display area 81 that displays information about the game space generated by game media designated by multiple users at that time, a designated game media display area 82 that displays information about the game media designated by each user at that time, and an owned game media display area 83 that displays a list of game media that can be designated by the user. The game space display area 81 displays various parameters indicating the appearance and difficulty of the generated game space, and the remaining time for which the game space can be generated. The game space display area 81 is updated in real time based on the combination of game media each time a game medium is changed by each user. The designated game media display area 82 displays an icon identifying each user belonging to the group and the game media designated by each user. Note that one user can designate one game medium, and each time a game medium is changed by each user, the game media displayed in the designated game media display area 82 is updated in real time. In the owned game media display area 83, the game media designated by each user is displayed with a cursor on it so that it can be distinguished from other undesignated game media. In this way, while the game space is being generated, the appearance of the game space, gimmicks, fish that can be caught, etc. change one after another based on the game media selected by multiple users, allowing users to experience the tension of not knowing what kind of game space will be generated.

(3) Game Space Determination In addition, the game space generation screen G2 displayed on the user terminal 12 operated by the host displays an event start button 80 that is not displayed on the user terminal 12 operated by the guest. For example, when the remaining time reaches 0 or when all of the users have finished specifying game media, the host taps the event start button 80, and the fishing spot, which is the game space, is determined and the fishing game starts. At this time, the game media specified by each user are provided and consumed for the generation of the game space. Note that the generation of the game space is an initial generation, and the game space does not exist before the game space is generated. In other words, the fishing game cannot be played before the game space is generated by specifying game media through group formation.

(4) Game Start When the host taps the event start button 80 or the like to start the fishing game, the screen transitions from the game space generation screen G2 (FIG. 3) to the event play screen G1 as shown in FIG. 2. At this time, the type of fish that can be caught in the generated game space and the clearing conditions may be displayed. In the fishing game, the users belonging to the group walk around the fishing spot, which is the game space, within a time limit to collect items such as treasure chests and catch fish that lurk in the fishing spot. For example, in this embodiment, the user throws a fishing line (fish hook) into the sea from an island or a bridge, and operates a reel button (not shown) for pulling the fishing line to fight with the fish that bite the fishing line so that the fishing line is not cut. As a result of the battle, when the fish loses its stamina, the user can reel in the fish. On the other hand, if the fishing line is cut before the fish loses its stamina, the fish will escape. In addition, when the group catches a predetermined number of fish, or when the group collects a predetermined number of game media, a giant fish, which is a boss character, appears. When multiple users belonging to a group work together to catch the giant fish, the game is cleared and the game (event) ends.
In addition, in conjunction with the time axis of the real world, the scenery of the fishing spot and the fish that can be caught may be changed depending on the time of day when the user plays, even in the same game space. Furthermore, it may be possible to lend and borrow game media such as fishing rods, bait, or boats between users, or to push other users into the sea. Furthermore, after the event ends, it may be possible to make the catch public to other users so that they can brag about it or share it.

Furthermore, when forming a group or generating a game space, a game space list screen G3 as shown in Fig. 4 may be displayed on each user's user terminal 12. The game space list screen G3 is a screen that identifiably displays information on game spaces that can be generated based on game media owned by each user. When a user selects a desired game space from among the game spaces displayed in the list (selection operation), the required game media are automatically or randomly designated, and the designated game media are provided and consumed for generating the game space.
The game space list screen G3 has a game space display area 84 that displays a list of game spaces that can be generated for each user. In the game space display area 84, for example, game spaces that cannot be generated are displayed in a hidden or grayed-out manner so that the user can identify whether or not they can be generated. In addition, the game space display area 84 displays the game spaces that can be generated and the game media required to generate the game spaces in association with each other.

Examples of game spaces that can be generated include the following:
(a) Game space based on owned game media: That is, a game space that can be generated based on game media owned by multiple users belonging to a group, and the game space can be generated by each user providing those game media. Note that this condition is a prerequisite for the following conditions (b)-(c).
(b) Game space according to user rank For example, if a user has a low rank based on their game experience, etc., a game space cannot be generated, but if the user's rank increases to a certain level, the game space can be generated.
(c) Game Space Possessing Recipe For example, recipe A is required to generate game space A. Alternatively, by obtaining recipe A, item A required to generate game space A can be specified.
(d) Game space in which essential game content is possessed For example, if a player possesses key item A, which is essential for generating game space A, i.e., an item that cannot be substituted elsewhere, it becomes possible to generate that game space.

In addition, since the game space display area 84 may become enormous if it displays all game spaces that can be generated from the owned game media, for example, the display may be limited to game spaces that have not been generated or played by users belonging to the group, or the display mode of ungenerated and generated or unplayed and played game spaces may be changed to make them distinguishable. Furthermore, when a user selects a generated or played game space on the game space list screen G3, a warning may be displayed to recommend an ungenerated or unplayed game space, i.e., a new combination of game media.

5 may be displayed on each user's user terminal 12. When the host specifies a game space (second specification operation), the game medium identification screen G4 is a screen that displays, to the user terminal 12 of a joining user who wishes to join the group, whether or not missing game media that are not owned by users already participating in the group and are among the game media required to generate the game space specified by the host are included among the game media owned by the joining user in a identifiable manner.
The game media identification screen G4 has a game media display area 85 that displays a list of game media. In the game media display area 85, for example, game media that are not involved in the generation of the specified game space are displayed so that they can be identified by being hidden or grayed out. In addition, for the specified game space, information indicating whether or not the user owns game media necessary for the generation of the game space is displayed.

In addition, when the host specifies a game space, a notification to join the group may be sent to users who possess game media necessary to generate the game space. In addition, when the host specifies a game space and the number of users participating in the group is less than a predetermined number, the ability of users who wish to join the group to join may be controlled depending on whether or not they possess the missing game media necessary to generate the game space that is not owned by the users participating in the group. In other words, users suitable for the game space specified by the host may be matched as guests.

In addition, even after the event ends, a user to be associated with the generated game space may be determined based on a predetermined condition, and ownership of the game space may be granted to the associated user. A user to whom ownership has been granted may make the game space available to other users who have a predetermined relationship with the user, i.e., a friendship relationship with the user, and who have been mutually approved by the users (hereinafter referred to as friends), and may also play together with friends at any time.

The user to whom ownership of the game space is granted is determined based on the following conditions (predetermined conditions).
(a) In principle, ownership is granted to the host of the group that created the game space.
(b) Ownership is granted to all users who have provided game content. In this case, multiple users may share ownership of one game space.
(c) Ownership is granted to users who have provided the greatest number of game media.
(d) Ownership is granted to a user who has an excellent record in event play, for example, a user who has caught the most fish.
In addition, a maximum number of game spaces that a user can own may be set (for example, up to 10 slots), and when acquiring a new game space, the user may need to select a game space that he or she already owns. In this case, the ownership of the game space may be transferable, but when transferring, priority may be given to a user who created the game space at the same time. For example, priority is given by inquiring from a user who owns a game space as to whether or not he or she wishes to transfer the ownership.

<Configuration of information processing device and user terminal according to this embodiment>
Next, the configuration of an information processing device and a user terminal 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information processing device according to this embodiment is configured by a computer for distributing game data, more precisely a server computer (hereinafter referred to as server 10). The server 10 is an example of a computer, and as shown in Fig. 1, is communicatively connected to a plurality of user terminals 12 via a network 14, and together with the user terminals 12, constitutes an information processing system S for games. The network 14 is a communication line network consisting of, for example, the Internet or a mobile communication network, and may include a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like.

In the information processing system S of this embodiment, the game progresses as a result of the server 10 and the user terminal 12 working together in the above configuration. Specifically, part of the game progress processing is performed on the server 10 side, and part of the graphic processing, etc. is executed on the user terminal 12. For example, the server 10 side executes a program including certain rules, logic, and algorithms. Meanwhile, the user terminal 12 side synchronizes with the server 10 and progresses the game according to the same rules, logic, and algorithms as the program executed on the server 10.

The server 10 is an example of the "information processing device" of the present invention, and is a computer that executes various information processing related to the progress of the game, such as generating and transmitting data necessary for the progress of the game, and more specifically, in this embodiment, is an SNS server. The server 10 may be composed of one computer, or may be composed of multiple computers distributed in parallel. The server 10 may also 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, a series of information processing steps related to the progress of the game (excluding input and display of information) are executed by the server 10, so that the user terminal 12 only needs to input information to be handed over to the server 10 and display information distributed from the server 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the server 10 has a processor 21, a memory 22, a communication interface 23, and a storage 24 as hardware devices, and these devices are electrically connected via a bus 25. In addition, an operating system (OS) and a dedicated program for processing information about the game are installed as software in the server 10. These programs correspond to the "program" of the present invention. When the processor 21 operates according to the above program, the server 10 functions as the information processing device of the present invention and executes a series of processes related to the progress of the game. The program of the present invention may be obtained by reading it from a computer-readable recording medium, or may be obtained (downloaded) via a network 14 such as the Internet or an intranet.

The processor 21 may be configured with 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 Specific Integrated Circuit), etc.

The memory 22 may be composed of semiconductor memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

The communication interface 23 may be, for example, a network interface card or a communication interface board. The standard of data communication by the communication interface 23 is not particularly limited, and examples include communication by a wireless LAN based on Wi-fi (registered trademark), communication by a 3G to 5G or later generation mobile communication system, or communication based on LTE (Long Term Evolution).

The storage 24 may be a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disk (FD), a magneto-optical disk (MO disk), a CD, etc.
The storage 24 may be configured by a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a Secure Digital card (SD card), a Universal Serial Bus memory (USB memory), or the like. The storage 24 may be built into the server 10, or may be attached to the server body in an external format. The storage 24 may be configured by an external computer (e.g., a database server) communicably connected to the server body. As a technology for recording various data, a distributed ledger technology such as a blockchain may be used to avoid unauthorized data tampering.

The server 10 distributes information necessary for the progress of the game to each user, and also collects and stores information from each user. The information stored by the server 10 includes information about each user and information about the game. The server 10 also performs various other information processing related to the progress of the game.

The user terminal 12 is a client terminal that a user operates to play the game, and may be, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a television set capable of inputting information, or a wearable terminal. Note that for convenience of illustration, four user terminals 12 are shown in FIG. 1, but of course, in reality, there will be as many user terminals 12 as there are users playing the game.

The user terminal 12 receives data for game progression from the server 10, and displays images (video) indicated by the data on the display of the user terminal 12 or a display device such as a TV connected to the user terminal 12, and outputs audio from a speaker or the like. That is, in this embodiment, the user terminal 12 functions as a display unit and an audio output unit. For example, the user terminal 12 displays an event play screen G1 (Figure 2), a game space generation screen G2 (Figure 3), a game space list screen G3 (Figure 4), a game medium identification screen G4 (Figure 5), and a group formation screen (not shown).

The user terminal 12 also accepts user operations performed while playing the game, and transmits information corresponding to the operation content to the server 10. For example, the user performs a first designation operation for designating the game media to be provided in order to generate a game space, a second designation operation for designating a desired game space when the user becomes a host, a selection operation for selecting a game space from among game spaces that can be generated, a user recruitment operation for inviting other users to join the group, a group participation application operation for applying to join a group, a character operation for moving a character in the game space, and an item use operation for using an item in the game space, etc., on the user terminal 12, and transmits information based on these operations to the server 10. In addition to the above operations, the user also performs operations necessary for playing the game on the user terminal 12 as appropriate.

<Functions of the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention>
The configuration of the server 10, which is an information processing device according to this embodiment, will be described again from the functional aspect. As shown in FIG. 6, the server 10 has a storage unit 30, an information acquisition unit 40, a display control unit 50, an organization unit 60, and a game control unit 70. Of these, the storage unit 30 is realized by the memory 22 or the storage 24, and the other functional units are realized by the cooperation of the hardware devices constituting the server 10 and the programs installed in the server 10. When the server 10 is composed of multiple computers, the above functions may be distributed so that each of the multiple computers performs a different function. Each functional unit will be described in detail below.

(Memory unit)
The storage unit 30 stores information necessary for playing the game, specifically, information about the user, information about the game medium, etc. In addition, it stores various other information, such as all information about the game in general, including events.

As shown in FIG. 7, information about users (user information) is stored for each user with various information linked to identification information (identification ID or game account name, etc.) that identifies each user. For example, items of user information include the user's rank (level), identification information of the character used, information about the game media owned, information about the unique game space, information about the shared game space, the ownership slot of the shared game space, and identification information of other users who are friends with the user. Information about the game media owned includes information such as the type and number of game media owned, such as items and in-game currency. Information about the unique game space includes information such as customized appearance and functions. Information about the shared game space includes information about the number of shared game spaces owned by the user and their features. The ownership slot includes information such as the upper limit of the number of shared game spaces that can be owned and the current number owned (or the remaining number).
In addition, the user information may include information other than the above, such as the user's personal information such as contact information, a billing history indicating the number of times and amount of charges the user has made to the game, and a game play history such as the login date and time, number of logins, total game play time, number of events played, number of events cleared, and number of times the game medium has been used.

As shown in Fig. 8, information related to game media (game media information) is stored for each game medium with various information linked to identification information (such as an identification ID) that identifies each game medium. For example, items of game media information include name, exterior design, attributes, usage method, and various parameters indicating effects. The various parameters indicating effects include parameters that indicate the influence that will be exerted on the generation of the game space when provided for the generation of the game space.
In addition, the game media information may include other information besides the above, such as the rank (level) of the game media, the acquisition method, the acquisition period, the usable period, and the price (if it can be purchased with in-game currency).

(Information Acquisition Unit)
The information acquisition unit 40 corresponds to the operation reception unit of the present invention, and acquires information (data) based on operations performed by the user on the user terminal 12 during game play by communicating with the user terminal 12. In particular, the information acquisition unit 40 has a first designation operation reception unit 41, a second designation operation reception unit 42, and a selection operation reception unit 43. The first designation operation reception unit 41 acquires first designation operation information based on a first designation operation for designating a game medium to be provided from among game media owned by each of the multiple users who have joined the group. The second designation operation reception unit 42 acquires second designation operation information based on a second designation operation for designating a game space desired to be generated by the host. The selection operation reception unit 43 acquires selection operation information based on a selection operation for selecting a game space from among game spaces that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the multiple users.
Other information acquired by the information acquisition unit 40 includes user recruiting operation information based on a user recruiting operation, group participation application operation information based on a group participation application operation, character operation information based on a character operation, and item use operation information based on an item use operation, etc. In addition to the above information, the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 40 includes information based on various selections, designations, instructions, requests, commands, permission or refusal, registration, and other input operations performed by the user in each scene during the game.

(Display control unit)
During the game, the display control unit 50 controls the user terminal 12 of the user to display information for game progress on the screen of the user terminal 12. Specifically, the display control unit 50 generates display data for displaying the results of information processing by the organization unit 60 and the game control unit 70 described later, and transmits the generated display data to the user terminal 12 via the network 14. For example, the display control unit 50 causes the user terminal 12 to display an event play screen G1 ( FIG. 2 ), a group organization screen (not shown) for organizing a group of multiple users who will play an event together, and the like. The display control unit 50 also has a first display control unit 51, a second display control unit 52, and a third display control unit 53.

The first display control unit 51 causes the user terminal 12 to display a game space generation screen G2 (FIG. 3) for displaying information about the game space determined based on the game medium designated by each of the multiple users. The information displayed on the game space generation screen G2 includes, for example, real-time information about the game space during generation, which changes each time with the designated game medium. In other words, the first display control unit 51 causes the user terminal 12 to display the updated game space information each time the designated game medium is changed and the generated game space is updated.

The second display control unit 52 causes the user terminal 12 to display a game space list screen G3 (FIG. 4) for identifiably displaying information on game spaces that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the multiple users. The information displayed on the game space list screen G3 includes a list of game spaces that can be generated and information on game media required to generate the game spaces. The second display control unit 52 also causes the game spaces to be identifiably displayed on the game space list screen G3 by changing the display mode of the game spaces based on conditions such as ungenerated and generated or unplayed and played. In particular, the second display control unit 52 can also identifiably display game spaces that have not been generated or played by at least one user among the multiple users, or select and display game spaces that have not been generated or played by the multiple users. Furthermore, the second display control unit 52 can also display a warning when generating a game space.

The third display control unit 53 causes the user terminal 12 of a user who wishes to join the group to display a game medium identification screen G4 (Figure 5) that identifiably displays whether the game medium owned by the participating user includes missing game medium that is not owned by the user participating in the group, among the game medium required to generate the game space specified by the host.

(Programming Department)
The organization unit 60 organizes a group of multiple users who will play an event together. Specifically, a group is organized by matching a host with other users, associating the host with users who have responded to the host's invitation, and storing the association in the storage unit 30.
In addition, a group participation notification is sent to users who own game media necessary for generating the game space specified by the host. Furthermore, if the number of users participating in the group is less than a predetermined number, the group participation permission of users who wish to join the group is controlled depending on whether or not the users who participate in the group own the missing game media necessary for generating the game space specified by the host that are not owned by the users who participate in the group.

(Game control unit)
The game control unit 70 executes information processing necessary for the progress of the game, and specifically, progresses the game based on various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 40. For example, the game control unit 70 performs effects according to user operations, such as moving a character within a game space according to character operations performed by the user while playing the game. In addition, the game control unit 70 changes parameter settings (more specifically, current states or current values, etc.) of game media such as characters according to the progress of the game, etc.

The game control unit 70 also controls events that can be played by multiple users.
Specifically, first, after the group is organized, a game space is generated based on game media provided by at least one user (four users in this embodiment) in the group. At this time, the game control unit 70 consumes the game media by releasing the association between the provided game media and the user who provided it. The game control unit 70 generates the game space based on, for example, the following rules. That is, parameters for at least one attribute among the multiple attributes are set for each game medium, and each time a designation of a game medium is accepted from each user, the game control unit 70 determines (updates) the game space to be generated based on the parameters of each attribute among the multiple attributes determined based on the at least one designated game medium. The game spaces have a condition for the parameters of each attribute required for generation, and the game space can be generated when the parameters of each attribute among the multiple attributes determined based on the at least one designated game medium satisfy the condition. In addition, when the parameters of each attribute among the multiple attributes determined based on the at least one designated game medium satisfy the conditions of the multiple game spaces, the game space is determined as a more advantageous game space to be generated. An example of a more advantageous game space is a game space in which more game contents can be collected, a game space in which rarer game contents can be collected, etc. Then, the game control unit 70 controls the plurality of users in the group to be able to start playing the event using the generated game space.

When a game space is selected by the host, the game control unit 70 consumes the game media required to generate the selected game space from among the game media owned by each of the multiple users, and generates the selected game space. The required game media is provided and set automatically or randomly.

The game control unit 70 also determines at least one user to be associated with the game space from among the multiple users who have joined the group based on the above-mentioned predetermined conditions, and stores the determined user and the game space in the user information of the storage unit 30 in association with each other. Then, the game control unit 70 controls the game space so that it can be played by the user with whom the game space is associated and stored, and the user's friends.

The above describes the configuration of each of the server 10 and the user terminal 12. Generally, the server 10 and the user terminal 12 have various functions other than those described above, but here we will only describe the characteristic functions that provide the desired effect in the information processing system S of the present invention, and will not illustrate or describe other known functions, etc.

<Information processing flow according to one embodiment of the present invention>
Next, the flow of information processing (hereinafter referred to as information processing flow) executed in the information processing system S configured as described above will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. The information processing flow employs the information processing method of the present invention, and is realized by using the information processing system S functioning as a computer system. In other words, each step in the information processing flow corresponds to a component of the information processing method of the present invention. Note that the information processing flow described below is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the order of steps may be changed within the scope of the present invention.

(Information processing flow)
First, a basic information processing flow relating to the progress of the game will be described. This information processing flow starts when a user plays an event in the game, and progresses, for example, along the flow shown in FIG.

9, first, the server 10, which is a computer, executes a group formation process (S101), and after the groups are formed, executes a game space generation process (S102). Details of the group formation process and the game space generation process will be described later.
Next, when the server 10 receives an instruction to start the event from the host, it starts the event play by, for example, displaying the event play screen G1 on the user terminals 12 of the users belonging to the group (S103).
Then, when the event play ends by clearing the event or the time limit elapses (S104), the server 10 associates the generated game space (the game space in which the event was played) with one or more users belonging to the group based on a predetermined condition, thereby setting ownership of the game space (S105), and ends the process. Note that the specific process and process flow after the start of the event play are well known, so a description thereof will be omitted.
The above is an example of the information processing flow of the present invention.

(Group formation process)
Next, an example of the group formation process will be described with reference to FIG.
The group formation process is a process executed by the server 10 (mainly the formation unit 60 and the display control unit 50, etc.) and is a process executed in step S101 of the above information processing flow. Specifically, it is a process executed before the generation of a game space, and matches a user who will form a group (host) with a user who wishes to join the group (guest), and forms a group of multiple users who will play the event.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, the server 10, which is a computer, acquires user recruitment operation information based on a user recruitment operation inviting other users to join a group from the host through communication with the user terminal 12 operated by the host, and accepts a group formation instruction (S201).Then, the server 10 generates display data for displaying information for forming a group of multiple users who will play the event together, and transmits the generated display data to the user terminals 12 of all users, thereby displaying a group formation screen (not shown) on the user terminals 12 (S202).
Then, the server 10 acquires group participation application operation information based on the group participation application operation through communication with the user terminal 12 operated by the user and accepts the application to join the group (S203), associates multiple users, including the host and other users who have applied to join the group, with one group (S204), and terminates the processing.
The above is an example of the group formation process.

(Game space generation process)
Next, an example of the game space generation process will be described with reference to FIG.
The game space generation process is a process executed in the server 10 (mainly the game control unit 70 and the display control unit 50, etc.) and is a process executed in step S102 of the above information processing flow. Specifically, it is a process executed after a group for playing an event jointly is organized and before the event play starts, and is a process for generating a game space in which multiple users in the group can play, based on game media provided by at least one user in the group.

11, first, the server 10, which is a computer, acquires first specifying operation information based on a first specifying operation through communication with a user terminal 12 operated by at least one of the multiple users belonging to the group and accepts the designation of game media (S301), and generates a game space based on the game media designated by each of the multiple users belonging to the group (S302). Specifically, the server 10 sets parameters of the game space by combining parameters of the designated game media to generate the game space.
Then, each time a game space is generated, i.e., each time the specified game medium is changed and the generated game space is updated, the server 10 generates display data to display information about the game space determined based on the game medium specified by the user, and transmits the generated display data to the user terminals 12 of the users belonging to the group, thereby displaying the game space generation screen G2 (Figure 3) on the user terminals 12 (S303).
When the server 10 determines that the remaining time for generating the game space is 0 (S304: YES), it determines a game space in which the event play can be started (S305). Furthermore, the server 10 consumes the game media owned by the user by having the user provide the game media designated at that time for generating the game space, specifically, by releasing the association between the game media stored in association with the user and the user who provided the game media (S306), and ends the process.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining time has not yet reached 0 (S304: NO), the process returns to S301. Note that the host may determine the game space at any timing, regardless of the remaining time.
The above is an example of the game space generation process.
<Other embodiments>
Up to this point, specific examples have been given of the information processing device, information processing method, and program of the present invention, but the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments may be considered.

In the above embodiment, the server computer for distributing game data (i.e., the server 10) functions as the information processing device of the present invention, but this is not limited to this, and some of the functions of the server 10 may be provided in the user terminal 12. For example, some or all of the functions of the game control unit 70 may be provided in the user terminal 12.

In the above embodiment, user information, etc. is stored in a server computer (i.e., server 10) for distributing game data, but a separate database server (not shown) may be provided and the information may be stored all together in the database server, or may be stored on the user terminal 12.

In the above embodiment, as an example of a game, a fishing spot, which is a game space, is generated, and a case where multiple users who have formed a group play an event called a fishing game at the generated fishing spot is described. However, the type of game is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a game in which multiple users form a group and operate characters to fight enemy characters. In addition, it may be, for example, a word game, a fighting game, a sports game, a shooting game, a racing game, a puzzle game, a card game, a board game, a role-playing game, or a simulation game. In this case, the game space determined based on the game medium may be a battlefield, a room, a stadium, a golf course, or a circuit, or any other event field where multiple users can form a group and play together. In addition, the game may be an individual game or a team game. In addition, it may be a game in which humans compete against each other as users, or a game in which a human competes against a computer (for example, an AI or a robot).

In the above embodiment, the user can enjoy all functions free of charge in principle, but some functions can be restricted and can be used by paying a specified usage fee. In addition, various other conditions may be set for paying users who have paid the specified usage fee to give them an advantage in playing the game. For example, paying users may be able to obtain game media that is difficult to obtain depending on the amount of their payment. Note that this usage fee may be a pay-as-you-go system, or may be a subscription-like system in which a one-time payment has an effect on the user for a certain period of time (e.g., one month or one year).

In the game of this embodiment, multiple users can operate their own user terminals 12 and play simultaneously in a common game space, and in particular, users can enjoy playing the game even more by communicating with each other while playing. There is no particular limit to the people with whom users can communicate, but for example, it may be possible to communicate with friends within the game.

<Summary>
The main features of the information processing device, information processing method, and program according to the above-described embodiment are as follows.

[1] The information processing device of this embodiment includes a game control unit that controls a game including an event that can be played by multiple users, and an organization unit that organizes a group of multiple users to play the event. After the group is organized, the game control unit controls the multiple users in the group to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group.
According to the above-mentioned information processing device, a diverse game space is generated for each play based on the game media provided by the users in a group who are playing the event together, thereby providing a play environment that users are less likely to become bored with, thereby increasing the user's motivation to play.

[2] The above-mentioned information processing device further has a first designation operation receiving unit that receives a first designation operation for designating a game medium to be provided from among game media owned by each of the multiple users who have joined the group, and a first display control unit that displays information about the game space determined based on the game medium designated by each of the multiple users.
This allows the user to understand in real time what kind of game space will be generated based on the specified game media, further increasing the user's motivation to play.

[3] The information processing device further has a second display control unit that identifiably displays information about a game space that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the multiple users.
This allows the user to understand the game space that can be generated based on the game media that the user owns, further increasing the user's motivation to play.

[4] In the above information processing device, the second display control unit causes a game space that has not been generated or played on by at least one user among the multiple users to be identifiable.
This allows users to understand game spaces that have not been generated or played by multiple users belonging to the group from among the game spaces that can be generated based on the game media they own, further increasing users' motivation to play.

[5] The above-mentioned information processing device further has a selection operation receiving unit that receives a selection operation to select a game space from among game spaces that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the multiple users, and the game control unit generates the selected game space by consuming the game medium necessary for generating the selected game space from among the game media owned by each of the multiple users.
This allows the user to automatically specify and consume the game media required to generate the game space selected from among game spaces that can be generated based on the game media owned, thereby increasing convenience for the user and further increasing the user's desire to play.

[6] The above-mentioned information processing device further has a second designation operation receiving unit that receives a second designation operation for designating a game space from a specified user, and the organization unit sends a group joining notification to users who own the game medium necessary to generate the game space designated by the specified user.
This allows a specific user to efficiently gather suitable users to generate a desired game space, thereby further increasing users' motivation to play.

[7] The above-mentioned information processing device further has a second designation operation receiving unit that receives a second designation operation for designating a game space from a specified user, and when the number of users participating in the group is less than the specified number, the organization unit controls whether or not a user who wishes to join the group can join the group depending on whether or not the user who participates in the group owns missing game media that are not owned by the users participating in the group, among the game media required for generating the game space designated by the specified user.
This allows a specific user to efficiently gather suitable users to generate a desired game space, thereby further increasing users' motivation to play.

[8] The above-mentioned information processing device further includes a second designation operation receiving unit that receives a second designation operation for designating a game space from a specified user, and a third display control unit that causes a terminal of a joining user who wishes to join the group to visibly display whether or not missing game media required for generating the game space specified by the specified user and not owned by any user participating in the group is included among the game media owned by the joining user.
This allows a specific user to efficiently gather suitable users to generate a desired game space, thereby further increasing users' motivation to play.

[9] In the above-mentioned information processing device, the game control unit associates at least one of the multiple users who have joined the group with the game space and stores the associated game space in the memory unit, and controls the game space to be playable by users who have a predetermined relationship with the user with whom the game space is associated and stored.
This allows a user to own the generated game space and play with users with whom they have a predetermined relationship, further increasing the user's motivation to play.

[10] In an information processing method according to this embodiment, a computer controls a game including an event that can be played by multiple users, the computer organizes a group of multiple users who will play the event, and, after the group has been organized, the computer controls the multiple users in the group to be able to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group.
According to the above information processing method, a diverse game space is generated for each play based on the game media provided by the users in a group who play the event together, thereby providing a play environment that users are less likely to become bored with, thereby increasing users' motivation to play.

[11] The program of this embodiment causes a computer to control a game including an event that can be played by multiple users, organize a group of multiple users to play the event, and, after the group has been organized, control the computer to enable multiple users in the group to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group.
According to the above program, a diverse game space is generated for each play based on the game media provided by the users in the group who are playing the event together, thereby providing a play environment that users are less likely to become bored with, thereby increasing users' motivation to play.

10 Server 12 User terminal 14 Network 21 Processor 22 Memory 23 Communication interface 24 Storage 25 Bus 30 Memory unit 40 Information acquisition unit 41 First designation operation acceptance unit 42 Second designation operation acceptance unit 43 Selection operation acceptance unit 50 Display control unit 51 First display control unit 52 Second display control unit 53 Third display control unit 60 Organization unit 70 Game control unit 80 Event start button 81 Game space display area 82 Designated game media display area 83 Owned game media display area 84 Game space display area 85 Game media display area G1 Event play screen G2 Game space generation screen G3 Game space list screen G4 Game media identification screen S Information processing system

Claims (11)

A game control unit that controls a game including an event that can be played by a plurality of users;
An organization unit that organizes a group of a plurality of users who will play the event,
the game control unit, after the group is organized, controls a plurality of users in the group to be able to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group;
Information processing device. a first designation operation receiving unit that receives a first designation operation for designating a game medium to be provided from among game media owned by each of the plurality of users who have joined the group;
and a first display control unit that displays information about a game space determined based on game media designated by each of the plurality of users.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The game device further includes a second display control unit that displays information about a game space that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the plurality of users in an identifiable manner.
3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2. The second display control unit causes a game space that has not been generated or played by at least one user among the plurality of users to be identifiable.
The information processing device according to claim 3 . a selection operation receiving unit configured to receive a selection operation for selecting a game space from among game spaces that can be generated based on game media owned by each of the plurality of users;
the game control unit consumes game media necessary for generating the selected game space from among game media owned by each of the plurality of users to generate the selected game space;
5. The information processing device according to claim 3. a second designation operation receiving unit configured to receive a second designation operation for designating the game space from a predetermined user;
the organization unit sends a notification of participation in the group to users who own game media necessary for generating the game space designated by the predetermined user;
The information processing device according to claim 1 . a second designation operation receiving unit configured to receive a second designation operation for designating the game space from a predetermined user;
when the number of users participating in the group is less than a predetermined number, the organization unit controls whether or not a user who wishes to join the group can join the group depending on whether or not the user owns a missing game medium that is not owned by the user participating in the group, among game media necessary for generating a game space designated by the predetermined user.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . a second designation operation receiving unit that receives a second designation operation for designating a game space from a predetermined user;
and a third display control unit that causes a terminal of a user who wishes to join the group to visibly display whether or not missing game media that are not owned by users participating in the group are included in the game media owned by the user who wishes to join the group, among the game media required to generate the game space specified by the predetermined user.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The game control unit:
storing at least one of the users who have joined the group in association with the game space in a storage unit;
controlling the game space so that a user who has a predetermined relationship with a user associated with and stored in the game space can play the game space;
The information processing device according to claim 1 . A computer controls a game including an event playable by multiple users;
A computer organizes a group of a plurality of users to play the event;
the computer controls, after the group is organized, to enable a plurality of users in the group to start playing the event using a game space determined based on game media provided by at least one user in the group;
Information processing methods. On the computer,
Controlling a game that includes an event that can be played by multiple users;
Organizing a group of users to play the event;
After the group is organized, a game space is determined based on a game medium provided by at least one user in the group, and a control is performed to enable a plurality of users in the group to start playing the event.
program.

Images