JP6025806B2 - Apparatus, display control method, program, and information storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game guidance system, a game guidance device, a game server, a game guidance method, a program, and an information storage medium for guiding a situation of a game in which a plurality of users participate.

  There is a game system (multi-user game system) that executes processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate. Such a game system includes, for example, a plurality of game terminals connected via a communication network, and users who use each game terminal participate in one game while being away from each other, You can play against and play together.

  Further, there are cases where there are a plurality of such game systems, and a multi-user participation type game is executed independently. In this case, a user who intends to newly participate in the game needs to select a game system to participate from a plurality of game systems according to his / her preference. In order to be used for selection of such a game system, a list of information such as the type of game (game title) being executed in each game system and the number of currently participating users is presented to the user. There is technology that can. In addition, there is a technique that can perform service guidance that matches the actual usage when the user selects various services (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-58692 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, it is difficult to understand the situation of the game, such as how the user is actually playing the game in each game system. There were cases where it was difficult to select.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its purposes is a game guidance system that can easily present to a user the status of a game being executed in each of a plurality of game systems, A game guide device, a game system, a game guide method, a program, and an information storage medium are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, a game guidance system according to the present invention includes a plurality of game systems that respectively execute processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate, and a game that guides a situation of a game being executed in each of the game systems. A game guide system including a guide device, wherein the game guide device acquires, for each of the plurality of game systems, a moving image acquisition unit that acquires a moving image related to a game being executed in the game system; Game guidance screen generation means for generating a game guidance screen for displaying a list of at least some of the plurality of moving images acquired by the moving image acquisition means.

  In the game guidance system, each game system is a game terminal used by each user who participates in a game being executed in the game system, and each of the game terminals includes means for generating the moving image. And a game terminal selection means for selecting a game terminal for generating a moving image acquired by the moving image acquisition means from among the plurality of game terminals, and the moving image generated by the selected game terminal, Distribution means for delivering to the game guidance device.

  Furthermore, each said game terminal is good also as producing | generating the moving image showing the game screen shown to the user who uses the said game terminal as said moving image.

  Further, in the game guidance system, each of the game systems further includes a game processing information acquisition unit that acquires game processing information related to a game process being executed in each of the plurality of game terminals, and the game terminal selection unit includes: It is good also as selecting the game terminal which produces | generates the said moving image based on each said game process information acquired by the said game process information acquisition means.

  Further, the game process information may be information related to an input / output process of information with a user when the game process is executed.

  Furthermore, the game processing information may be information related to the user's game operation. The game process information may be information related to a game screen drawing process presented to the user.

  The game guidance device according to the present invention is connected to a plurality of game systems that respectively execute processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate, and each of the plurality of game systems is a game that is being executed in the game system. A moving image acquisition unit that acquires a related moving image; and a game guidance screen generation unit that generates a game guidance screen that displays a list of at least some of the plurality of moving images acquired by the moving image acquisition unit. It is characterized by.

  The game server according to the present invention is a game server that executes processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate, and is used by each user who participates in the game and generates a moving image related to the game. Connected to a plurality of game terminals including means and a game guidance device for guiding the situation of the game, and generates a moving image for distribution to the game guidance device from the plurality of game terminals Game terminal selection means for selecting a game terminal and distribution means for distributing the moving image generated by the selected game terminal to the game guidance device.

  In addition, the game guidance method according to the present invention acquires a moving image related to a game being executed in the game system for each of a plurality of game systems that respectively execute processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate. An acquisition step; and a game guidance screen generation step of generating a game guidance screen that displays a list of at least some of the plurality of moving images acquired by the moving image acquisition step.

  The program according to the present invention is a moving image acquisition means for acquiring a moving image related to a game being executed in the game system for each of a plurality of game systems that respectively execute processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate. And a program for causing a computer to function as game guidance screen generation means for generating a game guidance screen for displaying a list of at least some of the plurality of moving images acquired by the moving image acquisition means. This program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium.

It is an outline figure showing the example of whole composition of the game guidance system concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the game terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the user terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In an embodiment of the invention, it is a figure showing an example of list information which a list holding server holds. In embodiment of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process which a game terminal performs. In embodiment of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process which each apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows an example of a game guidance screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a detailed information guidance screen.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, a game guidance system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of game systems (multiuser game system) 2, a list holding server 3, and a user terminal 4. ing. These systems and devices are connected via a communication network such as the Internet.

  Each of the game systems 2 executes processing of a game in which a plurality of users participate (multi-user participation type game). Each game system 2 includes a plurality of game terminals 5 used by each user participating in a game being executed in the game system 2, and at least one game server 6 connected to each game terminal 5 via a communication network. Is included. Note that the game executed in the game system 2 may be any game such as a role playing game, a table game, or a shooting game. Further, the game executed in each game system 2 may be the same game or different games.

  The game terminal 5 is, for example, a home game machine or a personal computer, and functions as a client for the game server 6. Each game terminal 5 accepts an instruction operation by a user using the game terminal 5 and transmits information according to the operation content to the game server 6, and also according to the user operation content and information received from the game server 6. Then, an image showing the game situation is displayed as a game screen.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game terminal 5 in the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a medium information reading unit 13, a communication unit 14, an operation device 15, an image processing unit 16, and a display. Part 17.

  The control unit 11 is, for example, a CPU or the like, and executes various types of information processing according to programs stored in the storage unit 12. A specific example of processing executed by the control unit 11 in the present embodiment will be described later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a memory element such as a RAM and a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, and stores a program executed by the control unit 11. This program may be provided by being stored in various computer-readable information storage media such as an optical disc, or may be provided via a communication network such as the Internet. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11.

  The medium information reading unit 13 reads a program or data stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as an optical disk or a memory card in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 14 is a communication interface such as a LAN card, for example, and transmits information via a communication network in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11. Further, the communication unit 14 receives information that arrives via the communication network and outputs the information to the control unit 11.

  The operation device 15 is, for example, a keyboard or a controller for a home game machine, and accepts a user's instruction operation and outputs operation data indicating the content to the control unit 11.

  The image processing unit 16 includes, for example, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and a frame buffer. The GPU renders various screens in the frame buffer based on the data supplied from the control unit 11. The screen drawn in the frame buffer is converted into a video signal at a predetermined timing and output to the display unit 17. The display unit 17 is a home television receiver, for example, and displays a screen drawn in a frame buffer in the image processing unit 16.

  The game server 6 executes various game processes based on information according to user operations transmitted from the game terminals 5, and transmits the execution results to the game terminals 5. Thereby, even if the user who uses each game terminal 5 exists in the place away from each other, he can play a game or cooperate with a game. The game server 6 may be prepared as a dedicated server computer, or may be used as one of the plurality of game terminals 5. That is, at least one of the game terminals 5 used by each user may function as the game server 6.

  The list holding server 3 is, for example, a server computer and is connected to each of the plurality of game servers 6 via a communication network. Based on the information transmitted from each game server 6, the list holding server 3 generates and holds list information regarding the game system 2 that is executing a game process in which a new user can participate. Further, at least a part of the list information is transmitted to the user terminal 4 in response to a request from the user terminal 4.

  The user terminal 4 is an information processing apparatus used by a user who intends to newly participate in a game being executed in any of the game systems 2 (hereinafter referred to as a new user U1). In the present embodiment, the user terminal 4 functions as a game guidance device that guides the status of a game being executed in each game system 2 to the new user U1.

  The user terminal 4 may be an apparatus having the same configuration as the game terminal 5 such as a home game machine or a personal computer. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 4 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a medium information reading unit 23, a communication unit 24, an operation device 25, an image processing unit 26, The display unit 27 is included.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of functions realized by the game guidance system 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, the game server 6 in each game system 2 sends game specifying information for specifying a game to be executed in the game system 2 and connection destination information indicating its own connection destination to the list holding server 3. Send. Here, the game specifying information is, for example, a game product number, an identification symbol, a title name, or the like. The game specifying information may include version information of a game to be executed. The connection destination information is information for specifying the position of the game server 6 on the network, and is, for example, an IP address, a service port number, a domain name, or the like. Each game server 6 transmits game specifying information and connection destination information to the list holding server 3 at the start of execution of a multi-user participation type game, for example.

  The list holding server 3 receives the game specifying information and the connection destination information transmitted by each game server 6. Based on these pieces of information, list information relating to the game system 2 that is executing a game in which a new user can participate is generated and held. The generated list information is data having contents as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  Moreover, the control part 11 of each game terminal 5 performs a process as shown to the flowchart of FIG. 5, for example for every predetermined time, while participating in the game system 2. FIG.

  First, the game terminal 5 acquires information (hereinafter referred to as game process information) related to the game process being executed on the game terminal 5 (S1). Then, based on the acquired game process information, it is determined whether or not to transmit the moving image M related to the game process being executed on the game terminal 5 to the game server 6 belonging to the same game system 2 ( S2). If it is determined that the moving image M is to be transmitted as a result of the determination, the moving image M is generated, and transmission to the game server 6 is started (S3). If it is determined that the moving image M is not transmitted, the transmission of the moving image M to the game server 6 is stopped (S4). Thereby, the game terminal 5 can transmit the moving image M with respect to the game server 6 according to the condition of the game under execution, for example, when it is estimated that the game under execution is exciting.

  Here, a specific example of the game processing information will be described. For example, the game processing information may be information related to a game operation on the operation device 15 by the user who uses the game terminal 5. Specifically, it is the operation frequency of the user with respect to the operation device 15 (such as the number of times the button is pressed within a predetermined time) at the most recent time. In this case, the game terminal 5 determines to transmit the moving image M when a value such as the operation frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold. Thereby, the game terminal 5 will transmit the moving image M with respect to the game server 6, for example, while performing game operation frequently, for example, a user hits a button repeatedly.

  Further, the game processing information may be information related to a drawing process of a game screen displayed on the display unit 17 of the game terminal 5 and presented to the user who uses the game terminal 5. Specifically, for example, the game terminal 5 determines to transmit the moving image M when the frequency (frame rate) at which the game screen is drawn in the frame buffer becomes a predetermined value or less. The frame rate drops when the drawing process takes a long time. In such a case, it is predicted that many characters appear in the game screen and are in a battle. . Therefore, the game terminal 5 can transmit the moving image M to the game server 6 during a war or the like by using such information as game processing information.

  Further, the control unit 11 and the image processing unit 16 of the game terminal 5 arrange polygons representing various objects such as characters and obstacles in the virtual space, and draw an image showing the state in the virtual space in the frame buffer. When executing the process, the following game process information may be used. That is, the game terminal 5 acquires the number of polygon vertices arranged in the virtual space as game processing information, and determines that the moving image M is to be transmitted when the number of vertices exceeds a predetermined number. In this case, the number of vertices of a polygon that satisfies a predetermined condition, such as a polygon that does not move or a polygon that has a predetermined attribute value, may be excluded from the number of vertices of a polygon to be determined. In this way, for example, a polygon indicating the background can be excluded from the determination target. According to such determination processing, as in the case of the frame rate described above, the game terminal 5 displays the moving image M on the game server 6 when a large number of characters are arranged in the virtual space, such as during a battle. Can be sent to.

  The game processing information exemplified above is information related to input / output processing of information with the user when the game processing is executed by the game terminal 5. By using such information, even if the game application program executed by the game terminal 5 does not have a function of outputting game processing information, the game terminal 5 executes a program included in the system library, for example. Thus, the determination process as described above can be performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the game terminal 5 may execute the determination process of S2 based on parameter information relating to various game situations output by the game application program. Further, the determination may be performed by combining various kinds of information as described above.

  In addition, the moving image M transmitted from the game terminal 5 to the game server 6 in S3 is a moving image that shows the situation of the game being executed on the game terminal 5 in real time, and the game being executed in the game system 2 Is used to guide the new user U1. For example, the game terminal 5 generates a moving image representing a game screen presented to the user who uses the game terminal 5 as the moving image M. That is, the game terminal 5 generates the moving image M based on the game screen data drawn in the frame buffer and displayed on the display unit 17. Specifically, the game terminal 5 displays the screen data drawn in the frame buffer every predetermined time on the display unit 17 and presents it to the user, and the moving image data in a predetermined data format (for example, MPEG format). The moving image M is generated by executing the encoding process for converting the video to the video. In this case, audio data reproduced from a speaker (not shown) together with an image displayed on the display unit 17 may be included in the moving image M. In this way, by generating the moving image M based on the image data displayed on the display unit 17, a screen similar to the game screen viewed by the user who is playing the game using the game terminal 5 is displayed. Can be presented to the new user U1.

  Alternatively, the game terminal 5 may generate a moving image different from the video displayed on the display unit 17 as the moving image M for transmission. For example, as described above, when the image processing unit 16 draws an image showing a state in the virtual space in the frame buffer, the game terminal 5 looks in the same virtual space from a different viewpoint position from the image drawn in the frame buffer. The moving image M may be generated by drawing an image of viewing the image. Note that the viewpoint position used for generating the moving image M in this case may be a fixed position, or may be a position determined according to the viewpoint position when the image drawn in the frame buffer is drawn. Good. Thereby, the game guidance system 1 can present to the new user U1 the state of the virtual space viewed from a position that is easier to grasp the overall situation, which is different from the screen that the user who is executing the game is viewing. .

  Through the process described above, the game terminal 5 distributes the moving image M indicating the status of the game process being executed on the game terminal 5 to the game server 6 while the predetermined condition is satisfied.

  Next, when the new user U1 intends to newly participate in any game using the user terminal 4, the process executed by the user terminal 4, the list holding server 3, and the game server 6 in each game system 2 Will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  When the new user U1 tries to participate in any game, first, the user terminal 4 transmits a list reply request to the list holding server 3 (S11). In response to this, the list holding server 3 returns at least a part of the list information held by itself (S12).

  In addition, in the process of S11, the user terminal 4 transmits information (executable game information) specifying a game that can be executed by the user terminal 4 together with the list reply request. In order to participate in a game being executed in each game system 2, the user terminal 4 may need to execute a client program corresponding to the game. In such a case, the new user U1 cannot participate in the game being executed in the game system 2 unless he / she has a client program necessary for the game being executed in the game system 2. Therefore, in the process of S11, if the user terminal 4 transmits executable game information to the list holding server 3, the list holding server 3 is information about the game system 2 that is executing a game in which the new user U1 cannot participate. Can be excluded from the list information returned in S12.

  As a specific example, the user terminal 4 acquires game specifying information for specifying a game that can be executed on the user terminal 4 as described below, and transmits it to the list holding server 3 as executable game information. For example, the user terminal 4 acquires game specifying information of a game program installed in a hard disk or the like included in the storage unit 22 or a game program stored in an optical disc set as a reading target of the medium information reading unit 23. To do. Moreover, the user terminal 4 may hold | maintain the historical information of the game performed by the user terminal 4 in the memory | storage part 22 in the past, and may acquire executable game information based on this historical information.

  Furthermore, the user terminal 4 may acquire executable game information based on save data generated when the new user U1 has executed a game in the past. Here, the save data is data for recording user-specific information regarding each game, such as a progress status when the user interrupts the game halfway. The save data is recorded as different data for each game, and includes game specifying information for specifying the corresponding game. This save data is stored in an information storage medium such as a memory card. Therefore, when executing the process of S11, the user terminal 4 acquires, for example, game specifying information included in the save data read from the memory card or the like by the medium information reading unit 23 as executable game information.

  The list holding server 3 that has received the executable game information compares each of the game specifying information included in the executable game information with the game specifying information specifying the game being executed by each game system 2 included in the list information. Then, a filtering process is performed to extract information on the game system 2 in which both match from the list information. Then, the filtered list information is returned to the user terminal 4 in the process of S12. In this way, the list holding server 3 can transmit to the user terminal 4 only information relating to the game system 2 that is executing a game presumed to be executable on the user terminal 4.

  The user terminal 4 that has received the list information transmitted from the list holding server 3 in the process of S12 transmits an information distribution request to each game server 6 based on the connection destination information included in the received list information ( S13). For example, the user terminal 4 sequentially transmits information distribution requests to the connection destination indicated by the connection destination information included in the received list information until the predetermined number of game servers 6 have been successfully connected. Alternatively, the information distribution request may be transmitted to the connection destination indicated by all the connection destination information included in the list information.

  Each game server 6 that has received the information distribution request from the user terminal 4 in S13, first, the moving image M for distribution to the user terminal 4 from the game terminals 5 in the game system 2 to which the game server 6 belongs. Is selected (S14). For example, the game server 6 selects a distribution responsible game terminal based on a predetermined condition from the game terminals 5 that are transmitting the moving image M to the game server 6 by the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. To do. A specific example of this selection process will be described later.

  Subsequently, the game server 6 starts distributing the moving image M transmitted to the game server 6 by the distribution responsible game terminal selected in S14 to the user terminal 4 (S15). The game server 6 transmits various types of information regarding the game being executed in the game system 2 to which the game server 6 belongs to the user terminal 4 together with the start of distribution of the moving image M. Here, the information transmitted by the game server 6 includes, for example, information indicating a country or region where the game server 6 is installed, a server name (or system name), and a game currently being executed on the game server 6. The number of participating users, the maximum number of users who can participate in the game, information on participating users (for example, user name, country information to which the user belongs, profile information, etc.), various message information, and the like may be included.

  By the process of S15, the user terminal 4 acquires the moving image M related to the game being executed in the game system 2 for each of the game systems 2 included in the list information acquired in S12. The user terminal 4 that acquired the moving image M from each game server 6 generates a game guidance screen that displays a list of at least a part of the acquired moving image M (S16). Then, the user terminal 4 displays the generated game guidance screen on the display unit 27 (S17).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game guidance screen generated by the user terminal 4 in the process of S16. For example, the game guidance screen is a screen showing a moving image M received from the game server 6, in which a plurality of display areas are arranged, one for each display area. In the example of FIG. 7, four moving images M indicating the status of the game being executed in each of the four game systems 2 are displayed as a list in the game guidance screen. As a result, the new user U1 compares the moving images M displayed at the same time, confirms the play status of the user who is actually participating in the game in real time, and selects the game system 2 that he / she will participate from now on. Can do.

  In a state where the game guidance screen as shown in this figure is displayed, the user selects one moving image M by an instruction operation on the operation device 25. In response to this instruction operation, the user terminal 4 transmits a game participation request to the game server 6 that distributes the selected moving image M. In response to the game participation request from the user terminal 4, the game server 6 determines whether participation is possible according to a predetermined condition, and returns the result to the user terminal 4. If the game server 6 permits the user terminal 4 to participate, the user terminal 4 starts executing the game process as one of the game terminals 5 included in the game system 2 to which the game server 6 belongs. Thereby, the new user U1 can participate in the game being executed in the game system 2.

  Further, in a state where the game guidance screen is displayed, the user terminal 4 displays the detailed information of the game indicated by one moving image M designated by the user among the plurality of moving images M in response to the user's instruction operation. The detailed information guide screen shown may be generated and displayed. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of such a detailed information guidance screen. In the example of FIG. 8, with the moving image M in the background, various information transmitted by the game server 6 that distributes the moving image M in the process of S15 is displayed. That is, an image of a national flag indicating the country in which the game server 6 is installed is displayed on the upper left side of the screen, and a server name is displayed on the right side. Also, message information is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and the maximum number of users who can participate in the game and the number of users who are currently participating are shown on the right side.

  Further, in a state where the detailed information guide screen is displayed, the user terminal 4 requests to switch the moving image M being displayed to the moving image M generated by another game terminal 5 in accordance with the user's instruction operation. May be transmitted to the game server 6. As described above, the game server 6 receives the moving image M from the plurality of game terminals 5, selects one of them in the process of S14, and distributes it to the user terminal 4. Therefore, the game server 6 responds to a switching request from the user terminal 4 and among the plurality of moving images M received from each game terminal 5, the moving image M different from the moving image M distributed so far. Is newly distributed to the user terminal 4. Here, the moving image M to be newly distributed may be specified by the new user U1, for example. Thereby, for example, the new user U1 can select a user that he is interested in from among users participating in a certain game system 2, and can view the play screen.

  Here, a specific example of the above-described selection process of S14 by the game server 6 will be described.

  As described above, the moving image M to which the user terminal 4 receives the distribution can be switched according to the designation of the new user U1, and the game server 6 has already distributed the moving image M to the other user terminals 4. When it is, the game server 6 selects the moving image M delivered to the new user terminal 4 as follows, for example. That is, when the game server 6 receives the information distribution request of S13 from the new user terminal 4, the game server 6 newly displays the moving image M being distributed to more user terminals 4 among the other user terminals 4. Selected as a moving image M to be distributed to a user terminal 4. In this way, the moving image M that is viewed and attracted attention by more users can be distributed to the new user terminal 4.

  Moreover, the game server 6 may hold information regarding users who have participated in the past in the game executed by the game server 6 and may select a distribution responsible game terminal based on the information. As a specific example, the game server 6 holds battle results, ranking information, and the like of users who have participated in the past. Then, of the users participating in the game at the time when the information distribution request is received from the user terminal 4, for example, the game terminal 5 used by the user ranked higher is selected as the distribution responsible game terminal. . If it carries out like this, the user's play screen whose past results were good can be shown to the new user U1.

  Further, the game server 6 may acquire the above-described game processing information from each game terminal 5 and select a distribution responsible game terminal based on the acquired game processing information. As a specific example, each game terminal 5 transmits game processing information such as an operation frequency of the user to the operation device 15 to the game server 6 every predetermined time. The game server 6 compares the game processing information transmitted from each game terminal 5 and selects, for example, the game terminal 5 having the highest operation frequency with respect to the user's operation device 15 as the distribution responsible game terminal.

  In the above description, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, each game terminal 5 transmits the moving image M to the game server 6 only while a predetermined condition is satisfied. From the game terminals 5 that are transmitting the moving image M to the game server 6, the distribution responsible game terminal is selected in the process of S14. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each game terminal 5 may always continue to transmit the moving image M to the game server 6 while participating in the game system 2. In this case, the game server 6 can select a distribution responsible game terminal from among all the game terminals 5 belonging to the same game system 2.

  Alternatively, each game terminal 5 may not transmit the moving image M until an explicit request is received from the game server 6. In this case, when the game server 6 receives the information distribution request of S13 from the user terminal 4, the game server 6 selects a distribution responsible game terminal based on, for example, game processing information acquired from each game terminal 5. Then, a distribution request for the moving image M is transmitted to the selected distribution responsible game terminal. In response to this, the distribution responsible game terminal starts generation of the moving image M and transmission to the game server 6, and the game server 6 distributes the moving image M received from the distribution responsible game terminal to the user terminal 4. .

  In this case, the game server 6 does not temporarily receive the moving image M transmitted from the distribution responsible game terminal and relay it to the user terminal 4, but directly sends the user to the selected distribution responsible game terminal. An instruction for distributing the moving image M to the terminal 4 may be transmitted. Alternatively, the game server 6 may return connection destination information (such as an IP address) of the game terminal 5 selected as the distribution responsible game terminal in response to an information distribution request from the user terminal 4. In this case, the user terminal 4 transmits a moving image M distribution request again to the game terminal 5 indicated by the returned connection destination information. The distribution responsible game terminal starts generation of the moving image M and distribution to the user terminal 4 in response to an instruction from the game server 6 or a request from the user terminal 4. In this way, the user terminal 4 can receive the moving image M directly from the distribution responsible game terminal.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the game guidance system 1 generates a plurality of game systems 2 by generating a game guidance screen that displays a list of moving images M related to games being executed in each game system 2. The situation of the game being executed in each of the above can be presented to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.

  Note that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. For example, in the above description, the user terminal 4 operates as a game guidance device that generates a game guidance screen. However, other information processing devices such as the list holding server 3 may operate as a game guidance device. . As a specific example, each game server 6 always transmits the moving image M generated by the distribution responsible game terminal to the list holding server 3 regardless of the information distribution request from the user terminal 4. The list holding server 3 generates a game guidance screen as illustrated in FIG. 7 based on the moving image M received from each game server 6 and distributes it to the user terminal 4 as a moving image.

  In the above description, the user terminal 4 transmits the executable game information to the list holding server 3 in the process of S11, and the list holding server 3 displays the list information filtered according to the executable game information. A reply is made to the user terminal 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user terminal 4 may not transmit executable game information, and the list holding server 3 may return all of the list information that is always held. In this case, only the game system 2 that is executing the game that can be participated in from the list information received from the list holding server 3 based on the game specifying information that specifies the game that the user terminal 4 can execute. May be extracted.

  Alternatively, the list holding server 3 may hold, as a database, information for specifying a game that can be executed on the user terminal 4 in advance for each of the plurality of user terminals 4 that transmit the list reply request. The information stored in this database is determined based on information transmitted from each user terminal 4 in advance, for example. Then, the user terminal 4 transmits a list reply request together with terminal specifying information (for example, a client name) for specifying the user terminal 4 in the process of S11. The list holding server 3 that has received the list reply request stores information for identifying a game that can be executed on the user terminal 4 identified by the terminal identification information, based on the terminal identification information included in the list reply request, in a database. Get by reference. Thereby, the list holding server 3 can transmit the list information of the game system 2 that is executing the game that can be executed on the user terminal 4 without receiving the game specifying information from the user terminal 4 many times.

  Further, the list holding server 3 includes, as part of the list information transmitted in S12, information related to the game system 2 that is executing a game other than a game that can be executed on the user terminal 4 (hereinafter referred to as a non-participating game). Also good. By accepting the distribution of the moving image M from the game system 2 that is executing such a non-participating game and including it in the user guidance screen generated in the process of S16, the user terminal 4 is able to participate in the game that the new user U1 can participate In addition, it is possible to present to the user the situation of the game that cannot be participated. In this case, although the new user U1 cannot participate in the non-participating game, it is possible to expect an advertising effect that urges the new user U1 to purchase a new game. In this case, the list holding server 3 may select the non-participating game to be included in the list information transmitted in S12 based on, for example, profile information of the new user U1 using the user terminal 4. In this way, it is possible to present the new user U1 with the moving image M related to the non-participation game presumed that the new user U1 is more interested.

  1 game guidance system, 2 game system, 3 list holding server, 4 user terminal, 5 game terminal, 6 game server, 11, 21 control unit, 12, 22 storage unit, 13, 23 medium information reading unit, 14, 24 communication Part, 15, 25 Operation device, 16, 26 Image processing part, 17, 27 Display part.

Claims (7)

A moving image receiving means for receiving a moving image associated with Gate arm,
Display control means for displaying the moving image that will receive the an including unit,
The moving image receiving means includes
A game in which a game program is installed in the device, or a game in which the device can read the game program;
A server that communicates, with the game terminal or the game terminal, a moving image related to the game process being executed at any of a plurality of game terminals included in a game system that executes the process of the same type of game as the identified game Receive from the
A device characterized by that. The moving image receiving means, for each of a plurality of Gate arm system performing process of the same type of game and the game is identified, related to the game process running on any of a plurality of game terminals included in the game system Receiving the moving image,
The display control means displays at least one of the moving image of the plurality of the moving image that will receive,
The apparatus according to claim 1. Wherein the display control unit, a plurality of the moving image that will receive the display screen arranged as a list,
The apparatus according to claim 2. The plurality of game systems execute processing of different types of games;
The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that A display control method for an apparatus including moving image receiving means and display control means,
The moving image receiving means specifying a game in which a game program is installed in the device, or a game in which the device can read the game program;
The moving image receiving means transmits a moving image related to a game process being executed in any of a plurality of game terminals included in a game system that executes a process of the same type of game as the identified game, Receiving from a server communicating with the game terminal;
The display control means displaying the received moving image;
Display control method, which comprises a. Moving image receiving means for receiving a moving image associated with Gate arm,
Display control means for displaying the moving image that will receive, cause the computer to function as,
The moving image receiving means includes
A game in which a game program is installed in the device, or a game in which the device can read the game program;
A server that communicates, with the game terminal or the game terminal, a moving image related to the game process being executed at any of a plurality of game terminals included in a game system that executes the process of the same type of game as the identified game Receive from the
A program characterized by that. A computer-readable information storage medium storing the program according to claim 6 .

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