JP6296194B1 - Information processing apparatus and game program - Google Patents

Abstract

A player's profit is protected in a limited-time event game. A game terminal includes a game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during an event period, a challenge reception unit that receives a challenge request for an event game from a player, and a challenge request that is received during an event period. When accepted, the player is permitted to play the event game, subject to consumption of stones held by the player, and when the challenge request is accepted when the remaining time of the event period is less than or equal to the first threshold, A warning section for warning is provided. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an event game held for a limited time, and more particularly to a technique for handling challenge requests from players to an event game.

  The use of smartphones as game terminals as well as communication terminals has become common. A network game (online game) that is popular with smartphones is provided by accessing a platform built on a game server from a smartphone. Network games often have contents that emphasize character development, cooperation and competition with other players, and collection of cards and items.

  An operator may additionally provide a game held for a limited time (hereinafter referred to as an “event game”) as a content (part) of the network game after the release of the network game. The event game has an effect of arousing and continuing the player's interest in the network game. The right to challenge an event game is often given on the condition that valuable items such as action points are consumed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2014-124295 A JP, 2006-202665, A

  Since the event game is a limited-time game, a player who has challenged the event game just before the expiration date cannot fully enjoy the event game. In other words, the player cannot obtain “utility” commensurate with the action points paid in exchange for the challenge right. There are some players who will challenge the event game near the end of its expiry after being prepared for the possibility of such a disadvantage, but there are also players who will challenge the event game without noticing that it is about to expire. The present inventors have recognized that this is the case.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-mentioned problem recognition, and its main object is to provide a technique for protecting the interests of players in an event game.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during an event period, a challenge reception unit that receives a challenge request for an event game from a player, When the challenge request is accepted, the challenge request is accepted when the remaining time of the event period is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the play permission unit that allows the play of the event game, subject to the consumption of resources held by the player And a warning unit for warning the player.

An information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during an event period, a challenge reception unit that receives a challenge request for an event game from a player, and an event period When a challenge request is accepted, a play permission unit that permits play of the event game, and a warning unit that warns the player, on condition that the player consumes resources.
The warning unit determines whether the warning is necessary according to the rank of the player or the rank of the character used by the player.

An information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during an event period, a challenge reception unit that receives a challenge request for an event game from a player, and an event period When a challenge request is accepted, a play permission unit that permits the play of the event game on condition of consumption of resources held by the player, and a play history management unit that manages the progress state of the event game of the player as play history information And a warning unit that warns the player.
The warning unit is characterized by determining whether or not a warning is necessary according to the progress state.

An information processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during an event period, a challenge reception unit that receives a challenge request for an event game from a player, and an event period When a challenge request is accepted, a play permission unit that permits play of the event game, and a warning unit that warns the player, on condition that the player consumes resources.
The warning unit determines whether or not a warning is necessary according to the difficulty level of the event game.

  According to the present invention, it becomes easy to protect the profit of the player in the event game.

It is a hardware block diagram of a game system. It is a functional block diagram of a game system. It is a screen figure of a quest selection screen. It is a block diagram of an event quest. It is a screen figure of a quest start screen. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between an event period and a challenge request. It is a screen figure of a warning screen. It is a flowchart which shows the challenge process to an event quest.

  In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming a role-playing network game (hereinafter referred to as “game C”) in which characters are raised while completing various missions. In order to participate in the game C, the player needs to register as a player in the game server. When the mission is cleared, an experience value and a privilege are given to the player character (hereinafter referred to as “avatar”). The privilege may be anything that can enhance the avatar's ability, such as weapons / armor and items for enhancing ability. Each time the experience value exceeds the threshold, the rank of the avatar (hereinafter referred to as “character rank”) is improved.

In the game C, a plurality of “quests” are provided. The quest is a game content that constitutes a part of the scenario / world view of the game C. A quest clear condition (mission) is set for the quest. There are quests for a limited time and other quests (normal quests). The event quest is additional game content provided by the game management company after the game C is released.
Hereinafter, the control method of the game C will be described focusing on an “event quest” which is an example of an event game.

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of the game system 100.
In the game system 100, a plurality of game terminals 104 a, 104 b, 104 c... 104 n (hereinafter collectively referred to as “game terminal 104” when collectively referred to or not particularly distinguished) with respect to the game server 102. Connected through. The game terminal 104 in the present embodiment is assumed to be a smartphone. The game terminal 104 may be a portable game machine or a general-purpose computer such as a laptop PC. The game terminal 104 and the Internet 106 are wirelessly connected, but may be wired. A unique ID called a player ID is given in advance to the game player. The game server 102 provides a game to each game terminal 104.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the game system 100.
As described above, the game system 100 includes the game server 102 and the game terminal 104. Each component of the game terminal 104 and the game server 102 includes an arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and various coprocessors, a storage device such as a memory and a storage, and hardware including a wired or wireless communication line connecting them. This is realized by software that is stored in a storage device and supplies processing instructions to an arithmetic unit. The computer program may be constituted by a device driver, an operating system, various application programs located in an upper layer thereof, and a library that provides a common function to these programs. Each block described below is not a hardware unit configuration but a functional unit block.
The game server 102 may be configured to include a web server, and the game terminal 104 may be configured to include a portable communication terminal and a web browser installed therein.

(Game server 102)
The game server 102 includes a communication unit 108, a data processing unit 110, and a data storage unit 112.
The communication unit 108 is in charge of communication processing with the game terminal 104 via the Internet 106. The data storage unit 112 stores various data. The data processing unit 110 executes various processes based on the data acquired by the communication unit 108 and the data stored in the data storage unit 112. The data processing unit 110 also functions as an interface between the communication unit 108 and the data storage unit 112. The data storage unit 112 stores various data.

The data storage unit 112 includes a game data storage unit 124 and a player data storage unit 128.
The game data storage unit 124 stores various setting information in addition to the game program. The player data storage unit 128 stores play history information indicating the play state of each player. The play state includes information on the character rank and equipment of the avatar, items held, stones (described later), skills, cleared quests, and the like.

The communication unit 108 includes a challenge receiving unit 144.
The challenge reception unit 144 receives a challenge request for a quest from the player (game terminal 104). The challenge request includes a player ID and a quest ID. The quest ID is an ID for identifying a quest.

The data processing unit 110 includes a player registration unit 126, a play permission unit 130, a warning unit 134, a play history management unit 136, and a game control unit 114.
The player registration unit 126 receives player registration (registration request) from the game terminal 104 via the communication unit 108. When a player registration request is made, the player registration unit 126 gives a player ID to the player. When the game module is installed on the game terminal 104, player registration is automatically requested.

  When the challenge request for the event quest is accepted, the play permission unit 130 determines whether or not the challenge is possible. The determination method will be described later. The warning unit 134 displays a warning to the player when a challenge request is received near the expiration of the event quest holding period (hereinafter referred to as “event period”) (described later with reference to FIG. 7 and the like). . The play history management unit 136 manages play history information. The game control unit 114 controls the progress of the game in cooperation with the game execution unit 132 of the game terminal 104.

(Game terminal 104)
The game terminal 104 includes a user interface processing unit 118, a communication unit 116, a data processing unit 120, and a data storage unit 122.
The user interface processing unit 118 accepts operations from the player via the touch panel, and is also in charge of processing related to the user interface such as image display and audio output. The communication unit 116 is in charge of communication processing with the game server 102 and other game terminals 104 via the Internet 106. The data storage unit 122 stores various data. The data processing unit 120 executes various processes based on the data acquired by the user interface processing unit 118 and the communication unit 116 and the data stored in the data storage unit 122. The data processing unit 120 also functions as an interface for the user interface processing unit 118, the communication unit 116, and the data storage unit 122.

The data processing unit 120 includes a game execution unit 132.
The game execution unit 132 controls the progress of the game in cooperation with the game server 102. The game execution unit 132 of the game terminal 104 may be formed as a software module that is downloaded from the game server 102 as part of the function of the game control unit 114.

  The communication unit 116 acquires various game information from the game server 102, and the data processing unit 120 causes the user interface processing unit 118 to display a game screen. Further, the user interface processing unit 118 detects various inputs by the user, and the data processing unit 120 notifies the game server 102 of input information via the communication unit 116. In response to this input information, the game control unit 114 of the game server 102 controls the progress of the game in cooperation with the game execution unit 132 of the game terminal 104.

  The user interface processing unit 118 includes an input unit 140 that receives input from the player, and an output unit 142 that outputs various information such as images and sounds to the player. The input unit 140 mainly detects a player's touch operation on the screen as an input.

FIG. 3 is a screen diagram of the quest selection screen 150.
The quest selection screen 150 is displayed on the game terminal 104 as part of the game C. The quest selection screen 150 includes a plurality of quest buttons 152. The quest button 152a corresponds to the normal quest “quest A”, the quest button 152b corresponds to the normal quest “quest B”, and the quest button 152c corresponds to the event quest “quest C”. The player selects a quest to be challenged by touching an arbitrary quest button 152.

  The game content (game program) of the event quest is provided from the game control unit 114 to the game terminal 104. The event quest has an event period of one month from the beginning of the month to the end of the month. In the quest selection screen 150 of FIG. 3, the event quest “Quest C” has two days until the end of the event period.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the event quest.
The quest includes a plurality of “stages”. FIG. 4 shows the stage structure of the event quest “Quest C”. The event quest “Quest C” is a type of event game that starts from the first floor (stage 1) and aims to defeat the boss character on the top floor (stage 10). Various stage clear conditions are set on the stage, such as finding a treasure, defeating a boss character, passing through within a predetermined time, and reaching an exit so as not to be caught by a guardian (watch). When the stage clear condition is achieved, it is possible to proceed to the next stage (upper floor). The stage clear condition of the final stage 10 is the quest clear condition.

  Players compete for which stage of the event quest “Quest C” can be reached in a limited event period of one month. The game control unit 114 assigns an experience value, a privilege, and a game point to the avatar according to the play result of the game, such as clearing the stage or defeating the enemy character. The game point is a numerical value that functions as a currency in the game C. The player can exchange a predetermined amount of game points and “stones”. The stone will be described later. Game points and stones can also be obtained in regular quests.

FIG. 5 is a screen diagram of the quest start screen 160.
The quest start screen 160 is displayed on the game terminal 104 when the quest button 152c of the event quest “Quest C” is touched on the quest selection screen 150. The period display area 162 shows an event period. The event quest “Quest C” starts at 18:00 on July 1, 2017, and ends at 18:00 on July 31, 2017. The history display area 164 shows the play history of the event quest “Quest C”. According to FIG. 5, the player has reached the sixth floor (stage 6) of this event quest and earns 52422 points for game points. The play history management unit 136 appropriately updates the play history information stored in the player data storage unit 128. The output unit 142 of the game server 102 updates the display content of the history display area 164 based on the play history information.

  When the player touches the start button 166, the event quest “Quest C” can be played from the sixth floor. More specifically, when the input unit 140 detects a touch on the start button 166 by the player, the communication unit 116 transmits a challenge request including the player ID and the quest ID of the event quest “Quest C” to the game server 102. When the challenge acceptance unit 144 receives the challenge request, the play permission unit 130 subtracts one stone owned by the player. In other words, the right to challenge the event quest is given as a price for valuables such as stones. The time during which an event quest can be played per stone is limited to one hour (hereinafter referred to as “valid time”). During the event period, the player can challenge the event quest any number of times if he has a stone.

  As described above, the player obtains game points as achievements in the quest. Game points and stones can be exchanged. You can also get stones directly as a kind of privilege. Stones may be awarded based on the result of a lottery executed when a quest or stage is cleared.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the event period and the challenge request.
The event period of the event quest “Quest C” ends at 18:00 (time t5) on July 31, 2017 as described above. The event quest is valid for 1 hour. Therefore, when the event quest is started after 17:00 (time t2), which is one hour before the end time t5 of the event period, the event period ends with the valid time remaining.

  The player with player ID = P01 (hereinafter referred to as “player (P01)”) requests a challenge to the event quest at time t1 before 17:00 (time t2) one hour before the end. ing. The player (P01) can enjoy the event quest from time t1 to time t4 one hour later. When the player (P01) starts the event quest at time t1, the remaining time of the event period is 1 hour (valid time) or more, so the player (P01) does not care about the end time of the event period. I can enjoy it.

  The player (P02) challenges the event quest at time t3 after time t2 one hour before the end of the event period. A time t6 that is one hour (valid time) from the time t3 is later than the end time t5 of the event period. For this reason, in the case of the player (P02), the event period ends before the valid time is used up. Originally, an event quest can be enjoyed only for the effective time if one stone is consumed. One stone has a value defined as the right to challenge the event quest for the effective time. However, the player (P02) who has challenged the event quest at time t3 close to the end time t5 of the event period has not been given the challenge right for the effective time despite having consumed one stone. There is a disadvantage for the player (P02).

  In order to prevent such disadvantages from occurring, the warning unit 134 warns the player if the remaining time when the challenge request is accepted is equal to or less than the first threshold T1. The first threshold value T1 in the present embodiment is 1 hour, the same as the effective time. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the remaining time of the player (P01) is (t5-t1), which is longer than the first threshold value T1 (valid time), so no warning is given. The remaining time of the player (P02) is (t5-t3), which is shorter than the first threshold value T1 (valid time), so that a warning is given. By receiving the warning, the player (P02) can recognize in advance that the play for the valid time cannot be performed because the event period is about to end.

  Note that the first threshold value T1 and the valid time need not be the same. For example, a time longer than the effective time by a predetermined time may be set as the first threshold T1, and a time shorter than the effective time by a predetermined time may be set as the first threshold. The first threshold may be a value determined based on the effective time. For example, the difference between the effective time and the first threshold may be within 10% of the effective time.

FIG. 7 is a screen diagram of the warning screen 170.
When the player (P02) makes a challenge request at time t3, more specifically, when the player (P02) touches the start button 166 of the quest start screen 160, the warning unit 134 displays the warning screen 170 on the game terminal 104. Display. The warning screen 170 is a screen for warning the player (P02) in advance that the event period ends before the valid time is used up.

  When the player (P02) selects the non-participation button 174, the play permission unit 130 rejects the challenge to the event quest. At this time, the play permission unit 130 does not consume stones. When the player (P02) selects the participation button 172 (confirmation instruction), the play permission unit 130 permits a challenge to the event quest. The play permission unit 130 consumes one stone of the player (P02). If the player (P02) selects the participation button 172 in spite of the warning, it is considered that the player (P02) is going to challenge the event quest after knowing that the play time is less than the valid time. . In this case, the player's intention is given priority.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process for challenging an event quest.
The challenge process shown in FIG. 8 is executed when the player instructs a challenge to the event quest, that is, when the start button 166 is selected on the quest start screen 160 during the event period. When the player selects the start button 166, a challenge request is transmitted from the game terminal 104 to the game server 102. The play permission unit 130 refers to the data of the player who transmitted the challenge request, and determines whether or not the player owns the stone (S10). When the player does not own the stone (N in S10), the play permission unit 130 refuses to play the event quest (S22).

  When there is a stone (Y in S10), the warning unit 134 compares the remaining time of the event period with the first threshold value T1 (S12). When the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold (Y in S12), that is, when the event period is about to end, the warning unit 134 displays a warning screen 170 (S14). When the player selects the participation button 172 on the warning screen 170 (Y of S16), the play permission unit 130 consumes (subtracts) one stone of the player (S18) and permits the play of the event quest (S20). At this time, the play permission unit 130 also sets an effective time. On the other hand, when the player selects the non-participation button 174 (N in S16), the play permission unit 130 refuses to play the event quest (S22). When the remaining time is greater than the first threshold value T1 (N in S12), the process skips to S18 and subsequent steps without displaying a warning.

The game system 100 has been described above based on the embodiment.
According to this embodiment, it is possible to urge the player who tries to challenge the event quest just before the end of the event period to reconsider. The right to challenge the event quest is given as a stone price. Therefore, when the challenge right for the effective time is not given even though the stone is consumed, the player may feel that the original right is damaged. In particular, if the player is immersed in the game C, the player may forget the end of the event period. In the present embodiment, since the warning screen 170 is displayed before the stone is consumed, it is easy to protect the player's profit.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment and modification, A component can be deform | transformed and embodied in the range which does not deviate from a summary. Various inventions may be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments and modifications. Moreover, you may delete some components from all the components shown by the said embodiment and modification.

  Although it has been described that the game system 100 is configured by a plurality of game terminals 104 and one game server 102, some of the functions of the game terminal 104 may be realized by the game server 102, or the functions of the game server 102. May be allocated to the game terminal 104. In addition, a third device other than the game server 102 or the game terminal 104 may bear a part of the function.

  The game system 100, which is an aggregate of the functions of the game terminal 104 and the game server 102 described in FIG. 2, can be generally grasped as one “information processing apparatus”. How to allocate a plurality of functions necessary for realizing the present invention to one or a plurality of hardware depends on the processing capability of each hardware, the specifications required for the game system 100, and the like. It only has to be decided.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, it has been described that the right to challenge an event quest (event game) is granted on condition that the stone is consumed. The right to challenge an event quest may be granted on condition that resources other than stone are consumed. The resource to be consumed may be a game point or another item. The game control unit 114 may increase the resources with time, or may increase the resources by exchanging with other valuable items such as money, time, and labor. The resource may be useful or indispensable for advantageous progress of the game.

  In this embodiment, it demonstrated that the right to play an event quest for 1 hour was provided by consuming a stone. When an item other than stone is consumed, the right to play the event quest for 30 minutes may be granted. In this way, different valid times may be set for each resource.

  As described above, the challenge right of the event quest may be a time system or a frequency system. For example, when one challenge ticket is used, the game control unit 114 may set the event quest to be playable until the avatar becomes unable to battle. Alternatively, when one challenge ticket is used, the game control unit 114 may be set so that the event quest can be played until the avatar becomes unable to battle three times. The game control unit 114 may give a challenge ticket according to the play result, or may give a challenge ticket when an event quest is held or when the game C is logged in.

  The time system and the frequency system may be used in combination. For example, the player may acquire the right to play an event quest for 1 hour using a stone and then play the event quest using a challenge ticket.

  The game control unit 114 may set a period during which the event quest can be challenged (hereinafter referred to as “free period”) without consuming resources such as stones as part of the event period. For example, out of the event period from July 1, 2017 to July 31, 2017, the free period may be from July 1 to July 5. According to such a control method, it is possible to increase awareness of the event quest by allowing many players to experience the event quest during the free period.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that if the participation button 172 is selected on the warning screen 170, the event quest can be challenged even when the remaining time is short. As a modified example, the warning unit 134 may display a warning screen 170 that does not include a selection button such as the participation button 172, and the play permission unit 130 may always permit a challenge to the event quest. If the player can recognize that the remaining time is short, the player can play the event quest on the premise of a short game. It is considered that even if only a warning is given, at least the disadvantage caused by the occurrence of “end at an unexpected timing” of the event quest can be considerably suppressed. The play permission unit 130 may always refuse the challenge to the event quest after the warning screen 170 is displayed.

  The player may set whether or not to warn when the remaining time is less than the first threshold T1. The warning unit 134 may determine whether the warning can be executed according to this setting. Further, after the warning, the player may be set to automatically permit the challenge to the event quest without asking for confirmation from the player.

  The player may set the first threshold T1 via the input unit 140. When changing the valid time according to the resource type, the warning unit 134 may change the first threshold T1 according to the resource type to be consumed. For example, when challenging an event quest using a stone (valid time is 1 hour) as a consumption target, the warning unit 134 sets the first threshold T1 to 1 hour. When challenging an event quest with another item (valid time is 30 minutes) as a consumption target, the warning unit 134 may set the first threshold T1 to 30 minutes.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether or not a warning is necessary according to the progress state of the event quest. For example, when the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold T1 and the player starts an event quest from any of the stages 1 to 5, the warning unit 134 may display the warning screen 170. In this case, the play permission unit 130 may reject the challenge to the event quest. When stages 1 to 5 are the beginning of the event quest, it is considered that the possibility that the player can clear the event quest is low in the remaining event period. Therefore, the warning unit 134 can prevent the player from consuming precious stones for an event quest with a low possibility of clearing by actively displaying a warning when the possibility of clearing the event quest is low.

When the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold T1 and the player starts an event quest from any of the stages 6 to 10, the warning unit 134 may not display the warning screen 170. Alternatively, although the warning is displayed, the play permission unit 130 may automatically permit the challenge to the event quest after the warning. This is because if stages 6 to 10 are the final stage of the event quest, the player may be able to clear the event quest even if the remaining time is short.
As described above, the warning unit 134 may display the warning screen 170 for the player as necessary only when the possibility that the event quest can be cleared is low.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether or not a warning is necessary based on the progress state of the event quest without comparing the remaining time with the first threshold value T1. For example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the event period, the warning unit 134 may suppress a challenge with a low possibility of clearing the event quest by displaying a warning to a player who has not played.

  The warning unit 134 may adjust the first threshold T1 according to the progress state of the event quest. For example, the warning unit 134 may shorten the first threshold T1 as the event quest progresses. The shorter the first threshold T1, the later the timing at which a warning is given. On the other hand, when the event quest is not progressing, even if it is possible to play for the valid time, a warning may be given early. For example, even if the remaining time is 3 hours, when the player is playing stage 1, it is considered unlikely that this player can clear the event quest in 3 hours. For such a player, it is more reasonable to participate in a new event quest that starts 3 hours later than to play an event quest that is nearing the end for another 3 hours.

  The difficulty level may be set in advance in the event quest. The warning unit 134 may display the warning screen 170 only when the player starts an event quest with the difficulty level A (the highest difficulty level) when the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold T1. In this case, the play permission unit 130 may reject the challenge to the event quest. This is because it is considered unlikely that a difficult event quest can be completed within a short remaining time. The warning unit 134 can prevent the player from consuming precious stones for an event quest with a low possibility of clearing by actively displaying a warning when the possibility of clearing the event quest is low. On the other hand, if it is an easy event quest, it may be cleared even if the remaining time is only 10 minutes.

  The warning unit 134 may adjust the first threshold T1 according to the difficulty level of the event quest. The warning unit 134 may set the first threshold T1 longer for a difficult event quest, and set the first threshold T1 shorter for an easier event quest. In the case of a difficult event quest, an early warning may be given to notify the player that the event quest is difficult to clear in a short remaining time.

  Similarly, the difficulty level may be set for each stage. The warning unit 134 may display the warning screen 170 only when the player starts the event quest from the stage having the difficulty level A (the highest difficulty level) when the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold value T1. This is because it is unlikely that a difficult stage can be cleared within a short remaining time. When starting an event quest from an easy stage, the warning unit 134 may not issue a warning. If it is an easy stage, you may be able to clear it with less play time.

  The warning unit 134 may adjust the first threshold T1 according to the difficulty level of the stage. The warning unit 134 may set the first threshold T1 long when starting an event quest from a difficult stage, and set the first threshold T1 short when starting an event quest from an easy stage. If the stage is difficult, an early warning may notify the player that it is difficult to clear the stage, in other words, it takes time to clear the stage.

  Not only the difficulty level but also the warning unit 134 may determine the necessity of warning according to the event quest and the type of stage, and may adjust the first threshold T1. The difficulty level does not need to be explicitly set in the event quest or stage. For example, an event quest or stage in which many enemy characters appear may be regarded as a high difficulty level, and an event quest or stage in which a strong boss character appears may be regarded as a high difficulty level. Event quests and stages that require a large number of items to be cleared may be considered more difficult than event quests or stages that do not. In any case, the warning unit 134 may determine the difficulty level of the event quest or the stage according to a predetermined determination criterion.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether or not the warning is necessary based on the event quest, the type of stage, the difficulty level, and the like without comparing the remaining time with the first threshold value T1. For example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the event period, the warning unit 134 displays a warning only for event quests or stages with a high degree of difficulty, thereby suppressing challenges that are unlikely to be cleared of event quests. Also good.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether or not a warning is necessary according to the character rank. As described above, the avatar acquires an experience value according to the play result, and increases the character rank by accumulating the experience value. The warning unit 134 may display a warning only when the remaining time is equal to or lower than the first threshold T1 and the character rank is equal to or lower than a predetermined rank. This is because it is considered that it takes time to clear the event quest when the character rank is low.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether or not a warning is necessary according to “player rank” instead of the character rank. The play history management unit 136 sets the player rank according to the accumulated play time or the achievement status of various quests. The player rank is an index value indicating the proficiency level of the player for the game C. The player rank setting method may be an application of known technology. The warning unit 134 may display a warning only when the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold T1 and the player rank is equal to or less than a predetermined rank.

  A player who uses an avatar with a high character rank or a player with a high player rank (hereinafter collectively referred to as an “advanced person”) has a high possibility of successfully clearing the event quest. On the other hand, a player who uses an avatar with a low character rank or a player with a low player rank (hereinafter collectively referred to as “lower class”) is likely to take time to clear the event quest.

  The warning unit 134 is not likely to warn even when the remaining time is short because there is a high possibility that the advanced person can clear the event quest in a short time. Specifically, when an avatar having a character rank equal to or higher than a predetermined value is used, or when the player rank is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the warning unit 134 does not issue a warning even if the remaining time is equal to or less than the first threshold value. . The warning unit 134 may warn the player only when the remaining time is considerably reduced by setting the first threshold value T1 short for the advanced player. The warning unit 134 may warn even when the remaining time is long because the inferior person may take time to clear the event quest, or may set the first threshold T1 long.

  Alternatively, it can be considered that an advanced player can easily continue one play for a long period of time, and an inferior can continue play for only a short time. For example, an advanced person having a strong avatar may be able to continue the event quest for a long time because it is difficult for an enemy character to defeat the avatar. On the other hand, weak avatars are easily defeated by enemy characters, so it may be difficult for an inferior to continue an event quest for a long time. Advanced users may be able to continue the event quest for most of their time when given time. In other words, it is considered that the effective time is unlikely to remain.

  The warning unit 134 may give a warning because a high-level player is likely to play the event quest for a long time, and may not warn a low-level person because it is highly likely that the event quest can be played only for a short time. For the same reason, the warning unit 134 may set the first threshold value T1 longer for the advanced user and set the first threshold value shorter for the lower-level person.

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether the warning is necessary based on the player rank or the character rank without comparing the remaining time with the first threshold value T1. For example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the event period, the warning unit 134 may suppress a challenge with a low possibility of clearing the event quest by displaying a warning to a player with a low play rank or character rank. .

  The warning unit 134 may determine whether the warning is necessary based on various parameters such as the progress state of the event quest, the player rank, the character rank, the event quest, and the difficulty level of the stage. Alternatively, the length of the first threshold T1 may be adjusted based on these parameters. Which of the plurality of parameters is implemented is arbitrary, and the combination and processing order are also arbitrary.

  For example, when the stage 5 or higher is cleared in the event quest and the player rank is 8 or higher, the warning unit 134 may not execute the warning. Alternatively, when the level is difficulty level B or higher and the character rank is 4 or higher, the warning unit 134 may set the first threshold T1 to 1.2 times the valid time. The combination of these parameters and the criteria for determining whether warning is necessary may be arbitrarily determined according to the specifications of the event quest.

  The game control unit 114 may advantageously change the event quest to the player when the remaining time becomes equal to or less than the second threshold T2. The second threshold value T2 may be larger than the first threshold value T1, smaller, or the same. Specifically, the character may be strengthened by temporarily increasing the attribute value of the character used by the player, or the number of enemy characters or the attribute value may be temporarily decreased. The game control unit 114 may provide or lend an item that strengthens and supports the character, or may cause an NPC (Non Player Character) to support and support the player's character.

  The game control unit 114 may change the setting of the event quest so that game points and privileges can be easily acquired. Also, the difficulty level of the event / clear condition or the stage / clear condition may be lowered. For example, in a stage where collecting five crystals is a stage clear condition, collecting three crystals may be a new stage clear condition. According to such a control method, since it is possible to provide a merit of challenging an event quest just before the end of the event period, it becomes easy to provoke a player's desire to challenge even near the end of the event period. In other words, the event quest can be raised to the end by stimulating the “rush demand”.

  If you attempt an event quest near the end of the event period, there is a risk that the event period will end with some extra time remaining. The game control unit 114 can compensate for the disadvantages associated with losing a part of the effective time by making various adjustments so as to be advantageous to the player near the end of the event period.

  The event quest (event game) may be a game in which the players compete for the accumulated points by accumulating points (scores) acquired per one play. Alternatively, the event game may be a game for competing for how many scores can be obtained per challenge.

  The idea of the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the right to challenge an event game is given after setting a limit on the number of times instead of the time. For example, when the player tries to exercise the right to challenge three times just before the end of the event period, the warning unit 134 may display a warning. This is because the end of the event period is near, and of the three challenge rights, it can actually be used only once, and the two challenge rights may be wasted. In this case, it may be more reasonable for the player to leave the challenge right for the next event than to exercise the challenge right three times.

  The valid time given by consuming one stone is counted down regardless of whether or not the event quest can be executed (hereinafter referred to as “first progression method”). For example, when an event quest is started at 16:00, the challenge right expires at 17:00 even if the event quest is stopped midway. On the other hand, the valid time may be counted down only during the play time of the event quest (hereinafter referred to as “second progression method”). For example, when an event quest is started at 16:00 and the event quest is interrupted at 16:30, the countdown stops. When the event quest is resumed from 18:00, the remaining valid time may be used until 18:30.

  In the second progression method, it is assumed that the player takes a break after clearing stage 1 of the event quest. However, if the remaining time of the event period is short, the event period may have expired when the player tries to resume from stage 2. For example, assume that 18:00 is the end time of the event period, and the player starts the event quest stage 7 at 16:55 (valid time is 1 hour). When the player clears stage 7 at 17:15, the valid time is 40 minutes remaining and the remaining time is 45 minutes. Here, when the player tries to finish the event quest, the warning unit 134 warns the player if the difference between the valid time and the remaining time is within a predetermined threshold, for example, 10 minutes. This is because, for example, when the player resumes the event quest at 17:30, the remaining time is only 30 minutes, so that the remaining 40 minutes, which is the remaining effective time, is left behind. In order not to leave the effective time, the player should play stage 8 after clearing stage 7.

  Therefore, in the second progress method, the warning unit 134 checks the remaining time not only when a challenge request is received from the player but also at a predetermined timing of the event quest such as when the stage is cleared or when the event quest is interrupted. Also good. The warning unit 134 may similarly warn the player when the remaining time is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. According to such a control method, even in the event quest of the second progression method, it is easy to avoid the disadvantage that the event period ends while leaving the valid time.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the event quest ends when the event period ends. As a modified example, if the challenge request is transmitted within the event period, the event quest may be played without leaving the valid time even after the event period ends. Alternatively, the remaining valid time may be carried over for the next event quest.

  If one stone is consumed and a challenge is requested within the event period, an effective time of 1 hour may be guaranteed regardless of the end time of the event period. The game control unit 114 may control the event quest not to continue for a long time after the event period ends by changing the event quest disadvantageously to the player after the event period ends.

  In the present embodiment, the game for smartphones has been described. However, the game system 100 may be realized by a home game machine or a personal computer. It may be an arcade game or a game linked with an arcade game. The event game may be a limited-time game, may be a game in which a plurality of players can participate, or may be a game in which only one player can participate.

  100 game system, 102 game server, 104 game terminal, 106 Internet, 108 communication unit, 110 data processing unit, 112 data storage unit, 114 game control unit, 116 communication unit, 118 user interface processing unit, 120 data processing unit, 122 Data storage unit, 124 game data storage unit, 126 player registration unit, 128 player data storage unit, 130 play permission unit, 132 game execution unit, 134 warning unit, 136 play history management unit, 140 input unit, 142 output unit, 144 Challenge acceptance section, 150 quest selection screen, 152 quest button, 160 quest start screen, 162 period display area, 164 history display area, 166 start button, 170 warning screen, 172 participation button, 174 non-participation button

Claims (4)

A game control unit that controls the progress of an event game that can be played during the event period;
A challenge acceptance unit for accepting a challenge request to the event game from a player;
When the challenge request is accepted during the event period, a play permission unit that permits play of the event game on condition of consumption of resources held by the player;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a warning unit that warns the player when the challenge request is accepted when the remaining time of the event period is equal to or less than a first threshold. The play permission unit permits the play of the event game after setting an effective time during which the event game can be played,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is set based on the valid time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the game control unit advantageously sets the event game to a player when the remaining time of the event period is equal to or less than a second threshold value. A function to control the progress of the event game that can be played during the event period,
A function of accepting a challenge request to the event game from a player;
When the challenge request is accepted during the event period, a function of permitting the play of the event game on condition of consumption of resources held by the player;
A game program for causing a computer to perform a function of warning the player when the challenge request is accepted when the remaining time of the event period is equal to or less than a first threshold.

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