JP7284584B2 - Game program, method, and information processing device - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act ・Website address (A) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=xdTCpPZDn2Y Publication date February 22, 2018 (B) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=dYptH6UyTik Posting date April 25, 2018 (C) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=gvdlUJc1EZc Posting date May 18, 2018 (D) https://twitter. com/Drgnpj_colopl https://twitter. com/Drgnpj_colopl/status/968387142564089856 https://twitter. com/Drgnpj_colopl/status/968761055232000001 Posting date From January 15, 2018 (E) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=JJALO2Tc8c4 Posting date January 18, 2018 (F) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=_s1RO5z4rL0 Posting date January 18, 2018 (G) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=OqQUeVR4JzQ Posting date January 26, 2018 (H) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=lt_ZffGefK0 Posting date January 29, 2018 (I) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=UnpwKdw_2jo Posting date January 29, 2018 (J) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=tZUnEJLCaew Posting date February 12, 2018 (K) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=iDQAhf1bcDk Posting date March 13, 2018 (L) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=oYUvxC8wHgU Posting date March 14, 2018 (M) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=UnX8GaxCqGw Posting date March 14, 2018 (N) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=5vNHFCSbbzo Date Posted March 14, 2018

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law (O) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=nfrgYdaz2bQ Posting date March 20, 2018 (P) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=zw9vKRFAyH0 Posting date March 28, 2018 (Q) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=4fPDQ927SRc Posting date March 28, 2018 (R) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=6l1Be9-Tu1o Posting date April 10, 2018 (S) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=09kKoSiy9ZM Posting date April 12, 2018 (T) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=fCuuUjYhTsY Posting date April 26, 2018 (U) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=dg08J2OrJUA Posting date April 26, 2018 (V) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=jUwDomzAGDk Posting date May 29, 2018 (W) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=XeTqLomGITw Posting date May 28, 2018 (X) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=O24OqVMBg-w Posting date June 13, 2018 (Y) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=pQn1CKvCl9E Posting date June 13, 2018 (Z) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=XnCqZQpteO8 Posting date June 19, 2018 (AA) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=_a1lgbvq09M Posting date June 21, 2018 (AB) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=0vZRINYC10U Posting date June 28, 2018 (AC) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=cTwfWXZis58 Posting date July 9, 2018 (AD) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=nAiIuRfTEUQ Posted on July 13, 2018

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law (AE) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=NxTzm4Vxw8k Posting date July 13, 2018 (AF) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=fiUPa6OTVmm Posting date July 13, 2018 (AG) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=ShFlJJd4EIw Posting date July 13, 2018 (AH) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=9VNWMQBcc0A Posting date July 13, 2018 (AI) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=xARWC_VIhak Posting date July 13, 2018 (AJ) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=6K2J8HNCsGU Posting date July 13, 2018 (AK) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=NmCmt0qSylc Posting date July 13, 2018 (AL) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=NZ42qLUietY Posting date July 15, 2018 (AM) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=pk9DUt5hOb8 Posting date July 29, 2018 (AN) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=qFyBvmipLpk Posted on August 29, 2018 (AO) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=b5VUUqxhRqs Posting date September 25, 2018 (AP) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=4yXI8x1zI3U Posted September 26, 2018 (AQ) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=bEuWAGA3KBI Posting date October 4, 2018 (AR) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=zrNyAq8PVx4 Posting date October 11, 2018 (AS) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=7eVAOxnNQrE Posted on October 14, 2018

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law (AT) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=T75dyl7WZ0s Posting date October 30, 2018 (AU) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=9XIC_hrH3WY Posting date December 3, 2018 (AV) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=aYtrQ2KSzLM Posting date December 5, 2018 (AW) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=SE7vaQwjNOo Posting date December 11, 2018 (AX) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=gTF_0UoL2u4 Posting date December 12, 2018 (AY) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=O6fwB9jnSJU Posting date December 25, 2018 (AZ) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=8Am7Krh5UYs Posting date December 26, 2018 (BA) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v = GejKkmVnWrw Posting date December 27, 2018 (BB) https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=XrDCw-Mg0tk Posted January 15, 2019 (BC) https://twitter. com/wcat_project Posting date January 15, 2018- Application name: “Dragon Project” Application version and release/update date: Ver. 1.4.15 January 26, 2018 Ver. 1.4.16 January 31, 2018 Ver. 1.4.17 February 7, 2018 Ver. 1.4.18 February 14, 2018 Ver. 1.5.00 February 26, 2018 Ver. 1.5.01 March 2, 2018 Ver. 1.5.02 March 9, 2018 Ver. 1.5.03 March 14, 2018 Ver. 1.5.04 March 21, 2018 Ver. 1.5.05 March 28, 2018 Ver. 1.5.06 March 30, 2018 Ver. 1.5.07 April 4, 2018 Ver. 1.5.08 April 18, 2018 Ver. 1.5.09 April 25, 2018

Patent Act Article 30, Paragraph 2 Application Ver. 1.5.10 May 9, 2018 Ver. 1.5.11 May 17, 2018 Ver. 1.6.00 May 24, 2018 Ver. 1.6.01 May 31, 2018 Ver. 1.6.02 June 4, 2018 Ver. 1.6.03 June 13, 2018 Ver. 1.6.04 June 20, 2018 Ver. 1.6.05 June 27, 2018 Ver. 1.6.06 July 2, 2018 Ver. 1.6.07 July 4, 2018 Ver. 1.6.08 July 11, 2018 Ver. 1.6.09 July 18, 2018 Ver. 1.6.10 July 30, 2018 Ver. 1.6.11 August 1, 2018 Ver. 1.6.12 August 8, 2018 Ver. 1.6.13 August 14, 2018 Ver. 1.6.14 August 22, 2018 Ver. 1.6.15 August 24, 2018 Ver. 1.6.16 August 28, 2018 Ver. 1.6.17 September 4, 2018 Ver. 1.6.18 September 12, 2018 Ver. 1.6.19 September 26, 2018 Ver. 1.6.20 October 2, 2018 Ver. 1.6.21 October 10, 2018 Ver. 1.6.22 October 23, 2018 Ver. 1.6.23 October 29, 2018 Ver. 1.6.24 November 6, 2018 Ver. 1.6.26 November 14, 2018 Ver. 1.6.27 November 20, 2018 Ver. 1.6.28 November 27, 2018 Ver. 1.6.29 December 4, 2018 Ver. 1.6.30 December 11, 2018 Ver. 1.6.31 December 19, 2018 Ver. 1.6.32 December 20, 2018 Ver. 1.6.33 January 8, 2019 ・Application name: “Shironeko Project” Application version and release/update date: Ver1.1.47 January 15, 2018 Ver1.1.48 January 18, 2018 Ver1.1.49 January 25, 2018 Ver1.1.50 January 30, 2018 Ver1.1.51 February 13, 2018 Ver1.1.52 February 27, 2018 Ver1.1.53 2018 February 28, 2018 Ver1.1.54 March 15, 2018

Patent Act Article 30, Paragraph 2 applied Ver1.1.55 March 29, 2018 Ver1.1.56 April 3, 2018 Ver1.1.57 April 12, 2018 Ver1.1.58 April 2018 April 13, 2018 Ver1.1.59 April 19, 2018 Ver1.1.60 April 24, 2018 Ver1.1.61 April 27, 2018 Ver1.1.62 May 11, 2018 Ver1.1 .63 May 17, 2018 Ver. 1.1.64 May 30, 2018 Ver. 1.1.65 June 14, 2018 Ver. 1.1.66 June 28, 2018 Ver. 1.1.67 July 13, 2018 Ver. 1.1.68 July 14, 2018 Ver. 1.1.69 July 30, 2018 Ver. 1.1.70 August 9, 2018 Ver. 1.1.71 August 30, 2018 Ver. 1.1.72 September 11, 2018 Ver. 1.1.73 September 13, 2018 Ver. 1.1.74 September 18, 2018 Ver. 1.1.75 September 27, 2018 Ver. 1.1.76 October 1, 2018 Ver. 1.1.77 October 10, 2018 Ver. 1.1.78 October 18, 2018 Ver. 1.1.79 October 29, 2018 Ver. 1.1.80 October 30, 2018 Ver. 1.1.81 November 2, 2018 Ver. 1.1.83 November 21, 2018 Ver. 1.1.84 November 29, 2018 Ver. 1.1.85 December 13, 2018 Ver. 1.1.86 December 19, 2018 Ver. 1.1.87 January 10, 2019

The present disclosure relates to a game program, a method for executing the game program, and an information processing device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a game system in which a plurality of game devices are communicatively connected, a system for evaluating the degree of friendship between characters controlled by each player has been introduced. For example, in Patent Document 1, when each player operates each game device to move a character in a game space to jointly achieve a common goal, the achievement of the goal is based on friendship with the characters of other players. It is described that degree points are given. Friendship points are accumulated for each of the other characters, and accumulated as an accumulated value. When the accumulated value of friendship points for each character reaches a predetermined threshold value, each character receives a specific item.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-061253 (published on March 15, 2007)

On the other hand, in online games, a function is known in which a user communicates with another user via a user terminal and performs a predetermined procedure to associate and register the other user with himself/herself. Other users that the user has registered in association with him are called so-called "friends". In an online game, for example, a pair of users who are in a friend relationship are configured to enjoy some kind of benefit in the game. Thereby, each user can be encouraged to interact with other users, and the possibility that the user will play for a long time without leaving can be increased.

More specifically, there are at least two types of friend registration mechanisms. A first friend relationship is recognized at the stage of registration, and a second friend relationship is further recognized by the other user registering the one user back. Below, in the latter mechanism, one user's registration of the other user is called "following", and the one user who is the subject of the following is referred to as a "follower" of the other user who is followed. ”.

It is unknown whether the friendship evaluation system described above has a friend registration function that recognizes the friendship relationship in two stages. Therefore, when evaluating the degree of friendship or granting friendship points, no consideration is given as to which stage the relationship between users corresponds to before reaching the second friendship relationship. Therefore, the above-described system has room for improvement in terms of motivating users to actively play games with other users.

One aspect of the present disclosure is aimed at motivating users to play games with other users.

A game program according to the present disclosure is executed by a computer that includes a processor and memory. the game program, in response to a user's first input operation for designating another user, registering the other user in a first list for registering follow-friends of the user; in response to receiving information indicating that the user has been registered as a follow-friend of the other user, registering the other user in a second list of registering follow-friends of the user; are follow friends who are only on the user's first list, follower friends who are only on the user's second list, mutual friends who are on both the first and second lists, and first a step of determining which friend class of non-friends registered in neither the list nor the second list corresponds to a friend category; and updating at least one of a degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship with the other user and an upper limit of the degree of intimacy according to the friend classification of the other user.

A game program according to the present disclosure is executed by a server that includes a processor and memory. determining the other user as a follow-friend of the user in response to receiving, from the computer operated by the user, information indicating that the user has followed the other user, to the processor; determining the other user as a follower-friend of the user in response to receiving information indicating that the user has followed the user from a computer operated by the other user; determining the friend classification as mutual friend, the friend classification of a pair of users followed by one of the users as one-way friend, and the friend classification of a pair of users who are not followed by either user as non-friend; Updating at least one of the degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and the upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which is set by the user, according to the friend classification of the user pair; to run.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is an effect of improving the interest of the game.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a game system. 3 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of a user terminal and a server; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing executed in the game system based on the game program according to the embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of relationship information. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of intimacy information. (A) is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of a follow list, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of a follower list. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for changing the upper limit of intimacy; FIG. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for incrementing intimacy; FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the management screen in which the follow list is arrange|positioned. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a management screen on which a follower list is arranged; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a start screen displayed on the display unit; It is a figure which shows the specific example of the result screen displayed on a display part. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing specific examples of a start screen for instructing the start of a multiplayer quest. (A) is a diagram showing an example of a home screen displayed on the display unit, and (B) is a diagram showing a specific example of a multiplay quest start screen when the user himself/herself is a guest. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the result screen of a multiplay quest.

[Embodiment 1]
A game system according to the present disclosure is a system for providing a game to multiple users. The game system will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents to the scope of the claims. be. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements in the description of the drawings, and redundant description will not be repeated.

<Hardware Configuration of Game System 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the game system 1. As shown in FIG. The game system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 100 and a server 200 as shown. Each user terminal 100 is connected to the server 200 via the network 2 . The network 2 includes the Internet and various mobile communication systems constructed by wireless base stations (not shown). Examples of mobile communication systems include so-called 3G, 4G mobile communication systems, LTE (Long Term Evolution), and wireless networks (eg, Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) that can be connected to the Internet through a predetermined access point. be done.

The server 200 (computer, information processing device) may be a workstation or a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer. The server 200 includes a processor 20, a memory 21, a storage 22, a communication IF 23, and an input/output IF 24. These components provided in the server 200 are electrically connected to each other by a communication bus.

The user terminal 100 (computer, information processing device) may be a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, a feature phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a tablet computer. The user terminal 100 may be a game device suitable for playing games. As illustrated, the user terminal 100 includes a processor 10, a memory 11, a storage 12, a communication interface (IF) 13, an input/output IF 14, a touch screen 15 (display unit), a camera 17, and a range sensor 18. and These components provided in the user terminal 100 are electrically connected to each other by a communication bus. Note that the user terminal 100 may include an input/output IF 14 to which a display (display unit) configured separately from the user terminal 100 main body can be connected instead of or in addition to the touch screen 15 .

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, user terminal 100 may be configured to communicate with one or more controllers 1020 . The controller 1020 establishes communication with the user terminal 100 according to communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example. The controller 1020 may have one or more buttons or the like, and transmits to the user terminal 100 an output value based on the user's input operation on the buttons or the like. Also, the controller 1020 may have various sensors such as an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, and transmits output values of the various sensors to the user terminal 100 .

Note that the controller 1020 may have the camera 17 and the ranging sensor 18 instead of or in addition to the user terminal 100 having the camera 17 and the ranging sensor 18 .

The user terminal 100 preferably allows the user using the controller 1020 to input user identification information such as the user's name or login ID via the controller 1020, for example, at the start of the game. As a result, the user terminal 100 can associate the controller 1020 with the user, and identifies which user the output value belongs to based on the transmission source (controller 1020) of the received output value. be able to.

When the user terminal 100 communicates with a plurality of controllers 1020 , each user can hold each controller 1020 to communicate with the one user terminal 100 without communicating with other devices such as the server 200 via the network 2 . You can play multiplayer with. In addition, by connecting each user terminal 100 to each other for communication according to a wireless standard such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standard (connecting for communication without going through the server 200), a plurality of user terminals 100 can realize local multiplay. You can also When the above-described multiplay is locally realized by one user terminal 100, the user terminal 100 may further include at least a part of various functions of the server 200, which will be described later. Also, in the case where multiple user terminals 100 locally implement the above-described multiplay, the multiple user terminals 100 may be provided with various functions of the server 200, which will be described later, in a distributed manner.

Note that the user terminal 100 may communicate with the server 200 even when the multiplay described above is implemented locally. For example, information indicating a play result such as score or win/loss in a certain game may be associated with user identification information and transmitted to the server 200 .

Also, the controller 1020 may be detachable from the user terminal 100 . In this case, at least one surface of the housing of the user terminal 100 may be provided with a coupling portion for the controller 1020 . When the user terminal 100 and the controller 1020 are connected by wire through the connecting unit, the user terminal 100 and the controller 1020 transmit and receive signals via the wire.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the user terminal 100 may accept the attachment of an external storage medium 1030 such as a memory card via the input/output IF 14 . This allows the user terminal 100 to read programs and data recorded on the storage medium 1030 . A program recorded in the storage medium 1030 is, for example, a game program.

User terminal 100 may store a game program acquired by communicating with an external device such as server 200 in memory 11 of user terminal 100, or may store a game program acquired by reading from storage medium 1030 in memory 11. may be stored in

As described above, the user terminal 100 includes the communication IF 13, the input/output IF 14, the touch screen 15, the camera 17, and the ranging sensor 18 as an example of a mechanism for inputting information to the user terminal 100. FIG. Each unit described above as an input mechanism can be regarded as an operation unit configured to receive a user's input operation.

For example, when the operation unit is composed of at least one of the camera 17 and the ranging sensor 18, the operation unit detects an object 1010 near the user terminal 100, and performs an input operation based on the detection result of the object. Identify. As an example, a user's hand as object 1010, a marker of a predetermined shape, or the like is detected, and an input operation is specified based on the color, shape, movement, type, or the like of object 1010 obtained as a detection result. be. More specifically, when the user's hand is detected from the image captured by the camera 17, the user terminal 100 detects a gesture (a series of movements of the user's hand) detected based on the captured image as an input operation of the user. identified and accepted as Note that the captured image may be a still image or a moving image.

Alternatively, when the operation unit is configured by the touch screen 15, the user terminal 100 identifies and accepts the user's operation performed on the input unit 151 of the touch screen 15 as the user's input operation. Alternatively, when the operation unit is configured by the communication IF 13, the user terminal 100 identifies and accepts a signal (for example, an output value) transmitted from the controller 1020 as the user's input operation. Alternatively, when the operation unit is configured by the input/output IF 14, a signal output from an input device (not shown) different from the controller 1020 connected to the input/output IF 14 is specified as the user's input operation and accepted.

<Hardware components of each device>
Processor 10 controls the overall operation of user terminal 100 . The processor 20 controls the operation of the server 200 as a whole. Processors 10 and 20 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

The processor 10 reads a program from a storage 12, which will be described later, and develops it in a memory 11, which will be described later. The processor 20 reads a program from a storage 22, which will be described later, and develops it in a memory 21, which will be described later. Processor 10 and processor 20 execute the expanded program.

Memories 11 and 21 are main storage devices. The memories 11 and 21 are composed of storage devices such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 11 provides a work area for the processor 10 by temporarily storing programs and various data read by the processor 10 from a storage 12 described later. The memory 11 also temporarily stores various data generated while the processor 10 is operating according to the program. The memory 21 provides a work area for the processor 20 by temporarily storing various programs and data read by the processor 20 from a storage 22 described later. The memory 21 also temporarily stores various data generated while the processor 20 is operating according to the program.

The program in this embodiment may be a game program for realizing a game by the user terminal 100 . Alternatively, the program may be a game program for realizing the game through cooperation between user terminal 100 and server 200 . Note that the game realized by cooperation between the user terminal 100 and the server 200 may be, for example, a game executed on a browser activated on the user terminal 100 . Alternatively, the program may be a game program for realizing the game by cooperation of a plurality of user terminals 100 . Further, the various types of data include game-related data such as user information and game information, and instructions or notifications transmitted and received between the user terminal 100 and the server 200 or between a plurality of user terminals 100 .

Storages 12 and 22 are auxiliary storage devices. The storages 12 and 22 are composed of storage devices such as flash memories or HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). Various data related to the game are stored in the storage 12 and the storage 22 .

The communication IF 13 controls transmission and reception of various data in the user terminal 100 . The communication IF 23 controls transmission and reception of various data in the server 200 . The communication IFs 13 and 23 control, for example, communication via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Internet communication via a wired LAN, wireless LAN, or mobile phone network, and communication using short-range wireless communication.

The input/output IF 14 is an interface for the user terminal 100 to receive data input, and an interface for the user terminal 100 to output data. The input/output IF 14 may input/output data via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like. The input/output IF 14 may include physical buttons, a camera, a microphone, or a speaker of the user terminal 100, for example. The input/output IF 24 of the server 200 is an interface for the server 200 to receive data input and an interface for the server 200 to output data. The input/output IF 24 may include, for example, an input section that is an information input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and a display section that is a device for displaying and outputting images.

The touch screen 15 of the user terminal 100 is an electronic component in which an input section 151 and a display section 152 are combined. The input unit 151 is, for example, a touch-sensitive device, and is configured by, for example, a touch pad. The display unit 152 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

The input unit 151 detects the position where the user's operation (mainly physical contact operation such as touch operation, slide operation, swipe operation, and tap operation) is input on the input surface, and inputs information indicating the position. It has a function to transmit as a signal. The input unit 151 may include a touch sensing unit (not shown). The touch sensing unit may employ any type of system, such as a capacitive system or a resistive film system.

Although not shown, the user terminal 100 may include one or more sensors for identifying the holding posture of the user terminal 100 . This sensor may be, for example, an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor. If the user terminal 100 is equipped with a sensor, the processor 10 can identify the holding posture of the user terminal 100 from the output of the sensor and perform processing according to the holding posture. For example, when the user terminal 100 is held vertically, the processor 10 may display a vertically long image on the display unit 152 for vertical screen display. On the other hand, when the user terminal 100 is held horizontally, a horizontal screen display may be used in which a horizontally long image is displayed on the display unit. Thus, the processor 10 may be able to switch between vertical screen display and horizontal screen display according to the holding posture of the user terminal 100 .

The camera 17 includes an image sensor or the like, and generates a captured image by converting incident light from a lens into an electrical signal.

The distance sensor 18 is a sensor that measures the distance to the object to be measured. The ranging sensor 18 includes, for example, a light source that emits pulse-converted light and a light receiving element that receives the light. The distance measuring sensor 18 measures the distance to the measurement object based on the light emission timing from the light source and the light reception timing of the reflected light generated when the light emitted from the light source hits the measurement object and is reflected. The ranging sensor 18 may have a light source that emits directional light.

Here, an example in which the user terminal 100 uses the camera 17 and the ranging sensor 18 to detect the object 1010 near the user terminal 100 and accepts the detection result as the user's input operation will be further described. The camera 17 and the ranging sensor 18 may be provided on the side of the housing of the user terminal 100, for example. A ranging sensor 18 may be provided near the camera 17 . As the camera 17, for example, an infrared camera can be used. In this case, the camera 17 may be provided with an illumination device that emits infrared light, a filter that blocks visible light, and the like. This makes it possible to further improve the object detection accuracy based on the image captured by the camera 17, regardless of whether it is outdoors or indoors.

The processor 10 may perform one or more of the following processes (1) to (5) on the image captured by the camera 17, for example. (1) The processor 10 performs image recognition processing on the captured image of the camera 17 to identify whether or not the captured image includes the user's hand. The processor 10 may use a technique such as pattern matching, for example, as the analysis technique employed in the image recognition processing described above. (2) The processor 10 also detects a user's gesture from the shape of the user's hand. For example, the processor 10 identifies the number of fingers of the user (the number of extended fingers) from the shape of the user's hand detected from the captured image. Processor 10 further identifies the gesture made by the user from the identified number of fingers. For example, when the number of fingers is five, processor 10 determines that the user has performed the "pa" gesture. In addition, when the number of fingers is 0 (no fingers are detected), the processor 10 determines that the user has performed the "goo" gesture. In addition, when the number of fingers is two, the processor 10 determines that the user has made the "Scissors" gesture. (3) The processor 10 performs image recognition processing on the image captured by the camera 17 to detect whether the user's finger is in a state in which only the index finger is raised or whether the user's finger is flicking. . (4) The processor 10 detects an object 1010 (such as a user's hand) near the user terminal 100 based on at least one of the image recognition result of the captured image of the camera 17 and the output value of the distance measuring sensor 18. ) and the user terminal 100 is detected. For example, the processor 10 determines whether the user's hand is close to the user terminal 100 (for example, a distance less than a predetermined value) or far away from the user terminal 100 (for example, a predetermined value or more distance). Note that when the captured image is a moving image, the processor 10 may detect whether the user's hand is approaching or moving away from the user terminal 100 . (5) When it is found that the distance between the user terminal 100 and the user's hand has changed while the user's hand is detected based on the image recognition result of the captured image of the camera 17, the processor 10 recognizes that the user is waving his hand in the photographing direction of the camera 17 . When an object is detected or not detected by the ranging sensor 18, which has a stronger directivity than the imaging range of the camera 17, the processor 10 detects that the user is waving his hand in a direction orthogonal to the imaging direction of the camera. recognize.

In this way, the processor 10 determines whether or not the user is clenching his/her hand (a "goo" gesture or another gesture (for example, "pa") by image recognition of the captured image of the camera 17. or) is detected. The processor 10 also detects how the user is moving the hand together with the shape of the user's hand. The processor 10 also detects whether the user is moving his/her hand closer to or away from the user terminal 100 . Such operations can correspond to operations using a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, for example. For example, the user terminal 100 moves the pointer on the touch screen 15 according to the movement of the user's hand, and detects the user's gesture "goo". In this case, the user terminal 100 recognizes that the user is continuing the selection operation. The continuation of the selection operation corresponds to, for example, maintaining the state in which the mouse is clicked and pushed in, or maintaining the state of being touched after performing a touchdown operation on the touch panel. Further, when the user moves his/her hand while the user's gesture "goo" is detected, the user terminal 100 performs such a series of gestures as an operation corresponding to the swipe operation (or drag operation). can also recognize. Further, when the user terminal 100 detects a gesture such as flicking a finger based on the detection result of the user's hand from the captured image of the camera 17, the user terminal 100 detects the gesture by clicking the mouse or tapping the touch panel. may be recognized as an operation corresponding to

<Game Overview>
The game executed by the game system 1 (hereinafter referred to as the game) is not limited to a specific genre, and may be a game of any genre. For example, sports-themed games such as tennis, table tennis, dodgeball, baseball, soccer and hockey, puzzle games, quiz games, RPGs, adventure games, shooting games, simulation games, breeding games, fighting games, action games, etc. may be

As an example, this game is a quest selection action game in which the user aims to clear a quest by operating a character placed in the game space.

In this action game, as an example, at least a character operated by a user (PC; Player Character) and enemy characters that are enemies of the character are arranged in the game space. The enemy character is a character (NPC; Non-Player Character) automatically controlled by the game system 1 . The game space defined in this action game may be three-dimensional or two-dimensional. In the former case, each character placed may be represented by a three-dimensional object. Each character may be represented by a two-dimensional object.

This action game progresses by causing a PC character to fight against enemy characters arranged in the same game space. A user-operated character can perform an attack action according to a user's input operation, and can damage an enemy character. In other words, this game may be an open-world game in which the user can freely operate characters placed in a virtual game space to move and fight. In this action game, for example, a hit determination is performed based on the positional relationship in the game space between a damaging object capable of inflicting damage on an enemy character, such as a character's fist, weapon, or magic, and the enemy character. . When it is determined that the damage object and the enemy character come into contact with each other in the game space, the enemy character is damaged. For example, when a battle progressing in the game space satisfies a predetermined condition, it is determined that the quest has been cleared. The conditions for clearing the quest include, for example, inflicting damage equal to or greater than a predetermined value on a predetermined enemy character such as a boss character to render the enemy character incapable of fighting, rendering a predetermined number of enemy characters incapable of fighting, finding a given item that is placed in space, and so on.

When the user clears the quest by operating the character to advance the battle, the user is given a predetermined reward. A reward is digital data that has in-game value. The digital data as a reward may be configured to imitate tangible objects such as cards, characters, items, virtual currency, diamonds, tickets, etc. that can be used in the game, or the right to equip the character with abilities, Intangible rights such as the right to play restricted quests, the right to extend the possession limit of items or cards, points that can be exchanged for various in-game values, and increments of various parameters set for users or characters may be configured as the value of

Giving the user in-game value such as a reward, which is digital data, is, for example, by changing the status of the in-game value managed in association with the user from unusable to usable. There may be. Alternatively, the in-game value may be associated with the user identification information or user ID and stored in at least one of the memories (memory 11 and memory 21) included in game system 1. FIG. "Having" and "acquiring" an in-game value by a user is synonymous with giving the above-mentioned in-game value to a user.

<About quests and cooperative play>
As an example, the game includes a quest selection part, a quest progression part, and the like.

The quest progression part is a game part for the user to play a quest including fighting with the above-described enemy characters. A quest selection part is, for example, a game part for the user to select a quest that the user wants to play from among a plurality of quests.

In this game, there are two types of quests: single-play quests and multi-play quests.

A single-play quest is a quest that progresses with the participation of a character operated by a user (PC; Player Character) and a character automatically controlled by the game system 1 (NPC; Non-Player Character). Characters owned by other users can participate in single-play quests, and characters owned by other users act as NPCs in single-play quests played by users. In other words, the user can challenge a single-play quest with the help of borrowing a character owned by another user as a helper.

A multiplay quest is a quest that progresses with the participation of characters operated by a plurality of users. User terminals 100 operated by a plurality of users are communicably connected via a server 200 and share one game space at the same time. Characters operated by a plurality of users are placed in the game space, and one quest progresses as each user operates each character as a PC. In other words, a plurality of users can participate in each other's PCs and cooperate to challenge the multiplay quest.

Below, a user calls it "cooperative play" that a user receives the assistance of another user, cooperates, and challenges a quest. Cooperative play includes the use of characters of other users as helpers in single-play quests and the participation of characters by multiple users in multi-play quests.

<Functional Configuration of Game System 1>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the server 200 and the user terminal 100 included in the game system 1. As shown in FIG. Each of the server 200 and the user terminal 100 may include a functional configuration required to function as a general computer (not shown) and a functional configuration required to realize known functions in the game.

The user terminal 100 has a function as an input device that receives user input operations and a function as an output device that outputs game images and sounds. The user terminal 100 functions as a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120 through cooperation of the processor 10, memory 11, storage 12, communication IF 13, input/output IF 14, and the like.

The server 200 has a function of communicating with each user terminal 100 and assisting the user terminal 100 in progressing the game. When the game is a multiplayer game, the server 200 may have a function of communicating with each user terminal 100 participating in the game and mediating exchanges between the user terminals 100 . The server 200 functions as a control unit 210 and a storage unit 220 through cooperation of the processor 20, memory 21, storage 22, communication IF 23, input/output IF 24, and the like.

Storage unit 120 and storage unit 220 store a game program, game information 132 and user information 133 . The game program 131 is a game program executed by the user terminal 100 . The game program 231 is a game program executed by the server 200 . Game information 132 is data referred to when control unit 110 and control unit 210 execute a game program. User information 133 is data relating to a user's account. In the storage unit 220, game information 132 and user information 133 are stored for each user terminal 100. FIG.

(Functional Configuration of Server 200)
The control unit 210 comprehensively controls the server 200 by executing the game program 231 stored in the storage unit 220 . For example, the control unit 210 transmits various data, programs, etc. to the user terminal 100 . The control unit 210 receives part or all of the game information or user information from the user terminal 100 . If the game is a multi-play game, the control unit 210 may receive a multi-play synchronization request from the user terminal 100 and transmit data for synchronization to the user terminal 100 .

Control unit 210 functions as progress support unit 211 , synchronization control unit 212 , friend management unit 213 , and intimacy processing unit 214 according to the description of game program 231 . The control unit 210 can also function as other functional blocks (not shown) in order to support the progress of the game on the user terminal 100 according to the nature of the game to be executed.

The progress support unit 211 communicates with the user terminal 100 and supports the user terminal 100 to progress various play parts included in the game. For example, information to be referred to by the user terminal 100 at that time is appropriately provided depending on which of the play parts described above is being executed. For example, in the quest selection part, the progress support unit 211 provides the user terminal 100 with information necessary for the user terminal 100 to present each quest to the user in a selectable manner. For example, in the quest progress part, the progress support unit 211 provides the user terminal 100 with information necessary for the user terminal 100 to present a UI for the user to progress the quest.

The synchronization control unit 212 communicates with each user terminal 100 executing multiplay to mediate communication between the user terminals 100 . Furthermore, the synchronization control unit 212 executes synchronization control for matching collaborators, synchronizing progress of quests, and the like.

The friend management unit 213 provides a friend registration function and manages relationships between users. In the present embodiment, as a mechanism for friend registration, when one user registers the other user, the first friend relationship is recognized, and the other user registers the one user back. A mechanism for recognizing the second friend relationship is adopted. For example, when user A designates user B as a friend, the friend management unit 213 registers the item “user A followed user B” in the storage unit 220 . Specifically, the friend management unit 213 registers user B as a follow friend of user A. FIG. “Following friends” is a friend category that means friends followed by the user. That is, user A's follow friend means that user A is followed by user A's friend.

Also, the friend management unit 213 registers user A as a follower friend of user B. FIG. "Follower friend" is a friend category that means a friend who has followed the user. That is, user B's follower friend means that user B is following user B's friend.

Furthermore, the friend management unit 213 notifies the user terminal 100 of the user B of the above items. As a result, the parties involved in the above-described friend registration in the game system 1, that is, the user terminal 100 and server 200 of user A, and the user terminal 100 of user B, the relationship between user A and user B, specifically share the follow-follower relationship.

Note that in the present embodiment, the friend management unit 213 defines the relationship between the user A following the user B and the user B also following the user A, that is, the two users following each other as "mutual Recognize "Follow". The friend management unit 213 identifies each user in a mutual following relationship by a friend category of "mutual friend". Specifically, the friend management unit 213 identifies user A as user B's mutual friend and user B as user A's mutual friend when user A and user B are in a mutual following relationship.

Further, in the present embodiment, each unrelated user who is not in a friend relationship, specifically, who is neither followed nor followed, may be identified by a friend classification of "non-friend." Specifically, the friend management unit 213 identifies user A as user B's non-friend and user B as user A's non-friend when user A and user B are neither followed nor followed by each other.

As described above, from the point of view of a user, other users can all be determined based on one of the friend categories of "mutual friend", "follow friend", "follower friend" and "non-friend". .

The degree-of-intimacy processing unit 214 manages the degree of intimacy between users for each combination of users who play the game, and executes processing related to the degree of intimacy. A pair of users is hereinafter referred to as a user pair.

Intimacy is a value that indicates the depth of friendship between a user and other users. As an example, in the present embodiment, the higher the degree of intimacy between a pair of users, the more advantageous the cooperative play performed by the pair of users progresses. For example, the amount of stamina consumed when challenging a quest may be set to be small according to the degree of intimacy, and the amount of reward given when clearing the quest may be set to be large according to the degree of intimacy. may be Specifically, the quest progression unit 111 may determine the reward such that the higher the intimacy set for the pair of users who have cleared the quest, the greater the amount of reward given.

The degree of intimacy processing unit 214 increases the degree of intimacy of the pair of users based on the fact that the cooperative play has been carried out with the pair of users. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the degree of intimacy is a numerical value that expresses the depth of friendship in stages, and the larger the numerical value, the deeper the friendship. For example, in order to raise the level of intimacy by one level, the user pair needs to acquire a predetermined amount of cooperation experience points. The intimacy processing unit 214 gives a cooperation experience value to the user pair based on the fact that the user pair has played cooperative play. When the cooperative play is repeated and the cumulative value of the cooperative experience reaches the set value, the intimacy processing unit 214 increases the intimacy.

Furthermore, the degree of intimacy may have an upper limit depending on the relationship between the user pair. For example, the upper limit of intimacy for a pair of users in a mutual friend relationship is 100, whereas the upper limit for intimacy for a pair of users with other friend categories is 10. Thus, each user can be encouraged to become a mutual friend by setting an upper limit on the degree of intimacy so that the user who becomes a mutual friend can proceed with the game in an advantageous manner.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the intimacy processing unit 214 may set and manage intimacy even for user pairs that are not friends.

(Functional Configuration of User Terminal 100)
The control unit 110 comprehensively controls the user terminal 100 by executing the game program 131 stored in the storage unit 120 . For example, the control unit 110 progresses the game according to the game program 131 and user's operation. Further, while the game is progressing, the control unit 110 communicates with the server 200 as necessary to transmit and receive information.

Control unit 110 functions as quest progression unit 111 , friend processing unit 112 , and intimacy processing unit 113 according to the description of game program 131 .

Furthermore, the control unit 110 also functions as an operation reception unit (not shown), a display control unit, and the like. The operation reception unit detects and receives a user's input operation on the input unit 151 . For example, the operation reception unit detects the coordinates of the input position on the input unit 151 of the above-described input operation, and identifies the type of the input operation. The operation reception unit identifies, for example, a touch operation, a slide operation, a swipe operation, a tap operation, and the like. The display control unit outputs to the display unit 152 of the touch screen 15 a game screen on which the processing results executed by each unit of the control unit 110 are reflected. The display control unit may display a game screen including images generated by each unit of the control unit 110 on the display unit 152 . Further, the display control unit may draw a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI) superimposed on the game screen.

The quest progress part 111 performs a quest progress part, responds to a user's input operation, and progresses a quest.

The friend processing unit 112 executes processing related to friend registration in response to a user's input operation related to the friend registration function.

Specifically, in response to the first input operation for designating user B received from user A, friend processing unit 112 adds user B to a follow list (first 1 list). The friend processing unit 112 also notifies the friend management unit 213 of the server 200 that the user A has followed the user B. FIG.

Alternatively, in response to receiving information indicating that user A has been registered as a follower friend of user B, for example, from the friend management unit 213, the friend processing unit 112 designates user B as a follower friend of user A. is registered in the follower list (second list).

The intimacy processing unit 113 functions in the same manner as the intimacy processing unit 214 described above, except that the intimacy processing unit 214 of the server 200 executes processing related to the intimacy of all user pairs. That is, the intimacy processing unit 113 executes processing related to intimacy between the user operating the user terminal 100 and other users. If the intimacy processing unit 214 executes all processing related to intimacy between users, the intimacy processing unit 113 may be omitted. The intimacy processing unit 113 may cooperate with the intimacy processing unit 214 to perform some of the above-described functions of the intimacy processing unit 214 .

Note that the functions of the server 200 and the user terminal 100 shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples. The server 200 may have at least some of the functions that the user terminal 100 has. Also, the user terminal 100 may have at least part of the functions of the server 200 . Furthermore, a device other than the user terminal 100 and the server 200 may be used as a component of the game system 1 and the other device may be caused to perform part of the processing in the game system 1 . That is, the computer that executes the game program in this embodiment may be any of the user terminal 100, the server 200, and other devices, or may be realized by a combination of a plurality of these devices.

<Overview of processing>
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of processing executed in the game system 1. As shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the user terminal 100 (server 200) is configured to execute the following steps based on the game program 131 (game program 231) in order to motivate the user to play games with other users. ing. Specifically, user terminal 100 (server 200), in response to the user's first input operation for designating another user (YES in S101), designates the other user as a follow-friend of the user. In response to receiving information indicating that the user has been registered as a follow friend of another user (YES in S103), the other user is registered as the user Step S104 of registering the follower friends of the user in the second list, and the follower friends registered only in the user's first list, the follower friends registered only in the user's second list, the follower friends registered in the user's second list, and the follower friends registered in the user's second list. A step S105 of determining which friend category corresponds to mutual friends registered in both the first list and the second list, and non-friends registered in neither the first list nor the second list; At least one of the degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and the upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which are set in association with a set of the user and the other user, to the other user and step S106 of updating according to the friend category.

As a specific example, in step S101, the friend processing unit 112 receives an input operation from the user to designate another user as a partner to follow. In step S102, the friend processing unit 112 registers the specified other user in the follow list as a follow friend. Here, the friend processing unit 112 may notify the server 200 that another user has been followed. In step S103, the friend processing unit 112 receives information from the server 200 indicating that the user has been registered as a follow friend of another user. In step S104, the friend processing unit 112 registers the other user who followed the user in the follower list as a follower friend. In step S105, the friend processing unit 112 determines the relationship between the above-described user and other users, that is, the friend category, for each other user based on the first list and the second list. In step S106, the degree of intimacy processing unit 113 determines the degree of intimacy set between the user and another user when a predetermined trigger is pulled while the game is being executed on the game system 1. is executed according to the friend category determined in step S105.

In step S102, the friend processing unit 112 notifies the friend management unit 213 that the user has designated another user as a follow friend, and the friend management unit 213 responds to the notification and may be registered in the user's first list. In step S104, the friend management unit 213 may register the other user in the user's second list. In step S105, the friend management unit 213 may determine the friend category of other users for the user. In step S106, the intimacy processing unit 113 of the user terminal 100 may notify the server 200 that a predetermined trigger has been pulled, and the intimacy processing unit 214 of the server 200 may execute processing related to intimacy.

For example, in the updating step S106 described above, when the other user's friend classification is determined to be mutual friends in the determining step S105 described above, setting is made in association with the pair of the user and the other user. You may raise the maximum intimacy level you have. In this way, by giving preferential treatment to mutual following, it is possible to motivate users to mutually follow.

Alternatively, for example, the user terminal 100 may further execute a step of progressing the game by having objects owned by other users participate. In this case, in the updating step S106 described above, for example, when updating the degree of intimacy with another user who owns the object in response to a change in the progress of the game, the other user's If the friend class is mutual friend, the degree of intimacy may be increased compared to other friend classes. In this way, by giving preferential treatment to mutual following, it is possible to motivate users to mutually follow.

Alternatively, in another example, in the updating step S106 described above, if the other user's friend classification is follow friend, the degree of intimacy may be increased compared to follower friend and non-friend. Thus, by giving follow friends preferential treatment, users are motivated to follow other users. As a result, mutual follow-up is promoted.

<Data structure>
(relationship information)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of relationship information. The relationship information is information for managing relationships between users in the game, and is generated as a relationship table having a table structure, for example. In this embodiment, the relationship table is stored in the storage unit 220 of the server 200. FIG.

The relationship table stores information necessary for determining the friend category for each user pair. As an example, in the relationship table, the vertical axis indicates the user ID of the user who follows (hereinafter referred to as the follower user ID), and the horizontal axis indicates the user ID of the user who is being followed (hereinafter referred to as the followed user ID). It has an arranged matrix structure. In one cell specified based on the user ID of the first user who is following and the user ID of the second user who is being followed, the first user has followed the second user. A flag indicating whether or not there is is stored. In this embodiment, "1" means that the follow is established, and "0" means that the follow is not established. Since users do not follow themselves, cells specified by the same user ID on both the vertical and horizontal axes store a NULL value or "-" indicating that there is no value.

In the illustrated example, for example, the relationship table indicates that user "001" does not follow user "002" but follows user "003". Also, for example, user "001" is being followed by both user "002" and user "003".

As described above, the intimacy processing unit 214 can determine the relationship between users based on the relationship table. For example, the cell of (follower main user ID, followed user ID)=(001, 003) is “1”, and the vertical and horizontal user IDs of the cell are interchanged, that is, (follower main user ID, followed user ID, followed User ID)=(003, 001) is also "1", the intimacy processing unit 214 determines that the relationship between users "001" and "003" is mutual friends. be able to.

Alternatively, for example, the cell where (following main user ID, followed user ID) = (001, 002) is "0" and the cell where (following main user ID, followed user ID) = (002, 001) is "1" , the intimacy processing unit 214 can determine that user '002' is a follower-friend for user '001' and user '001' is a follow-friend for user '002'. can. Hereinafter, a friend category indicating a relationship between two users that only one user is following is referred to as a "one-way friend" to distinguish it from a mutual friend.

The friend management unit 213 updates the flags in the illustrated relationship table in response to each user performing an operation of specifying or canceling a follow friend via the user terminal 100 . Also, when a new user who plays this game joins, the friend management unit 213 adds a row and a column corresponding to the new user to the relationship table accordingly.

Based on the updated relationship table, the intimacy processing unit 214 can grasp the relationship and determine the friend category for each user pair.

(Intimacy information)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of familiarity information. The intimacy information is information for evaluating and managing the depth of intimacy between users in the game, and is generated as an intimacy table having a table structure, for example. In this embodiment, the familiarity table is stored in the storage unit of server 200 .

The intimacy level table stores information related to the intimacy level for each user pair. As an example, the intimacy table has items of user pair, friend category, maximum intimacy, cooperative experience, and intimacy.

The user pair item stores the user ID of one user and the user ID of the other user that form the user pair.

The friend classification item stores a friend classification indicating the relationship between the user pair. For user pairs in which two users are following each other, a Mutual Friend friends category is associated. A friend class of one-way friends is associated with a user pair that only one of the two users is following. A friend category of non-friends is associated with a user pair that neither of the two users follows.

Note that in the present embodiment, the intimacy processing unit 214 does not consider the direction of follow-up when processing the intimacy of a pair of users in a one-way friend relationship. That is, the intimacy table does not manage which of the user pairs is the follower and which is the follower.

On the other hand, in another embodiment, the intimacy processing unit 214 may perform intimacy-related processing in consideration of the direction of follow. In this case, for example, in the user pair item, user IDs are stored in ascending order. If the user is the side to be followed, the friend category of "follower friend" may be stored.

The upper limit of intimacy level field stores the upper limit of intimacy level set for the user pair. As an example, the upper limit of intimacy for a pair of users with mutual friend friend classification is set to "100", and the upper limit of intimacy for a pair of users with other friend classification is set to "10". ing. When the friend classification of the user pair is changed, the intimacy processing unit 214 changes the upper limit of the closeness according to the changed friend classification.

The cooperative experience value field stores the cumulative value of cooperative experience values that the user pair has acquired so far. The degree of intimacy processing unit 214 adds a cooperative experience value according to a predetermined rule when cooperative play is performed by a pair of users.

The intimacy level item stores the intimacy level set for the user pair. The intimacy processing unit 214 increases the intimacy of the user pair when the cumulative cooperation experience value satisfies a predetermined condition. However, the intimacy processing unit 214 does not increase the intimacy beyond the set upper limit. As an example, in the present embodiment, the familiarity processing unit 214 raises the familiarity by one level for every 100 cooperation experience points.

Specifically, the intimacy processing unit 214 sets the intimacy of a pair of users whose acquired cooperation experience value is less than 100 points to “0”. Alternatively, the intimacy processing unit 214 sets the intimacy of a user pair with a cooperation experience value of 105 points to “1”.

However, the intimacy processing unit 214 does not update the intimacy beyond "10" even for a user pair whose cooperation experience value exceeds 1100 points, unless the user pair is a mutual friend. For example, the user pair of user "001" and user "477" has acquired 6471 cooperation experience points, but since they are not mutual friends, the degree of intimacy is set to the upper limit of "10". When the user pair becomes a mutual friend, the intimacy processing unit 214 may set the intimacy of the user pair to "64" based on the cooperation experience value of 6471 points acquired so far. .

Note that the familiarity table may be partially shared with each user terminal 100 . For example, for the user terminal 100 of the user "001", only records in which the user ID "001" is included in the item of the user pair are extracted and provided from the intimacy table shown in FIG. good too.

(follow list)
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the follow list. A follow list is generated for each user and stored in the storage unit 120 of the user terminal 100 of each user. The follow list shown in the figure shows a list of follow friends of a certain user (user ID "001", user name "Taro").

The friend processing unit 112 of the user terminal 100 registers the designated user in the follow list in response to the first input operation for designating the user to follow. Conversely, when receiving another input operation for canceling designation as a follow friend, the friend processing unit 112 deletes the follow friend whose cancellation has been instructed from the follow list. The friend processing unit 112 notifies the server 200 that the follow list has been updated.

In addition to the user ID and user name, the follow list may have various items in which information about each friend is stored (not shown). For example, various information such as last login date and time, rank, comment, flag indicating whether the friend is following the user (user "001"), intimacy between the friend and the user, etc. may be tied to

(follower list)
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the follower list. A follower list is generated for each user and stored in the storage unit 120 of the user terminal 100 of each user. The follower list shown in the figure shows a list of follower friends of the user "001" described above.

The friend processing unit 112 of the user terminal 100 registers other users who have followed the user in the follower list according to the information received from the friend management unit 213 of the server 200 and indicating that the user himself/herself has been followed. Conversely, when the friend processing unit 112 receives information indicating that the other user has canceled the follow-up, the friend processing unit 112 deletes the other user from the follower list according to the information.

Although not shown, the follower list may have various items in which information about each friend is stored in addition to the user ID and user name. For example, various information such as last login date and time, rank, comment, flag indicating whether the user (user "001") is following the friend, degree of intimacy between the friend and the user, etc. may be tied to

The quest progression unit 111, friend processing unit 112, and intimacy processing unit 113 can determine users included in both the follow list and the follower list as mutual friends. Also, each part can determine users who are not included in any list as non-friends. In addition, each part can determine a user who is only included in the follow list as a follow friend. Also, each section can determine a user who is only included in the follower list as a follower-friend.

User terminal 100 may hold each list shown in (A) and (B) of FIG. 6 as one table in storage unit 120 . In this case, in the above table, the first item storing a flag indicating whether the user is following the friend and the flag indicating whether the friend is following the user are stored. Add the second item. In this way, each unit described above can determine the friend category of a friend based on the flags of the first item and the second item.

<Processing flow>
(Processing to release the upper limit of intimacy)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for changing the upper limit of intimacy among the processing related to intimacy. A series of processes shown in FIG. 7 correspond to step S106 shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the intimacy processing unit 214 of the server 200 executes the series of processes shown in FIG.

In step S201, the intimacy processing unit 214 determines whether or not the friend classification of a certain user pair has been changed from another classification to mutual friends. The intimacy processing unit 214 may recognize the change to a mutual friend by receiving a notification that the friend classification has been changed from the user terminal 100. In the relationship table shown, the change to mutual friend may be recognized based on updating the value of the cell corresponding to the user pair from "0" to "1."

When the intimacy processing unit 214 determines that the friend classification of a certain user pair has been changed to mutual friend, the process proceeds from YES in step S201 to step S202. Step S202 is not executed until a change from another segment to a mutual friend has occurred.

In step S202, intimacy processing unit 214 changes the friend classification item associated with the above-described user pair from another classification to mutual friend in the intimacy level table, and sets the upper limit of intimacy for the user pair. is changed from "10" to "100".

After releasing the upper limit of intimacy to "100", the intimacy processing unit 214 updates the intimacy based on the current cooperation experience when the cooperation experience value of the above-mentioned user pair exceeds 1100. may

In another embodiment, in step S201, the friend processing unit 112 of the user terminal 100 updates the follow list and follower list shown in FIGS. 113 may recognize that the friend classification of a pair of users has changed from another classification to mutual friends.

In step S202, the intimacy processing unit 113 releases the upper limit of intimacy between the user and the other user based on the change to mutual friends, and notifies the intimacy processing unit 214 to that effect. may notify you.

(Processing to increase intimacy)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for increasing familiarity among the processing related to familiarity. A series of processes shown in FIG. 8 correspond to step S106 shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the user terminal 100 executes the series of processes shown in FIG.

In step S301, the quest progression unit 111 receives an input operation instructing to start cooperative play. The input operation is assumed, for example, to specify a quest that the user wants to play, and to tap a button for instructing the start of the quest displayed on the display unit 152 . More specifically, an input operation instructing the start of a single play quest while specifying another user's character as a helper, or a multiplayer quest in a state where the user and the other user are ready to sortie. An input operation to indicate a start is assumed.

In step S302, the quest progression unit 111 identifies a pair of users who will participate in cooperative play. Specifically, the quest progression unit 111 identifies the user ID of the user and the user IDs of other users selected by the user as cooperators.

In step S303, the quest progress unit 111 progresses the quest related to cooperative play. The quest progress unit 111 communicates with the server 200 as necessary, receives necessary information from the progress support unit 211, and progresses the quest. When the ongoing quest is a multi-play quest, under the control of the synchronization control unit 212, the play results of other cooperating users are also supplied to the quest progress unit 111.

In step S304, the quest progression unit 111 determines whether or not the quest has been completed with the success or failure of clearing the quest confirmed. The determination of the end may be made by the quest progression unit 111 according to the progress, or may be made based on receiving a quest end notification from the server 200 . If the quest has not ended, the quest progressing unit 111 returns from NO in step S304 to step S303 to continue progressing the quest. If the quest has ended, the quest progression unit 111 proceeds from YES in step S304 to step S305.

In step S305, the quest progression unit 111 gives a reward to the user according to the success or failure of clearing the quest and the degree of intimacy between the specified user pair. The content of the reward may be determined by the quest progression unit 111 or may be determined by the progress support unit 211 of the server 200 . For example, the contents of the reward are the type of quest played, the difficulty of the quest, the success or failure of clearing the quest, the time required from the start of the quest to the clear, the content of the quest in progress, the degree of intimacy between the users who performed cooperative play, and , is appropriately determined according to the friend classification of the user pair.

Examples of rewards include virtual currency, items, and cards that drop with a certain probability. In this embodiment, specifically, friendship points are given as play rewards for cooperative play. Friendship points are an in-game value given as a reward for deepening friendships between user pairs through cooperative play, and can be exchanged for various other items that can be used to advance quests advantageously. In order to encourage each user to play cooperatively, it is preferable to prepare items that can be exchanged only with friendship points, or to obtain advantageous items with less burden by exchanging with friendship points.

In step S306, the intimacy processing unit 113 determines whether or not the friend classification set for the user pair who performed the previous cooperative play is a mutual friend. If the friend classification of the pair of users is not mutual friend, the intimacy processing unit 113 proceeds from NO in step S306 to step S307. If the friend classification of the user pair is mutual friend, the closeness processing unit 113 proceeds from YES in step S306 to step S308.

In step S307, the familiarity processing unit 113 increases the familiarity of the user pair by a first predetermined value.

In step S308, the degree of intimacy processing unit 113 increases the degree of intimacy of the user pair by a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value.

According to the above-described method, if a pair of users in a mutual friend relationship performs cooperative play, the degree of intimacy can be increased more efficiently, and the game can be advantageously advanced based on the high degree of intimacy.

Regarding the method of increasing the degree of intimacy in step S307 or S308, specifically, in this embodiment, the degree of intimacy processing unit 113 first causes the user pair to acquire a cooperation experience value. When the intimacy processing unit 113 of the user terminal 100 causes the user pair to acquire the cooperation experience value, the intimacy processing unit 113 adds the cooperation experience value in the user terminal 100 of the user who is the host of the cooperative play. Just do it. Intimacy processing section 113 increases the degree of intimacy of the user pair up to a value corresponding to the set value when the cumulative value of cooperation experience points reaches a predetermined set value as a result of the addition. The intimacy level processing unit 113 notifies the intimacy level processing unit 214 of the server 200 that the cooperation experience value and the intimacy level of the user pair have been updated.

The intimacy processing unit 113 may determine the cooperation experience value to be acquired by the user pair according to conditions other than the friend classification, such as the type of quest, the number or strength of defeated enemy characters, and the like. However, the degree of intimacy processing unit 113 acquires more cooperative experience points in the case of mutual friend than in the case where the friend classification of the user pair is mutual friend and not.

<Screen example>
(Friend management screen)
9 and 10 are diagrams showing examples of game screens displayed on the display unit 152 by the friend processing unit 112. FIG. Specifically, the game screen shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a management screen 300 for managing the user's friends. More specifically, FIG. 9 shows an example of the management screen 300 on which the follow list is arranged, and FIG. 10 shows an example of the management screen 300 on which the follower list is arranged. For example, when the friend processing unit 112 receives an input operation of pressing the management button 603 for calling the management screen 300 on the home screen of the game ((A) in FIG. 14, etc.), the management screen shown in FIG. Screen 300 may be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the management screen 300 includes UI components such as a tab 301 corresponding to the follow list, a tab 302 corresponding to the follower list, and a follow list 303 . The management screen 300 may also include UI components for searching for other users.

A tab 301 is a UI component for instructing display of the follow list 303 . For example, the friend processing unit 112 displays the follow list 303 on the management screen 300 in response to receiving an input operation of tapping the tab 301 from the user.

A tab 302 is a UI component for instructing display of a follower list 311, which will be described later. For example, the friend processing unit 112 displays the follower list 311 on the management screen 300 in response to receiving an input operation of tapping the tab 302 from the user.

The follow list 303 is a list for displaying a list of follow friends that the user is following. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a follow list 303 has a plurality of friend information 304, which are UI components for presenting information about friends. One friend information 304 presents information about one friend.

The friend information 304 includes at least a relationship icon 305 and a closeness icon 306 as an example.

The relationship icon 305 is a UI component that presents the relationship between the user and the friend, more specifically, the follow direction. Thereby, the user can confirm the relationship with each friend. In the example shown in FIG. 9, when only the user is following a friend and is not being followed by the friend, that is, when the user and the friend are in a one-way friend relationship, In the friend's friend information 304, the relationship icon 305 consists only of an upward pointing arrow. On the other hand, when the user is also followed by a friend, that is, when the user and the friend are in a mutual friend relationship, in the friend's friend information 304, the relationship icon 305 is an upward arrow and a downward arrow. Consists of arrows and Note that the follow list 303 is a list for displaying a list of friends that the user is following, so all the friend information 304 arranged in the follow list 303 includes an upward arrow in the relationship icon 305. become.

The familiarity icon 306 is a UI component that presents the familiarity set between the user and the friend. The familiarity icon 306 includes a numerical value representing familiarity. This allows the user to intuitively grasp the degree of intimacy with the friend.

Each friend information 304 includes other information related to a friend, such as a user name, an icon of a character set as a leader in forming a party, an elapsed time since the last login date and time, a rank, and information set by the friend. A UI component for presenting a comment or the like may be included.

Note that each friend information 304 may include a cancel button (not shown) as a UI component for the user to cancel following of the friend.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the management screen 300 includes UI components such as a tab 301 corresponding to the follow list, a tab 302 corresponding to the follower list, and a follower list 311 .

The follower list 311 is a list for displaying a list of follower friends who are following the user. In the example shown in FIG. 10, a follower list 311 has a plurality of friend information 304, which are UI components for presenting information about friends. One friend information 304 presents information about one friend.

The friend information 304 includes at least a relationship icon 305 and a closeness icon 306 as an example. Additionally, the friend information 304 preferably includes a follow button 312 if the friend information 304 is for a friend the user is not following.

Regarding the relationship icon 305, in the example shown in FIG. 10, only friends are following the user, and the user is not following the friend, that is, the user and the friend are one-way friends. If there is a relationship, in the friend information 304 of the friend, the relationship icon 305 consists only of a downward pointing arrow. On the other hand, when the user is also following the user, that is, when the user and the friend are in a mutual friend relationship, in the friend's friend information 304, the relationship icon 305 is an upward arrow and a downward arrow. Consists of arrows and Since the follower list 311 is a list for displaying a list of friends who are following the user, all the friend information 304 arranged in the follower list 311 includes a downward arrow in the relationship icon 305. become.

A follow button 312 is a UI component for the user to instruct to follow the friend. For example, upon receiving an input operation of tapping the follow button 312, the friend processing unit 112 executes processing for following the friend corresponding to the friend information 304 whose follow button 312 has been tapped. Specifically, the designated friend is registered in the follow list shown in FIG. 6A, and the server 200 is notified of the registration. This means that the friend is registered in both the user's follow list and the follower list, and as a result, the friend is recognized as the user's mutual friend.

Each friend information 304 includes other information related to a friend, such as a user name, an icon of a character set as a leader in forming a party, an elapsed time since the last login date and time, a rank, and information set by the friend. A UI component for presenting a comment or the like may be included.

As for the friend information 304 of a mutual friend, a cancel button (not shown) may be arranged as a UI component for the user to cancel the following of the friend.

(Single player quest start screen)
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen that the quest progression unit 111 causes the display unit 152 to display. Specifically, the game screen shown in FIG. 11 is a start screen 400 for the user to instruct the start of the single play quest. The quest progression unit 111 may display the start screen 400 shown in FIG. 11 before step S301 shown in FIG. 8, for example.

The start screen 400 includes UI components such as a backer list 401 , a cursor 402 and a start button 403 . The start screen 400 may also include UI components for presenting quest names, quest numbers, and the like.

The backer list 401 is a list for displaying a list of a plurality of other users extracted as backer candidates according to a predetermined rule. Backer list 401 includes a plurality of friend information 304 . Friend information 304 includes relationship icons 305 and intimacy icons 306 . By arranging a follow button 312 for the friend information 304 of another user that the user is not following, the user can be prompted to follow the other user. For the sake of convenience, information on other non-friend users is also referred to as friend information here.

Extraction of backer candidates, that is, matching of cooperators is performed by the synchronization control unit 212 of the server 200 . In response to a request from the quest progression unit 111, the synchronization control unit 212 extracts helper candidates to be supplied to the requesting user terminal 100 from a database (not shown) that manages users who play the game. . The synchronization control unit 212 may extract a predetermined number of users in descending order of the last login date and time, or may extract a predetermined number of users in descending order of intimacy set with the user. Friend categories may be extracted in order of mutual friends, follower friends, follow friends, and non-friends, or a predetermined number of users may be extracted in descending order of rank. Also, in order to prevent the same user from being selected as a backer in succession, a cooldown time may be provided. You may extract a backer candidate from among the users who are present. The synchronization control unit 212 may extract non-friends as backer candidates.

In this embodiment, the quest progression unit 111 accepts selection of a backer by accepting a tap operation on any one of the pieces of friend information 304 on the backer list 401 . The quest progression unit 111 may display a cursor 402 on the friend information of the user tapped by the user. This allows the user to clearly recognize the backer selected by the user.

A start button 403 is a UI component for the user to instruct the start of a quest. For example, when one of the users in the backer list 401 is specified and the start button 403 is tapped, the quest progression unit 111 sets the specified user as the leader in response to the tap operation. The quest is started after having the character 404 participating as an NPC participate. In this embodiment, the quest progression unit 111 does not accept an input operation to the start button 403 unless one backer is selected from the backer list 401 . In another embodiment, the quest progression unit 111 accepts an input operation to the start button 403 in a state in which no helper is specified, and starts the quest with only the party organized by the user without NPCs appearing. may

As described above, by displaying the relationship icon 305 and the follow button 312 on the start screen 400 as well, it is possible to motivate the user to follow another user before the start of the quest. Furthermore, by displaying the familiarity icon 306, it is possible to make the user aware of the depth of friendship with the backer candidate. For example, a user is strongly motivated to follow a user who is not followed by him/herself but appears on the backer list 401 even though the user has a high degree of intimacy.

(Single play quest result screen)
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen displayed on the display unit 152 by the quest progression unit 111. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the game screen shown in FIG. 12 is a result screen 450 for presenting the play result to the user, which is displayed after the user finishes playing the single play quest, especially after clearing it. The quest progression unit 111 may display a result screen 450 shown in FIG. 12 after step S304 shown in FIG. 8, for example.

The result screen 450 includes UI components such as remuneration information 451 , backer information 452 and update notification 453 .

The reward information 451 is a UI component that presents the user with a reward given to the user who has cleared the quest, and indicates, for example, virtual currency and items that can be used in the game.

The backer information 452 is for presenting to the user again friend information about the owner of the character who participated in the played quest as a backer, that is, another user specified by the user on the start screen 400 shown in FIG. It is a UI component. Like the friend information 304 shown in FIG. 11, the backer information 452 may include the character set for the leader, rank, user name, comment, relationship icon, and the like.

The update notification 453 is a UI component for notifying the user of how the degree of intimacy has been updated as a result of the cooperative play. As an example, the update notification 453 includes a message indicating that the degree of intimacy has increased and an illustration. Furthermore, if the user and another user who provided the helper character are in a mutual friend relationship, the quest progression unit 111 preferably includes the bonus notification 454 in the update notification 453 .

This emphasizes the merits of mutual friendship, and allows the user to recognize that the degree of intimacy has further improved thanks to the cooperating user being a mutual friend. As a result, users can directly perceive the benefits of being co-friended with collaborators and are motivated to co-friend more users as well.

Note that the quest progression unit 111 may display the cooperation experience value incremented by the intimacy processing unit 113 or the intimacy processing unit 214 in the update notification 453 . In this case as well, it is preferable to highlight the extra cooperation experience gained as a benefit of being a mutual friend, as in the bonus notification 454 .

On the other hand, when the user does not follow the cooperating user, the quest progression unit 111 may display an update notification 706 shown in FIG. 15 instead of the update notification 453 . Update notification 706 further includes message 707 . Message 707 includes, for example, a message explaining the loss of mutual friend benefits or the harm suffered by not being mutual friends. In addition, message 707 may include a message prompting the user to follow the collaborators. Further, the quest progression unit 111 preferably provides a follow button 705 in the backer information 452 to prompt the user to follow the user of the cooperator. According to the above configuration, it is possible to strongly motivate the user to follow another user at the timing immediately after the end of the quest.

(Multiplayer quest start screen - host side)
13A and 13B are diagrams showing examples of game screens displayed on the display unit 152 by the quest progress unit 111. FIG. Specifically, the game screen shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B is a start screen 500 for the user, as a host, to instruct the start of the multiplay quest. The quest progression unit 111 may display a start screen 500 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B before step S301 shown in FIG. 8, for example.

In this embodiment, as an example, a multiplay quest is a quest played by two users, a host user and a guest user. A host user selects a quest, communicates with the server 200, sets up a virtual room, and recruits participating members for cooperative play. On the other hand, the guest user communicates with the server 200, searches for a room that is recruiting participating members, enters the room that selects the quest he wants to play, and participates in the cooperative play as a guest.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the start screen 500 includes, as an example, an organization button 501, an SOS button 502, first member information 503, second member information 504, a disband button 505, and a start button 506. Contains UI components.

The organization button 501 is a UI component for calling a UI screen for organizing a party. For example, the user can tap the organization button 501 to call up a UI screen and organize a party of characters to participate in the quest. The organized party is reflected in the first member information 503, for example.

The SOS button 502 is a UI component for calling other users for cooperative play of the multiplayer quest. For example, when the user taps the SOS button 502, the quest progression unit 111 transmits a request to the server 200 to issue a distress signal. The server 200 extracts other users who are candidates for cooperation based on a predetermined rule, and transmits to each user terminal 100 of the extracted other users a notification inviting them to participate in cooperative play. Cooperator candidates are extracted, for example, by the synchronization control unit 212 in the same manner as the above-described helper candidates are extracted.

The first member information 503 is a UI component for presenting information about the user on the host side who set up a room for challenging the multiplay quest. In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the host is the user himself ("Taro" with user ID "001"), so the first member information 503 contains information about the user himself. The first member information 503 includes, for example, the party organized by the user, user name, rank, and the like.

The second member information 504 is a UI component for presenting information about guest-side users who participate in the multiplay quest by selecting the opened room. In the example shown in (A) of FIG. 13, since there is no other user who has decided to participate in the multiplayer quest related to the room, the second member information 504 in which information on the guest user is not displayed is displayed. showing.

A disband button 505 is a UI component for the host user to instruct disbanding the room without starting the multiplayer quest. For example, when the user taps the dissolution button 505, the quest progression unit 111 transmits a request to the server 200 to disband the room that has been set up. In response to the request, the synchronization control unit 212 of the server 200 deletes the room opened by the user. As a result, in the user terminals 100 of other users, the above-mentioned dissolved room will not be added to the list of rooms for which collaborators are being recruited.

A start button 506 is a UI component for the host user to instruct the start of the multiplay quest. In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the quest progression unit 111 does not accept an input operation to the start button 506 until the collaborator is confirmed. The quest progression unit 111 may display the start button 506 in a display mode different from that of other operable buttons so that it can be seen that the start button 506 cannot be operated.

As shown in (B) of FIG. 13 , when a cooperator is determined, information on the guest user who is a cooperator is arranged in the second member information 504 . The second member information 504 includes the party organized by the guest user, user name, rank, and the like. Further, second member information 504 preferably includes relationship icon 507 and intimacy icon 509 .

Furthermore, it is preferable that the quest progression unit 111 causes the follow button 508 to be displayed in the second member information 504 when the host user is not following the guest user. With this, it is possible to motivate the user to follow other users at a timing before the start of the quest. Furthermore, by displaying the familiarity icon 306, it is possible to make the user aware of the depth of friendship with the cooperator. For example, the user is strongly motivated to follow when a user with a high degree of intimacy but not being followed is displayed in the second member information 504 .

When each user confirms participation in the multiplayer quest related to the room and preparations for the start of the quest are completed, the quest progress unit 111 displays the ready icon 510 indicating that fact, the first member information 503 and It may be displayed in association with each of the second member information 504 . When both users are ready, the quest progression unit 111 does not accept the input operation to the SOS button 502, and on the other hand displays the start button 506 so that it can be operated, and accepts the input operation to the start button 506. . In response to the tap operation on the start button 506, the quest progression unit 111 communicates with the server 200 to progress the multiplay quest.

(Start screen of multiplayer quest - guest side)
FIG. 14A is a diagram showing an example of a home screen displayed on the display unit 152 by a menu processing unit (not shown) of the control unit 110. FIG. A home screen 600 shown in FIG. 14A is a home screen including UI components for allowing the user to select a plurality of menu items related to the game. It is a screen that covers the basic UI parts of Therefore, the home screen 600 is the game screen most frequently used by the user and is displayed frequently. The home screen 600 is displayed first, for example, after starting the application of this game on the user terminal 100 .

The home screen 600 includes UI components such as a user overview 601, a help button 602, and a management button 603, for example.

A user summary 601 is a UI component that presents the user's title and user name in the game. A management button 603 is a UI component for calling the management screen 300 shown in FIG. 9 or 10 .

The help button 602 is a UI component for instructing to transmit to the server 200 a request to cooperate with a quest advanced by the user terminal 100 of another user. Specifically, the rescue button 602 is a UI component for entering a room that is currently recruiting collaborators for cooperative play together. When the menu processing unit receives a notification calling for cooperative play, that is, a rescue signal from another user from the server 200, the menu processing unit displays a rescue signal icon 604 indicating that there is a room in which a rescue signal is being sent. It may be displayed beside 602 .

For example, in response to the menu processing unit accepting a tap operation on the rescue button 602, the quest progression unit 111 communicates with the server 200 and issues a request to enter the room for which collaborators are being recruited. Send to server 200 . Synchronization control unit 212 of server 200 selects a room from a plurality of rooms for which collaborators are being recruited, and allows the user to enter the selected room.

Selection of a room, that is, matching of collaborators is performed by the synchronization control unit 212 of the server 200 . In response to the request from the quest progression unit 111, the synchronization control unit 212 selects a room into which the requesting user is to enter from among the rooms currently recruiting collaborators. For example, the synchronization control unit 212 may select the room of the host with the highest intimacy set between the host and the user, or the room of the host that is the source of the distress signal received by the user. may be preferentially selected, or the friend categories between the host and the user may be preferentially selected in the order mutual friend, follower friend, follow friend, and non-friend. If the room that the user is allowed to enter cannot be narrowed down to one, the synchronization control unit 212 may further select the room of the host whose last login date and time is the latest, or give priority to the room of the host whose rank is close to that of the user. Alternatively, the room with the oldest date and time when the room was set up may be selected.

When the quest progression unit 111 receives the notification regarding the selected room from the server 200, the quest progression unit 111 causes the display unit 152 to display a start screen 550 indicating that the player has tentatively entered the selected room.

(B) of FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a start screen 550 displayed on the display unit 152 by the quest progression unit 111 . The start screen 550 is the start screen of the multiplay quest when the user himself/herself is a guest.

The start screen 550 includes UI components such as an organization button 501, first member information 503, second member information 504, a return button 551, and a participation button 552, for example.

In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the first member information 503 displays information about other users who are hosts. Therefore, it is preferable that the relationship icon 507 and the closeness icon 509 are displayed in the first member information 503 . Also, if the user does not follow other users of the host, the quest progression unit 111 adds the follow button 508 shown in FIG. Display is preferred. Users can be motivated to follow other users prior to the start of the quest. Furthermore, by displaying the familiarity icon 509, it is possible to make the user aware of the depth of the friendship with the host. For example, users are strongly motivated to follow the host of the room they are trying to join when they know they are not following the host even though they have a high affinity.

The return button 551 is a UI component for deciding to leave the room in which the player is temporarily entering, that is, to decide not to participate in the multiplayer quest related to the room. Upon receiving a tap operation on the return button 551 , the quest progression unit 111 transmits a notification to the server 200 that the user is leaving the room, and switches the display from the start screen 550 to the home screen 600 , for example.

The participation button 552 is a UI component for deciding to participate in the multiplayer quest related to the room. Upon receiving a tap operation on the participation button 552, the quest progression unit 111 transmits to the server 200 a notification to participate in the multiplay quest. The quest progression unit 111 displays the second member information 504 in the same manner as the first member information 503 and displays the ready icon 510 in response to the tap operation. On the other hand, the server 200 transmits the guest's declaration of participation to the host's user terminal 100 . The quest progression unit 111 of the host user terminal 100 changes the start screen 500 shown in FIG. 13A to the start screen 500 shown in FIG. Let

(Multiplayer quest result screen)
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen displayed on the display unit 152 by the quest progression unit 111. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the game screen shown in FIG. 15 is a result screen 700 for presenting the play result to the user, which is displayed after the user finishes playing the multiplayer quest, particularly after clearing it. The quest progression unit 111 may display a result screen 700 shown in FIG. 15 after step S304 shown in FIG. 8, for example.

The result screen 700 includes UI components such as remuneration information 701 , cooperator information 703 and update notification 706 .

The reward information 701 is a UI component that presents the user with a reward given to the user who has cleared the quest, and indicates, for example, virtual currency and items that can be used in the game. In this embodiment, when a multiplay quest is played, friendship points are given to each user as a play reward or a clear reward. Therefore, the given friendship points 702 are also shown as the reward information 701 .

Collaborator information 703 is a UI component for presenting again to the user friend information about collaborators who have played the multiplayer quest together. If the user terminal 100 displaying the result screen 700 shown in FIG. 15 is the host user's user terminal 100, friend information about the guest user is displayed. If the user terminal 100 displaying the result screen 700 shown in FIG. 15 is the user terminal 100 of the guest user, friend information about the host user is displayed.

Collaborator information 703 preferably includes a relationship icon 704 . Further, the quest progression unit 111 preferably provides a follow button 705 in the cooperator information 703 to prompt the user to follow the user of the cooperator. According to the above configuration, it is possible to strongly motivate the user to follow another user at the timing immediately after the end of the quest.

The update notification 706 is a UI component for notifying the user of how the intimacy level has been updated as a result of the cooperative play. As an example, the update notification 706 includes a message or illustration indicating that the intimacy level has reached the upper limit and has not been increased.

Update notification 706 further includes message 707 . Message 707 includes, for example, a message explaining the loss of mutual friend benefits or the harm suffered by not being mutual friends. In addition, message 707 may include a message prompting the user to follow the collaborators. Further, the quest progression unit 111 preferably provides a follow button 705 in the cooperator information 703 to prompt the user to follow the user of the cooperator. According to the above configuration, it is possible to strongly motivate the user to follow another user at the timing immediately after the end of the quest.

On the other hand, if the user and the collaborator are mutual friends, the quest progression unit 111 may display an update notification 453 shown in FIG. 12 instead of the update notification 706 . This allows users to directly perceive the benefits of being co-friended with collaborators and is motivated to co-friend more users as well.

Note that the update notification 706 may display the cooperation experience value incremented by the familiarity processing unit 113 or the familiarity processing unit 214 . In this case, a predicted value of how much the degree of intimacy will increase based on the aforementioned cooperation experience value may be displayed when the upper limit of the degree of intimacy is lifted by becoming mutual friends. As a result, each user sees the difference between the current degree of intimacy "10" when they are not mutual friends and the predicted value of the degree of intimacy when they are mutual friends. As a result, users are much more motivated to become mutual friends.

[Modification]
A series of steps shown in FIG. 3 may be executed by the server 200 in the game system 1 . For example, the server 200, in response to receiving information indicating that the user has followed another user from the user terminal 100 operated by the user, determines the other user as the user's follow friend; determining the other user as a follower-friend of the user in response to receiving information indicating that the other user has followed the user from another user terminal 100 operated by the other user; determining the friend classification of the pair of users who are mutually friendly, the friend classification of the pair of users followed by one of the users as one-way friend, and the friend classification of the pair of users who are not followed by either user as non-friend; At least one of the degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and the upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which are set in association with the user pair, according to the friend classification of the user pair updating.

The server 200 may be configured as follows in order to match users who cooperate in cooperative play. Specifically, for example, the server 200 is configured to execute a step of causing an object (character) owned by another user as a cooperator to participate in a game (quest) progressed by the user's user terminal 100. be. Then, in the joining step, the server 200 preferentially selects other users who have a high degree of intimacy with the user or other users whose friend classification with the user is mutual friends as collaborators. .

Alternatively, for example, the server 200 receives a request from the user terminal 100 of the user to cooperate with a game (quest) progressed by another user terminal 100 of another user. It is configured to execute a step of searching for another user as a host who hosts a game in which an object (character) participates. Then, in the searching step, server 200 preferentially searches for other users who have a high degree of intimacy with the user or other users whose friend classification with the user is mutual friend as organizers. .

In the game system 1, preferential treatment may be given to follow-friends for the user. For example, in updating step S106, the intimacy processing unit 113 or the intimacy processing unit 214 increases the degree of intimacy when the other user's friend classification is follow-friend, compared to follower-friend and non-friend. You may let This motivates users to follow other users. As a result, mutual follow-up is promoted.

When the user terminal 100 displays a plurality of other users on the viewing screen in steps S301 to S303 for progressing the game, the user terminal 100 displays the plurality of other users based on at least one of friend classification and intimacy. You can sort it. This makes it easier for the user to select, as a collaborator, another user whose friend classification is mutual friend, or to select another user with a high degree of intimacy as a collaborator.

[Example of realization by software]
The control blocks of the control unit 210 (especially the progress support unit 211, the synchronization control unit 212, the friend management unit 213, and the intimacy processing unit 214), and the control blocks of the control unit 110 (especially the quest progress unit 111, the friend The processing unit 112 and intimacy processing unit 113) may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). may be realized.

In the latter case, the information processing apparatus having the functions of the control unit 210 or the control unit 110, or both, includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program, which is software for realizing each function, and a computer (or A ROM (Read Only Memory) or storage device (these are referred to as a "recording medium") readable by a CPU), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for developing the above program, and the like are provided. The object of the present invention is achieved by a computer (or CPU) reading and executing the program from the recording medium. As the recording medium, a "non-temporary tangible medium" such as a tape, disk, card, semiconductor memory, programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Also, the program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (communication network, broadcast wave, etc.) capable of transmitting the program. Note that one aspect of the present invention can also be implemented in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[Additional notes]
The contents of one aspect of the present invention are listed below.

(Item 1) The game program (131) has been explained. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a game program is executed by a computer (user terminal 100) comprising a processor (10) and memory (11). The game program instructs the processor, in response to the user's first input operation for designating another user (YES in S101), to add the other user to the first list for registering the user's follow-friends. In response to the step of registering (S102) and receiving information indicating that the user has been registered as a follow-friend of another user (YES in S103), the other user is registered as a follower-friend of the user. a step of registering in the second list (S104), and other users follow-friends registered only in the user's first list, follower-friends registered only in the user's second list, the first list and (S105) determining which of the mutual friends registered in the second list and the non-friends registered in neither the first list nor the second list corresponds to the friend category (S105); At least one of the degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and the upper limit of the degree of intimacy set in association with the pair of the other user and A step (S106) of updating according to the friend category is executed.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to vary the processing contents related to the degree of intimacy set for a user pair according to the friend classification of the user pair. Specifically, it is possible to update the degree of intimacy or update the upper limit of the degree of intimacy according to the friend category. This encourages users to interact with other users through the game so that intimacy can be handled favorably. As a result, users can be motivated to play games with other users.

(Item 2) In (Item 1), in the updating step, if the other user's friend classification is determined to be mutual friends in the determining step, the pair of the user and the other user is associated. You can also raise the maximum intimacy set by By favoring mutual friends for handling the intimacy cap, users are encouraged to become mutual friends with other users.

(Item 3) In (Item 1) or (Item 2), the game program causes the processor to execute a step of progressing the game by allowing an object owned by another user to participate; When updating intimacy with another user who owns an object in response to a change in progress, if the other user's friend status is mutual friend, in the other friend status Intimacy may be increased more than in some cases. Users are encouraged to become mutual friends with other users by favoring mutual friends for the process of increasing intimacy.

(Item 4) In the step of updating in (item 3), when another user's friend classification is follow friend, the degree of intimacy may be increased more than when the friend classification is follower friend or non-friend. The user is encouraged to follow other users by performing the process of increasing intimacy more favorably for follow-friends than for follower-friends and non-friends.

(Item 5) In (Item 3) or (Item 4), in the step of progressing the game, if the progress of the game satisfies a predetermined condition, the reward available in the game is determined according to the level of intimacy. may be given as By increasing intimacy, you can advance the game advantageously. As a result, users are encouraged to become mutual friends with other users and to interact with other users in-game to increase intimacy.

(Item 6) In any one item from (item 3) to (item 5), in the step of progressing the game, the quest selected by the user is progressed, and the success or failure of clearing is determined according to the progress of the quest. before the quest is started, a viewing screen for viewing collaborators who cooperate in clearing the quest is displayed, and on the viewing screen, the collaborators or other users who are candidates for the collaborators , the corresponding friend classification, and the degree of intimacy set with the user, and if the user is not following another user, a graphical display for instructing to follow the other user A user interface component (hereinafter referred to as a GUI component) may be displayed for each other user.

(Item 7) In the step of progressing the game in (Item 6), a plurality of other users may be sorted and displayed on the browsing screen based on at least one of friend classification and closeness.

(Item 8) In (Item 6) or (Item 7), in the step of progressing the game, when the quest ends, a result screen showing the result of the quest is displayed, and on the result screen, the cooperator of the quest If the user does not follow the collaborator, a GUI component for instructing to follow the collaborator may be displayed together with the information about the collaborator.

(Item 9) In (Item 8), in the step of progressing the game, information is displayed on the result screen to notify that the intimacy level has been updated or not updated in the updating step, and the user and the collaborator are mutual friends, then an incremented intimacy value based on being mutual friends may be highlighted.

(Item 10) The game program (231) has been described. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a game program is executed by a server (200) comprising a processor (20) and memory (21). determining the other user as a follow-friend of the user in response to receiving, from the computer operated by the user, information indicating that the user has followed the other user, to the processor; determining the other user as a follower-friend of the user in response to receiving information indicating that the user has followed the user from a computer operated by the other user; determining the friend classification as mutual friend, the friend classification of a pair of users followed by one of the users as one-way friend, and the friend classification of a pair of users who are not followed by either user as non-friend; Updating at least one of the degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and the upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which is set by the user, according to the friend classification of the user pair; to run. This can motivate the user to play games with other users.

(Item 11) In (Item 10), the game program causes the processor to execute a step of allowing an object owned by another user as a collaborator to participate in the game progressed by the user's computer. Other users who have a high degree of intimacy with the user or other users whose friend classification with the user is mutual friends may be preferentially selected as collaborators.

(Item 12) In (Item 11), the game program, in response to the processor receiving a request from the user's computer to cooperate with the game being progressed by another user's computer, A step of searching for another user as a host who hosts a game in which the object participates is executed, and in the step of searching, another user having a high degree of intimacy set with the user or a friend classification with the user is executed. Other users who are mutual friends may be preferentially searched as organizers.

(Item 13) The game program (131) has been explained. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the game program is a computer (user terminal 100) comprising a processor (10), a memory (11) and a display unit (152), and executes the game program in (item 12). is executed by a computer in communication with the server of The game program causes the processor to display a home screen including UI components for allowing the user to select a plurality of game-related menu items. Preferably, in the step of displaying the home screen, a UI component for instructing transmission of the request to the server is arranged on the home screen.

(Item 14) A method for executing a game program has been described. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a game program is executed by a computer comprising a processor and memory. The method is a method in which a processor performs each step described in (item 1). The method according to (item 14) has the same effects as the game program according to (item 1).

(Item 15) The information processing apparatus has been described. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the information processing device includes a memory (memory 11, storage unit 120) that stores the game program according to (item 1), and the information processing device (user and a processor (processor 10, control unit 110) that controls the operation of the terminal 100). The information processing apparatus according to (item 15) has the same effects as the game program according to (item 1).

1 game system, 2 network, 10, 20 processor, 11, 21 memory, 12, 22 storage, 13, 23 communication IF (operation unit), 14, 24 input/output IF (operation unit), 15 touch screen (display unit, operation unit), 17 camera (operation unit), 18 ranging sensor (operation unit), 100 user terminal (information processing device), 110, 210 control unit, 111 quest progression unit, 112 friend processing unit, 113 intimacy processing unit , 120, 220 storage unit, 131, 231 game program, 132 game information, 133 user information, 151 input unit (operation unit), 152 display unit, 200 server, 211 progress support unit, 212 synchronization control unit, 213 friend management unit , 214 intimacy processing unit, 1010 object, 1020 controller (operation unit), 1030 storage medium

Claims (12)

a game program,
The game program is executed by a computer comprising a processor and memory,
The game program causes the processor to:
In response to a user's first input operation for designating another user, registering the other user in a first list for registering follow-friends of the user;
registering the other user in a second list of registering the user's follower friends in response to receiving information indicating that the user has been registered as a follow friend of the other user;
The other user is a follow friend registered only on the first list of the user, a follower friend registered only on the second list of the user, and registered on both the first list and the second list a step of determining which friend classification corresponds to mutual friends who are registered in the first list and non-friends who are not registered in either the first list or the second list;
at least one of a degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and an upper limit of the degree of intimacy set in association with the pair of the user and the other user; updating according to the friend classification of other users;
progressing the game by participating in objects owned by the other users;
In the step of advancing the game,
The quest selected by the user is progressed, and the success or failure of clearing is determined according to the progress of the quest,
Displaying a viewing screen for viewing collaborators who cooperate in clearing the quest before the quest is started,
displaying, on the viewing screen, the corresponding friend category and the degree of intimacy set with the user for each of the collaborators or other users who are candidates for the collaborators;
A game that displays a graphical user interface component (hereinafter referred to as a GUI component) for instructing the user to follow the other user when the user is not following the other user. program. a game program,
The game program is executed by a computer comprising a processor and memory,
The game program causes the processor to:
In response to a user's first input operation for designating another user, registering the other user in a first list for registering follow-friends of the user;
registering the other user in a second list of registering the user's follower friends in response to receiving information indicating that the user has been registered as a follow friend of the other user;
The other user is a follow friend registered only on the first list of the user, a follower friend registered only on the second list of the user, and registered on both the first list and the second list a step of determining which friend classification corresponds to mutual friends who are registered in the first list and non-friends who are not registered in either the first list or the second list;
at least one of a degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and an upper limit of the degree of intimacy set in association with the pair of the user and the other user; a step of updating according to the friend classification of other users;
In the updating step, when the friend classification of the other user is determined to be the mutual friend in the determining step, setting is made in association with a pair of the user and the other user. A game program for increasing the upper limit of the degree of intimacy. In the updating step, when updating the degree of intimacy with the other user who owns the object in response to a change in the progress of the game, the friend classification of the other user is updated. 2. The game program according to claim 1 , wherein the degree of intimacy is increased in the case of mutual friends more than in the case of other friend classifications. 4. The game according to claim 3, wherein in the updating step, if the friend category of the other user is the follow friend, the degree of intimacy is increased more than if the other user is the follower friend and the non-friend. program. 5. The game according to claim 3, wherein in the step of progressing the game, when the progress of the game satisfies a predetermined condition, a reward that can be used in the game is given according to the degree of intimacy. game program. In the step of advancing the game,
2. The game program according to claim 1 , wherein the browsing screen sorts and displays the plurality of other users based on at least one of the friend classification and the degree of intimacy. In the step of advancing the game,
When the quest is completed, display a result screen that presents the result of the quest,
In the result screen, display information related to the cooperator of the quest,
2. The game program according to claim 1 , wherein, when said user does not follow said cooperator, a GUI component for instructing to follow said cooperator is displayed together with information relating to said cooperator. In the step of advancing the game,
displaying information on the result screen notifying that the intimacy level has been updated or not updated in the updating step;
8. The game program product of claim 7 , wherein if the user and the collaborator are mutual friends, highlighting an incremented familiarity value based on mutual friends. a game program,
The game program is executed by a server comprising a processor and memory,
The game program causes the processor to:
determining the other user as a follow-friend of the user in response to receiving information from a computer operated by the user indicating that the user has followed the other user;
determining the other user as a follower-friend of the user in response to receiving information indicating that the other user has followed the user from a computer operated by the other user;
A step of determining the friend classification of a pair of users who follow each other as mutual friend, the friend classification of a pair of users followed by one of the users as one-way friend, and the friend classification of a pair of users who are not followed by either user as non-friend. and,
At least one of a degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and an upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which are set in association with the user pair, is assigned to the friend classification of the user pair. updating accordingly;
progressing the game by participating in objects owned by the other users;
In the step of advancing the game,
The quest selected by the user is progressed, and the success or failure of clearing is determined according to the progress of the quest,
Displaying a viewing screen for viewing collaborators who cooperate in clearing the quest before the quest is started,
displaying, on the viewing screen, the corresponding friend category and the degree of intimacy set with the user for each of the collaborators or other users who are candidates for the collaborators;
A game program for displaying, for each other user, a graphical user interface component for instructing to follow the other user when the user is not following the other user. The game program causes the processor to:
causing an object owned by another user as a collaborator to participate in the game progressed by the user's computer;
In the joining step,
10. The game according to claim 9 , wherein another user with a high degree of intimacy set with the user or another user whose friend classification with the user is mutual friend is preferentially selected as the cooperator. program. a game program,
The game program is executed by a server comprising a processor and memory,
The game program causes the processor to:
determining the other user as a follow-friend of the user in response to receiving information from a computer operated by the user indicating that the user has followed the other user;
determining the other user as a follower-friend of the user in response to receiving information indicating that the other user has followed the user from a computer operated by the other user;
A step of determining the friend classification of a pair of users who follow each other as mutual friend, the friend classification of a pair of users followed by one of the users as one-way friend, and the friend classification of a pair of users who are not followed by either user as non-friend. and,
At least one of a degree of intimacy indicating the depth of friendship between the user and the other user and an upper limit of the degree of intimacy, which are set in association with the user pair, is assigned to the friend classification of the user pair. updating accordingly;
making an object owned by the user participate as a collaborator in a game progressed by the computer of the other user;
In response to receiving a request from the user's computer to cooperate with the game being progressed by another user's computer, another host who hosts the game in which an object owned by the user participates retrieving a user ; and
In the searching step,
A game program that preferentially searches for, as the organizer, another user with a high degree of intimacy set with the user or another user whose friend classification with the user is mutual friend. a game program,
The game program is a computer comprising a processor, a memory and a display unit, and is executed by a computer that communicates with the server that executes the game program according to claim 11 ,
The game program causes the processor to:
causing a step of displaying a home screen including UI components for allowing the user to select a plurality of menu items related to the game;
The game program according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of displaying the home screen, a UI component for instructing transmission of the request to the server is arranged on the home screen.

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