JP7477702B2 - PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

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

There is known an information processing device in which a lender user (hereinafter also referred to as a "lender user") lends a character, which is an example of content owned by the lender user, to a borrower user (hereinafter also referred to as a "borrower user") as a rental character, thereby allowing the lending and borrowing of characters between users (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5908319

In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the users are not provided with sufficient interaction through the lending and borrowing of content.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to stimulate interaction between users through the lending and borrowing of content.

The main invention of the present invention to solve the above problems is:
Computer,
a lending setting means for setting a content selected by a lender user from among the content owned by the lender user as a lending content to be lent to other people for use in a quest;
a borrowing setting means for setting a content selected by a borrower user from the lending contents as a borrowing content that the borrower user borrows for use in a quest;
a display means for displaying, when any of the contents owned by the lender user is a content that has been frequently used by a plurality of people who have completed a quest, a display indicating that the any of the contents is a recommended content for the quest;
It is a program that functions as a

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an information processing system 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a computer. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a server device 20. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of character information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of quest information. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of schedule information. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a client terminal 10. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation relating to a character lending setting. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a schedule screen 500. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a lending character selection screen 550. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation relating to character borrowing settings. FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing an example of a quest selection screen 600. FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing an example of a search result screen 650. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation for canceling lending and borrowing settings. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a schedule screen 500. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a lending character selection screen 550. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a lending character selection screen 550. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a schedule screen 500.

At least the following points will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.
That is, a lending setting unit that sets a content selected by the lender user from among the content owned by the lender user as a lending content for a game stage selected by the lender user on a schedule screen that lists a plurality of game stages in association with their respective playable periods;
a borrowing setting unit that sets, as borrowed content of the borrower user, a lending content set for a game stage selected by the borrower user on a stage selection screen that lists a plurality of game stages during each playable period;
a content usage management unit that restricts a lender user who owns a rental content set as borrowed content from playing a game using the rental content during a playable period of the game stage selected by the borrower user;
The information processing device is provided with:
According to such an information processing device, a lender user can efficiently lend out his/her content to a borrower user whose playable period overlaps with a period during which the game cannot be played by selecting a game stage in which the playable period overlaps with a period during which the game can be played. As a result, the lender user will proactively lend out his/her content according to a period that is convenient for him/her, and the borrower user will also easily borrow the content. This makes it possible to stimulate interaction between users through the lending and borrowing of content.

Moreover, in such an information processing device,
The borrowing setting unit may also be configured to set the borrowed content selected by the borrower user from among the multiple lending contents as the borrowed content when multiple lending contents are set for a game stage selected by the borrower user on the stage selection screen.
According to such an information processing device, a borrower user can select desired lending content by himself/herself and make it borrowed content, and can enthusiastically play a game using the borrowed content.

Moreover, in such an information processing device,
The borrowing setting unit may extract recommended content suitable for the game stage selected by the borrower user from the multiple lending contents, and set the lending content selected by the borrower user from the recommended content as borrowing content.
According to such an information processing device, a borrower user can select recommended content suitable for a game stage he or she has selected as borrowed content, which makes it easier to clear that game stage. As a result, the borrower user is more likely to borrow other people's content, which can stimulate interaction between users through the lending and borrowing of content.

Moreover, in such an information processing device,
The lending setting unit may extract recommended content suitable for the game stage selected by the lender user on the schedule screen from the content owned by the lender user, and set the content selected by the lender user from the recommended content as the lending content.
With such an information processing device, a lender user can easily set recommended content suitable for a game stage selected by the lender user as lending content, even if the lender user has no knowledge as to which content is suitable for the game stage.

Moreover, in such an information processing device,
the lending setting unit cancels the setting of the lending content for the game stage selected by the borrower user when the playable period for the game stage has elapsed;
The borrowing setting unit may cancel the setting of the lending content for the game stage selected by the borrower user as the borrowed content when the playable period for the game stage selected by the borrower user has elapsed.
According to such an information processing device, the lender user only needs to lend his/her own content to the borrower user for a playable period corresponding to the period during which the lender user is unable to play the game, and after the playable period has elapsed, the lender user can play the game using the own content that he/she has previously lent. Since the period during which the borrower user can play in the game stage using the lender user's content is limited, the borrower user can increase his/her motivation to play during the playable period.

Moreover, in such an information processing device,
The content management system may further include a reward giving unit that gives a reward to a lender user who owns a lending content that is set as borrowing content for a borrower user.
According to such an information processing device, lender users are more likely to lend out their content in order to receive rewards.

Next, the computer
a lending setting means for setting a content selected by the lender user from among the content owned by the lender user as a lending content for a game stage selected by the lender user on a schedule screen which lists a plurality of game stages in association with their respective playable periods;
a borrowing setting means for setting, as borrowed content of the borrower user, a lending content set for a game stage selected by the borrower user on a stage selection screen displaying a list of a plurality of game stages during each playable period;
a content usage management means for permitting the borrower user to play a game using the borrowed content at the game stage selected by the borrower user during a playable period of the game stage selected by the borrower user, while restricting a lender user who possesses lending content set as the borrowed content from playing a game using the lending content;
This is a program that functions as a
According to such a program, it becomes possible to stimulate interaction between users through the lending and borrowing of content.

====Embodiment===
The following describes in detail an information processing device, a program, and an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention can be widely applied to information processing devices, programs, and information processing systems that employ a game in which users lend and borrow content between each other.

<<System configuration>>
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment has one or more client terminals 10 and a server device 20 connected via a network N.

The client terminal 10 is a terminal device operated by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC, or a terminal device such as a dedicated gaming device for home or commercial use. The server device 20 manages and controls the game played by the user on the client terminal 10, and processes billing within the game. The network N is the Internet, etc., and includes a mobile wireless base station, etc.

In addition to the client-server type information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can also be applied to a standalone game device (information processing device) by providing a separate mechanism for in-game billing processing. The information processing system 1 in FIG. 1 is only one example, and it goes without saying that there are various system configurations depending on the application and purpose. For example, the server device 20 in FIG. 1 may be configured to be distributed across multiple computers.

<<Hardware configuration>>
<Client terminal and server device>
Fig. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 50 according to the present embodiment. The client terminal 10 and the server device 20 according to the present embodiment are realized by, for example, a computer 50 having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 2. The computer 50 is an example of an information processing device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 50 includes a CPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, a communication interface 54, an input device 55, a display device 56, an external interface 57, and a HDD 58, all of which are interconnected by a bus line B. Note that the server device 20 may be configured such that the input device 55 and the display device 56 are connected and used when necessary.

The CPU 51 is a calculation device that realizes the control and functions of the entire computer by reading programs and data from storage devices such as the ROM 53 and the HDD 58 onto the RAM 52 and executing various processes based on the read programs and data.

RAM 52 is an example of a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) for temporarily storing programs and data, and is also used as a work area when CPU 51 executes various processes.

ROM 53 is an example of a non-volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. ROM 53 stores programs and data such as the BIOS, OS settings, and network settings that are executed when computer 50 is started.

The communication interface 54 is an interface for connecting the computer 50 to the network N. This allows the computer 50 to perform data communication via the communication interface 54.

The input device 55 is a device used by a user or administrator to input various signals. In this embodiment, the input device 55 is, for example, an operating device such as a touch panel, operation keys or buttons, a keyboard, or a mouse.

The display device 56 is a device for displaying various information on a screen to a user or an administrator. In this embodiment, the display device 56 is, for example, a liquid crystal or organic electroluminescence display.

The external interface 57 is an interface for connecting to an external device so as to enable data communication. This allows the computer 50 to read and/or write data from and to a recording medium via the external interface 57. The external device is, for example, a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, or a USB memory.

HDD 58 is an example of a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data. The programs and data stored therein include the OS, which is the basic software that controls the entire computer, and applications that provide various functions on the OS.

In addition, instead of HDD 58, a drive device that uses flash memory as a storage medium (e.g., a solid-state drive: SSD) may be used.

The client terminal 10 and server device 20 according to this embodiment can perform various processes as described below by executing a program on a computer 50 having the above-described hardware configuration.

<<Software configuration>>
<Server device>
3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. The server device 20 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, the functional blocks shown in FIG.

The server device 20 according to this embodiment realizes a server control unit 200, a server storage unit 220, and a server communication unit 240 by executing a program.

The server control unit 200 has the function of executing various processes in the server device 20. In this embodiment, the server control unit 200 includes a request processing unit 201, a lending setting unit 202, a borrowing setting unit 203, a character usage management unit 204, and a reward granting unit 205.

The request processing unit 201 receives a request from the client terminal 10, performs processing corresponding to the received request, and transmits the processing results, etc. as a response to the client terminal 10.

The lending setting unit 202 sets the content owned by the lender user as lending content. In this embodiment, the lending setting unit 202 sets the content selected by the lender user from among the content owned by the lender user as lending content for the game stage selected by the lender user.

The borrowing setting unit 203 sets the lending content of the lender user as the borrowing content of the borrower user. The borrowing setting unit 203 in this embodiment sets the lending content set for the game stage selected by the borrower user as the borrowing content of the borrower user.

The character use management unit 204 is an example of a content use management unit, and allows or restricts the use of loaned content. The character use management unit 204 in this embodiment restricts a lender user who possesses loaned content set as borrowed content from playing the game using the loaned content during the playable period of the game stage selected by the borrower user.

The reward granting unit 205 grants a reward to a lender user for lending content to a borrower user. The reward granting unit 205 in this embodiment grants a reward to a lender user who owns lending content that is set as borrowed content for the borrower user.

The server storage unit 220 has a function of storing various information in the server device 20. In this embodiment, the server storage unit 220 includes a character information storage unit 221, a quest information storage unit 222, a schedule information storage unit 223, and a user information storage unit 224.

The character information storage unit 221 is an example of a content information storage unit, and stores character information (content information) related to characters as an example of content. The character information stored in the character information storage unit 221 is composed of various data items as shown below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of character information. The character information shown in FIG. 4 has items such as a character ID, a name, a rarity, parameters, skills, evolved characters, and a lottery probability. The character ID is information for uniquely identifying various characters. The name is information indicating the character name. The rarity is information indicating the rarity (rareness value) of the character. Here, one of the multiple rarity classes is initially set. In this embodiment, five rarity levels from "1" to "5" can be set. Note that the rarity class is not limited to five levels, and may be four or less, or six or more. The parameters are information indicating the abilities possessed by the character. Here, ability values such as attack, defense, and HP are initially set. The skills are information indicating the special abilities (such as special moves) possessed by the character. The evolved character is information indicating an evolved character that is even stronger than the character before evolution. In this embodiment, for example, in the case of "character C" shown in FIG. 4, "character C1" is set as the evolved character. It is also possible to set two evolved characters, "Character C1" and "Character C2", which branch off from a common "Character C". The branching of evolved characters is not limited to two, and may be three or more. The lottery probability is information that indicates the probability that a character will win the lottery game.

The quest information storage unit 222 is an example of a game stage information storage unit, and stores quest information (game stage information) related to quests as an example of a game stage. The quest information stored in the quest information storage unit 222 is composed of various data as shown below.

5 is a configuration diagram showing an example of quest information. The quest information shown in FIG. 5 has items such as a quest ID, a name, required points, difficulty level, an enemy character, an obtainable character, and a recommended character. The quest ID is information for uniquely identifying a quest that is a unit of play. The name is information indicating the name of the quest. The required points is information indicating the number of game points (stamina) required to play the quest. The difficulty level is information indicating the ease of clearing the quest. The enemy character is information indicating a character that will be an opponent that appears in the quest among the multiple characters set in the character information stored in the character information storage unit 221. The obtainable character is information indicating one or more characters that the user can obtain in the quest among the multiple characters set in the character information stored in the character information storage unit 221. Note that the obtainable character and the enemy character of the quest may be the same character. The recommended character is information indicating a character that is suitable for the quest among the multiple characters set in the character information stored in the character information storage unit 221. In this embodiment, one or more characters that were used most frequently among the characters used by multiple users who cleared the quest are set. Therefore, by using this recommended character, the user can easily clear the quest.

The schedule information storage unit 223 stores schedule information related to the schedule of playable quests. The schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 223 is composed of the various data shown below.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of schedule information. The schedule information shown in Figure 6 has items such as a schedule ID, a quest, a playable period, and a loaned character. The schedule ID is information for uniquely identifying the date of each quest. The quest is information indicating a quest for which a schedule has been set among multiple quests set in the quest information stored in the quest information storage unit 222. The playable period is information indicating the period during which the user can play the quest. In this embodiment, at least a schedule is set for a first period (e.g., one week this week) and the second period that follows (e.g., one week next week). The loaned character is information indicating a character owned by the lender user that can be loaned to others only during the playable period of the quest. In this embodiment, information about the lender user who owns the loaned character is also set.

The user information storage unit 224 stores user information about the user. The user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 is composed of the various data shown below.

7 is a diagram showing an example of user information. The user information shown in FIG. 7 has items such as a user ID, a name, possession points, possession characters, a party, a loaned character, and a borrowed character. The user ID is information for uniquely identifying a user. The name is information indicating the user name. The possession points is information indicating the number of game points currently possessed by the user. The user can play a quest by consuming the game points required for the quest. It is also possible to play a quest without consuming game points. The possession characters are information indicating one or more characters currently possessed by the user among the multiple characters set in the character information stored in the character information storage unit 221. Here, as shown in parentheses in the figure, various parameters (level, attack power, defense power, HP, etc.) of the possession characters at the current time are also set. In addition, flag information indicating whether the possession characters are restricted in use by loan is also set. The party is information indicating each character that constitutes the user's party. A loaned character is information indicating a character owned by a user that has been loaned out for use by others. Here, as shown in parentheses in the figure, information regarding the schedule of the quest to which the loaned character is associated is also set. A borrowed character is information indicating a character owned by another user that has been loaned out for use by the user. Here, as shown in parentheses in the figure, information regarding the schedule of the quest to which the borrowed character is associated and information regarding the lender user who owns the loaned character of another user that has been set as a borrowed character are also set.

The server communication unit 240 has the function of communicating with the client terminal 10 via the network N.

<Client terminal>
8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment. The client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, the functional blocks shown in FIG.

The client terminal 10 according to this embodiment realizes a client control unit 100, a client storage unit 120, a client communication unit 140, an operation input reception unit 150, and a screen display unit 160 by executing a program.

The client control unit 100 has the function of executing various processes in the client terminal 10. This client control unit 100 includes a game control unit 101, a server access unit 102, and a display control unit 103.

The game control unit 101 controls the progress of various games. The game control unit 101 according to this embodiment controls the progress of a battle game, a lottery game, a synthesis game, and the like, which will be described later, based on game operations received by the client terminal 10 from the user. This game control unit 101 includes a battle unit 101A, a character assignment unit 101B, an evolution unit 101C, a synthesis unit 101D, and a sale unit 101E.

The match unit 101A controls the match between characters who will be opponents. In this embodiment, the match unit 101A determines the outcome of the match between the opponent characters based on various parameters possessed by each character included in the party.

The character assigning unit 101B assigns to the user a character set in the character information stored in the character information storage unit 221. The character assigning unit 101B according to this embodiment assigns one or more characters to the user through a fighting game, a lottery game, or the like. In other words, the user can acquire a character by playing a fighting game, a lottery game, or the like.

The evolution unit 101C evolves a character owned by the user into an even stronger character. In this embodiment, when an evolution condition is met for a pre-evolved character owned by the user, the evolution unit 101C does not allow the user to own (does not own) the pre-evolved character, but instead allows the user to own the evolved character. An evolution condition in this embodiment is, for example, that the evolution parameters set for the pre-evolved character reach their maximum value. Note that the evolution condition is not limited to this, and for example, it is also possible to obtain all of the characters that will be used as pre-set synthesis materials in a battle game or lottery game, and synthesize all of them with the pre-evolved character (the character to be synthesized).

The synthesis unit 101D enhances one character by sacrificing (making the other character not owned) by synthesizing the one character with another character among multiple characters owned by the user. For example, each time the synthesis unit 101D according to this embodiment synthesizes a character identical to the original character as a synthesis material character, it gradually increases the maximum value of the ability parameters set for the original character. At this time, the character that becomes the synthesis material becomes a character that the user does not possess (i.e., is sacrificed).

The selling unit 101E sells a character owned by a user, and in exchange for not allowing the user to own (not own) that character, the selling unit 101E gives the user compensation. Each time the selling unit 101E of this embodiment sells a character, the selling unit 101E gives the user game points as an example of compensation.

When access to the server device 20 becomes necessary during various processes executed by the game control unit 101 or the display control unit 103, the server access unit 102 sends various processing requests to the server device 20 and receives processing results, etc. from the server device 20 as a response.

The display control unit 103 controls the screen display of the client terminal 10 according to the progress of various games. The display control unit 103 according to this embodiment controls the screen display of the client terminal 10 by generating data for various screens according to the progress of a competitive game or a lottery game controlled by the game control unit 101, for example.

The operation input reception unit 150 receives operation input from a user operating the client terminal 10. The client storage unit 120 stores installed applications (game apps, etc.) and various programs and data required by the client terminal 10 (for example, character information, quest information, schedule information, user information, etc., similar to the server device 20). That is, the client storage unit 120 also functions as a character information storage unit, a quest information storage unit, a schedule information storage unit, and a user information storage unit. The client communication unit 140 communicates with the server device 20. The screen display unit 160 displays the screen of the client terminal 10 according to a control signal from the display control unit 103.

As described above, in the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment, game control and display control are performed in the client terminal 10, but they may also be performed by the server device 20. Specifically, at least one of the game control unit and the display control unit may be configured not to be provided in the client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10, but to be provided in the server control unit 200 of the server device 20.

The client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10 may be of a browser type, in which the client control unit 100 receives page data written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like and scripts contained in the page data from the server device 20 and performs processing related to the game. The client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10 may be of an application type, in which the client control unit 100 performs processing related to the game based on an installed application. Figure 8 shows the application type as an example.

＜＜System Overview＞＞
Here, an overview of the information processing system 1 in this embodiment will be described. The information processing system 1 in this embodiment includes at least a fighting game, a lottery game, and a combination game.

The battle game in this embodiment is a game in which an enemy character appears against a party made up of multiple characters, and each character in the party battles against the enemy character that appears.

In this fighting game, multiple quests (game stages) are set for each specified period, with the objective of defeating enemy characters, etc. Users can form a party (also called "formation") using the characters they own, and select one of the quests that can be played during the current period to challenge an enemy character. When a user clears the selected quest, they can acquire the obtainable character associated with that quest.

In addition, in this battle game, users can lend and borrow characters between each other. That is, a user can become a lender user by lending his/her own character to another person as a lending character, or become a borrower user by borrowing another person's character as a borrowed character. When a lender user lends his/her own character to a borrower user, the borrower user can organize a party and play in a battle using the borrowed character, but the lender user himself/herself is restricted from organizing a party and playing in a battle using the lent character.

In this embodiment, a user can view a schedule screen for quests with predefined playable periods and set the loan of their own characters to quests that fit a period that is convenient for them. Therefore, for example, a user viewing the schedule screen can select a quest whose playable period overlaps with a period during which the user is unable to play the game due to being busy or other reasons, and can loan their own character to another person only during the playable period of the selected quest. This allows users to actively loan out their own characters during periods during which they are unable to play the game, even if there are restrictions on use due to the loaning of their own characters, and thus stimulates interaction between users through the loaning and lending of characters.

The lottery game in this embodiment is a game in which the character to be granted to the user is determined by lottery. In this lottery game, when the user performs a lottery operation, one of the multiple characters set in the character information is selected based on the lottery probability of each character, and the selected character is granted to the user.

The synthesis game in this embodiment is a game in which, among multiple characters owned by the user, a character that will be the source of synthesis (a synthesis source character) is combined with a character that will be the source of synthesis (a synthesis material character) to strengthen the synthesis source character in exchange for losing the synthesis material character. In this synthesis game, basically, each time a character identical to the synthesis source character is combined as a synthesis material character, the maximum value of the ability parameters set for that synthesis source character can be increased in stages.

<<System Operation>>
<Character lending settings>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation related to character lending settings in this embodiment.

When the lender user performs a game operation to transition from the menu screen to the schedule screen, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 displays a schedule screen that allows the lender user to set up lending of the character he or she owns according to a date that is convenient for the lender user (step S11).

Specifically, when the lender user performs the game operation, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested to execute an access process by the display control unit 103, the server access unit 102 transmits a request to the server device 20 to transmit schedule information.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the lending setting unit 202 to execute a data acquisition process. When the lending setting unit 202 of the server device 20 is requested by the request processing unit 201 to execute a data acquisition process, it acquires the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 223. The request processing unit 201 transmits the schedule information acquired by the lending setting unit 202 to the client terminal 10. Thereafter, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 receives the information transmitted from the server device 20 and stores it in the client storage unit 120, and based on the received information, generates a schedule screen related to the schedule of the quest that will soon be playable, and performs control to display it on the screen display unit 160.

Figure 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a schedule screen 500. This schedule screen 500 includes a quest display area 502 in which a list of multiple quests 501 is displayed. In this quest display area 502, a playable period 503 is displayed in association with each of the multiple quests 501. In addition, a selection button 504 for selecting a quest for which lending settings are to be made is also displayed in association with each of the multiple quests 501.

In this embodiment, the display mode of the selection button 504 for a quest 501 for which a character has already been set for loan is different from that of a quest 501 for which a character has not yet been set for loan. Here, "Character A" has already been set for loan as a loan character for "Quest 37," whose playable period has been preset to "6:00-9:00 this week," so the selection button 504 for "Quest 37" displays "Character A loaned already set." On the other hand, for "Quest 5" and "Quest 12," whose playable period has been preset to "6:00-9:00 this week," no loan character has yet been set for "Quest 5" and "Quest 12," so the selection buttons 504 for "Quest 5" and "Quest 12" display "Lending setting." The lender user is then able to select only the selection button 504 that displays "Lending setting" on the screen.

Returning to FIG. 9, when this schedule screen 500 is displayed on the screen display unit 160 and the selection button 504 for a quest for which a loan character has not yet been set (selection button 504 displaying "Loan setting") is selected by the lender user, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 displays a loan character selection screen for the lender user to select a loan character to be set for the selected quest (step S12).

Specifically, when the lender user selects the selection button 504 labeled "Lending Settings" associated with the quest 501 on the schedule screen 500, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested by the display control unit 103 to execute an access process, it transmits a request to the server device 20 to send user information.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the lending setting unit 202 to execute the data acquisition process. When the lending setting unit 202 of the server device 20 is requested to execute the data acquisition process by the request processing unit 201, it refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 to acquire the characters owned by the lender user. It also refers to the quest information stored in the quest information storage unit 222 to acquire the recommended characters for the selected quest. Furthermore, the lending setting unit 202 of the server device 20 extracts and acquires the same owned characters as the recommended characters for the selected quest from among the characters owned by the lender user. The request processing unit 201 transmits the various information acquired by the lending setting unit 202 to the client terminal 10. After that, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 receives the information transmitted from the server device 20 and stores it in the client storage unit 120, and performs control to generate a lending character selection screen for the lending character set for the selected quest based on the received information and display it on the screen display unit 160.

Figure 11 is an image diagram showing an example of a lending character selection screen 550. This lending character selection screen 550 includes a character display area 552 that displays a list of characters 551 owned by the lending user. In this character display area 552, selection buttons 553 are displayed in association with each of the multiple owned characters 551.

In this embodiment, the display manner of owned characters 551 that are the same as the recommended character suitable for the selected quest is different from that of owned characters 551 that are not the same. Here, "Character K" and "Character W", which are the same as the recommended character suitable for the quest, are displayed with "Recommended!!", indicating that they are recommended characters. On the other hand, nothing is displayed for "Character C", which is a different owned character. Therefore, even if the lender user is unsure which owned character to set as the lending character, they can easily select it.

Returning to FIG. 9, when the lending character selection screen 550 is displayed on the screen display unit 160 and the selection button 553 associated with one of the owned characters 551 is selected by the lending user, the game control unit 101 of the client terminal 10 requests the server device 20 to set up lending for the owned character of the selected lending user (step S13).

Specifically, when a lender user selects a selection button 553 associated with a owned character 551 on a lending character selection screen 550, the game control unit 101 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested to execute an access process by the game control unit 101, it transmits a request to the server device 20 regarding the lending setting process for the owned character of the selected lender user.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the loan setting unit 202 to execute the loan setting process. When the loan setting unit 202 of the server device 20 is requested to execute the loan setting process by the request processing unit 201, it updates the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 223, and associates the owned character selected on the loan character selection screen 550 with the quest selected on the schedule screen 500, and registers it as a loan character for that lender user. It also updates the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224, and associates the owned character selected on the loan character selection screen 550 with the lender user, and registers it as a loan character being set for loan for the quest selected on the schedule screen 500.

Next, when the lending setting unit 202 sets the character owned by the lender user as a lending character in this manner, the character usage management unit 204 of the server device 20 restricts the use of the character owned by the lender user that has been set as a lending character (step S14).

Specifically, when the lending setting unit 202 performs lending setting as described above, the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 requests the character use management unit 204 to execute a use restriction on the owned character set as the lending character. When the character use management unit 204 of the server device 20 is requested to execute a use restriction from the request processing unit 201, it refers to the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 to identify the owned character of the lending user. Then, by updating information on the identified owned character, it sets a flag indicating that the use of the owned character set as the lending character has been restricted by lending. When the use is restricted in this way, the lending user is restricted from playing a battle using the owned character set as the lending character.
In this embodiment, as described later, when the playable period of the quest associated with the loaned character has elapsed, this usage restriction is lifted. In other words, the loaner user is restricted in using the loaned character (i.e., the loaned character owned by the user) only during the playable period of the quest (i.e., only during the quest's holding period).

<Character Borrowing Settings>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation related to character borrowing settings in this embodiment.

When the borrower user performs a game operation to transition from the menu screen to the quest selection screen, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 displays a quest selection screen for the borrower user to select a quest for which the borrower user will set up the borrowing of a loaned character (step S21).

Specifically, when the borrower user performs the game operation, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested to execute an access process by the display control unit 103, the server access unit 102 transmits a request to the server device 20 to transmit quest information.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the borrowing setting unit 203 to execute a data acquisition process. When the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 is requested to execute a data acquisition process by the request processing unit 201, it acquires the quest information stored in the quest information storage unit 222. The request processing unit 201 transmits the quest information acquired by the borrowing setting unit 203 to the client terminal 10. Thereafter, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 receives the information transmitted from the server device 20 and stores it in the client storage unit 120, and based on the received information, generates a quest selection screen for quests for which a loan character can be set to be borrowed, and performs control to display the quest selection screen on the screen display unit 160.

Figure 13 is an image diagram showing an example of a quest selection screen 600. This quest selection screen 600 includes a quest display area 602 in which a list of multiple quests 601 is displayed. In this quest display area 602, a search button 603 is displayed in association with each of the multiple quests 601, for searching for loan characters that can be borrowed for that quest.

Returning to FIG. 12, when the search button 603 corresponding to any of the quests 601 is selected by the borrower user while this quest selection screen 600 is being displayed on the screen display unit 160, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 displays all of the loan characters set for the selected quest as search results on the search result screen (step S22).

Specifically, when the borrower user selects the search button 603 associated with the quest 601 on the quest selection screen 600, the display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested by the display control unit 103 to execute an access process, it transmits a request to the server device 20 to transmit schedule information.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the borrowing setting unit 203 to execute a data acquisition process. When the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 is requested to execute a data acquisition process by the request processing unit 201, it refers to the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 223 and acquires a loan character associated with the quest selected on the quest selection screen 600. It also refers to the quest information stored in the quest information storage unit 222 and acquires a recommended character for the selected quest. Furthermore, the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 extracts and acquires a loan character that is the same as the recommended character for the selected quest from the loan characters for the selected quest. The request processing unit 201 transmits the various information acquired by the borrowing setting unit 203 to the client terminal 10. The display control unit 103 of the client terminal 10 then receives the information sent from the server device 20, stores it in the client storage unit 120, and based on the received information, generates a search result screen related to the loaned characters for the selected quest and performs control to display it on the screen display unit 160.

Figure 14 is an image diagram showing an example of a search result screen 650. This search result screen 650 includes a loan character display area 652 that displays a list of loan characters 651 set for the quest selected by the borrower user. In this loan character display area 652, a selection button 653 is displayed corresponding to each of the multiple loan characters 651.

In this embodiment, the display manner of loaned characters 651 that are the same as the recommended character suitable for the selected quest is different from that of loaned characters 651 that are not the same. Here, "Character X" and "Character P", which are loaned characters that are the same as the recommended character suitable for the quest, are displayed with "Recommended!!", indicating that they are recommended characters. On the other hand, nothing is displayed for "Character G", which is a loaned character that is not the same. Therefore, even if the borrower user is unsure which loaned character to set as the borrowed character, they can easily make a selection.

Returning to FIG. 12, when the search result screen 650 is displayed on the screen display unit 160 and the selection button 653 corresponding to any of the rental characters 651 is selected by the borrower user, the game control unit 101 of the client terminal 10 requests the server device 20 to perform rental settings for the selected rental character (step S23).

Specifically, when a borrower user selects the selection button 653 associated with a lending character 651 on the search result screen 650, the game control unit 101 of the client terminal 10 requests the server access unit 102 to execute an access process. When the server access unit 102 of the client terminal 10 is requested to execute an access process by the game control unit 101, it transmits a request for a borrowing setting process for the selected lending character to the server device 20.

When the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 accepts the request, it requests the borrowing setting unit 203 to execute the borrowing setting process. When the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 is requested to execute the borrowing setting process by the request processing unit 201, it updates the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 to associate the borrower user with the borrower character selected on the search result screen 650 and register it as a borrowed character for the quest selected on the quest selection screen 600. This allows the borrower user to freely use the borrowed character (a character owned by the lender user) when playing against another player in a quest selected by the borrower user on the quest selection screen 600, but only for the playable period of that quest.

Next, when the loan setting unit 203 sets the loaned character as the borrowed character of the borrower user in this manner, the reward granting unit 205 of the server device 20 grants a reward to the lender user who owns the loaned character set as the borrowed character of the borrower user for lending the owned character (step S24).

Specifically, when the borrowing setting unit 203 performs the borrowing setting as described above, the request processing unit 201 of the server device 20 requests the reward granting unit 205 to grant a reward to the lender user of the loaned character set as the borrowed character. When the reward granting unit 205 of the server device 20 is requested by the request processing unit 201 to grant a reward, the reward granting unit 205 updates the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 to additionally set a special character, as an example of a reward, as a new owned character of the lender user who owns the loaned character set as the borrowed character. In this way, by giving a reward to a user who has loaned their character to others, it is possible to further increase the motivation of the user to loan their character to others.

<Cancellation of loan and borrowing arrangements>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation related to canceling lending and borrowing settings in this embodiment.

When the playable period for the quest associated with the loaned character borrowed by the borrower user from the lender user has elapsed, the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 cancels the setting of the loaned character as a borrowed character (step S31).

Specifically, the borrowing setting unit 203 of the server device 20 updates the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224, and cancels the setting as a borrowed character of the borrowed character associated with a quest whose playable period has expired, among the loaned characters set as borrowed characters of the borrower user.

Next, when the playable period for the quest associated with the loaned character borrowed by the borrower user from the lender user has elapsed, the loan setting unit 202 of the server device 20 cancels the setting of the loaned character as the loaned character for the quest for which the playable period has elapsed, as the borrowing setting has been cancelled (step S32).

Specifically, the loan setting unit 202 of the server device 20 updates the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224, and cancels the setting of the characters owned by the lender user that have been set as loan characters as loan characters for quests whose playable period has expired.

Next, when the playable period for the quest associated with the loaned character borrowed by the borrower user from the lender user has elapsed, the character usage management unit 204 of the server device 20 releases the usage restrictions due to the loan for the character owned by the lender user that was previously set as a loaned character, as the loan setting has been cancelled (step S33).

Specifically, the character usage management unit 204 of the server device 20 references the user information stored in the user information storage unit 224 to identify the character owned by the lender user. Then, by updating the information about the identified character, the flag indicating that the use of the character that was previously set as a loaned character has been restricted due to loaning is removed. When the usage restriction is thus lifted, the lender user will be able to play against other users using the character that was previously set as a loaned character.

===Other embodiments===
The above-described embodiments are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. In particular, the following embodiments are also included in the present invention.

<Character Borrowing Settings>
(Variation 1)
In the above embodiment, a case where different quests are displayed in a list in the quest display area 502 of the schedule screen 500 shown in Fig. 10 has been described as an example, but as shown in Fig. 16, there may be two or more identical quests with different playable times set in the quest display area 502 of the schedule screen 500 (in the figure, "Quest 10" is set to "14:00 to 16:00 this week" and "Quest 10" is set to "10:00 to 12:00 next week"). In this case, it is also possible to simplify the lending setting of lending characters for the same quest. A specific description will be given below with reference to Figs. 16 to 19.

For example, when the schedule screen 500 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed, if the lender user selects the selection button 504 associated with "Quest 10," which has a playable period set to "This week from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM," the screen transitions to the lending character selection screen 550 shown in FIG. 17.

When this lending character selection screen 550 is displayed, if the lender user selects the selection button 553 associated with "Character A," a sub-screen 554 as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

This sub-screen 554 shows that there are two or more "Quest 10s" in the schedule, and that the selected "Character A" can be set for loan to each "Quest 10" at once.

When this sub-screen 554 is displayed, if the lender user selects the selection button 555, the selected "Character A" is set as the lending character for the same "Quest 10" with different playable times set, and the screen transitions to the schedule screen 500 shown in Figure 19.

In this schedule screen 500, "Character A loan set" is displayed not only on the selection button 504 associated with "Quest 10" for which the playable period is set to "14:00-16:00 this week," but also on the selection button 504 associated with "Quest 10" for which the playable period is set to "10:00-12:00 next week."

Therefore, the lender user can recognize that the same "Character A" has been set as the lending character for the same "Quest 10," each of which has a different playable time set.

In this way, if there are two or more identical quests with different playable times set, it is possible to set the lending character selected by the lender user to be lent for two or more identical quests at once.

(Variation 2)
In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, by storing schedule information for past quests as historical information, it is also possible to enable the lender user to reset a loan character that he or she set for a past quest as a loan character for the current quest.

For example, suppose that in a past playable period, the lender user set "Character B" as the lending character for "Quest 25." In this case, when the schedule screen 500 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed and the lender user selects the selection button 504 associated with "Quest 25," which has the playable period set to "This week from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM," it is possible for the lender user to reset the previously set "Character B" as the lending character for that "Quest 25." This makes it easy to set lending characters.

<Contents>
In the above embodiment, the content is a character set in the character information, but the content is not limited to this. For example, the content may be an item, a card, a figure, an avatar, an icon, or the like.

1 Information processing system 10 Client terminal 20 Server device 50 Computer 51 CPU
52 RAM
53 ROM
54 Communication interface 55 Input device 56 Display device 57 External interface 58 HDD
100 Client control unit 101 Game control unit 101A Battle unit 101B Character grant unit 101C Evolution unit 101D Synthesis unit 101E Selling unit 102 Server access unit 103 Display control unit 120 Client storage unit 140 Client communication unit 150 Operation input reception unit 160 Screen display unit 200 Server control unit 201 Request processing unit 202 Lending setting unit 203 Borrowing setting unit 204 Character use management unit 205 Reward granting unit 220 Server storage unit 221 Character information storage unit 222 Quest information storage unit 223 Schedule information storage unit 224 User information storage unit 240 Server communication unit 500 Schedule screen 501 Quest 502 Quest display area 503 Playable period 504 Selection button 550 Lending character selection screen 551 Owned character 552 Character display area 553 Selection button 554 Sub-screen 555 Selection button 600 Quest selection screen 601 Quest 602 Quest display area 603 Search button 650 Search result screen 651 Lending character 652 Lending character display area 653 Selection button B Bus line N Network

Claims (9)

Computer,
a lending setting means for setting a content selected by a lender user from among the content owned by the lender user as a lending content to be lent to other people for use in a quest;
a display means for displaying, when it is determined at the time of the selection by the lender user that any of the contents owned by the lender user is the same as a frequently used content by a plurality of people who have completed the quest, a display indicating that any of the contents is a recommended content for the quest;
A program that functions as a a borrowing setting means for setting a content selected by a borrower user from the lending contents as a borrowing content that the borrower user borrows for use in a quest;
The program according to claim 1, a usage management means for restricting the use of the content owned by the lender user in a quest by setting the content owned by the lender user as a lending content;
The program according to claim 1 or 2 , a lending setting means for setting a content selected by a lender user from among the contents owned by the lender user as a lending content to be lent to other people for use in a quest;
a display means for displaying, when it is determined at the time of the selection by the lender user that any of the contents owned by the lender user is the same as a frequently used content by a plurality of people who have completed the quest, a display means for displaying an indication that any of the contents is a recommended content for the quest;
An information processing device comprising: a borrowing setting means for setting a content selected by a borrower user from the lending contents as a borrowing content that the borrower user borrows for use in a quest;
The information processing device according to claim 4 . a usage management means for restricting the use of the content owned by the lender user in a quest by setting the content owned by the lender user as the lending content;
6. The information processing device according to claim 4, further comprising: The computer
a lending setting process in which the lender user sets the content selected from the content he/she owns as lending content to be lent to others for use in a quest;
a display process for displaying a message indicating that any of the contents owned by the lender user is a recommended content for the quest when it is determined that the content is the same as a frequently used content by a plurality of people who have completed the quest at the time of the selection by the lender user;
An information processing method for performing the above. a borrowing setting process for setting a content selected by a borrower user from the lending contents as borrowing content that the borrower user will borrow for use in a quest;
The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: A usage management process for restricting the use of the content owned by the lender user in a quest by setting the content owned by the lender user as the lending content;
9. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

Images