JP7842359B2 - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

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

Systems that allow users to watch and predict the results of competitive events, such as e-sports and other gaming competitions, have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that allows users to watch a competition where players compete for scores, and where users can cheer for the participants (players). If the player they cheered for wins, the user is rewarded with game items or in-game currency. Patent Document 2 discloses a system in a network game, such as a social game, where users other than the players can bet points on players participating in competitive games like races, and users who voted for the winning player are awarded predetermined payout points.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-194893 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-183953

However, in systems like those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in a competition consisting of multiple matches where the winner is determined by the player who wins those matches, if the player voted for by a user is eliminated early, that user's enjoyment of the competition will diminish, and they may not be able to fully enjoy the competition until the end. Therefore, the user's motivation to watch the competition may be diminished, and the competition may not be exciting.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, information processing method, and program that can fully entertain users until the end of a competition, motivate many users to watch the competition, and make the competition more exciting.

An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a management unit that manages the value available for voting, associating it with each user who possesses it; a voting reception unit that receives votes from users, which are predictions for the outcome of a predetermined match among one or more matches that can be voted on, with the user betting a value specified from the value they possess; a value update unit that updates the value held by the user based on the outcome of the predetermined match; and a reward granting unit that, when the termination conditions are met, grants the user a reward based on the value held by the user.

According to one aspect of the present invention, users can be fully entertained until the very end of the competition, and many users can be motivated to watch the competition, thereby making the competition more exciting.

This is a schematic diagram of an information processing system including an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the competition. This is a diagram showing an example of a match selection screen. This figure shows an example of the voting screen (part 1). This figure shows an example of the voting screen (part 2). This is a diagram illustrating the functions of an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows an example of match information. This figure shows an example of player information. This figure shows an example of user information. This figure shows the information processing flow related to one embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. That is, the present invention can be modified or improved upon from the embodiments described below, without departing from its spirit. Naturally, the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

Furthermore, the screen examples described in this specification and its drawings are merely examples; the screen configuration and design, the content of the displayed information, and the GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be freely designed and modified according to the system design specifications and user preferences.

<About the services according to this embodiment>
The communication system shown in Figure 1 (hereinafter referred to as the information processing system S) is a communication system that includes an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as the server 10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system S is a computer system that handles all operations related to the implementation of the competition and provides competition-related services to players and users. Specifically, it provides players with an environment for playing the competition and users with an environment for watching the competition.

A "competition" is an event related to a game or sport, where players compete to determine their skill or ability according to a set of rules. Typically, one or more matches are scheduled. When multiple matches are scheduled, the competition is not limited to multiple matches of the same sport; it may also include multiple matches of different sports. Furthermore, a competition may consist of a main tournament and a qualifying round (preliminary round) to select participants for the main tournament.

In this embodiment, we take a competition consisting of multiple matches as an example, and the method for determining the winner or ranking is a tournament system (knockout) as shown in Figure 2. However, the method for determining the winner or ranking may also be a league system (round-robin), a combination of the tournament system and the league system, or a system derived from these, or any other method. Typically, in a competition, players are awarded prizes or rewards based on the final ranking of the competition, the results of each match, or the content of the matches (game results).

In this embodiment, as an example of a competition held in a tournament, e-sports (electronic sports), in which players compete against each other in computer games, will be used as an example. The game genre of e-sports is not particularly limited and may be any game genre. For example, it may be a fighting game, sports game, shooting game, racing game, puzzle game, card game, board game, role-playing game, or simulation game. Furthermore, e-sports may be an individual competition or a team competition. It may also involve human players competing against each other, or a human player competing against a computer (e.g., AI or a robot).

The e-sports of this embodiment is an online game provided using the information processing system S. Specifically, when a player (a person participating as a competitor in a tournament) performs game operations on the player terminal 11, the player terminal 11 receives game progress data distributed from the game provider's server computer (hereinafter referred to as server 10). The player terminal 11 outputs video and audio corresponding to the received data, and the player proceeds with the game while confirming the outputted video and audio. Furthermore, the player terminal 11 transmits data indicating the player's operations, such as game play operations, to the server 10, and the server 10 transmits game progress data corresponding to the player's operations to the player terminal 11. This data transmission and reception between server 10 and player terminal 11 is repeated until the player finishes playing the game.

On the other hand, users (those participating in the competition as spectators) do not actually play the game in the competition like players. Instead, they watch the game on their user terminal 12, viewing video and other content showing the players playing. Specifically, user terminal 12 receives game progress data distributed from server 10. User terminal 12 outputs video and audio corresponding to the received data, and users view the outputted video and audio. Furthermore, user terminal 12 transmits data indicating user actions, such as voting, to server 10, and server 10 transmits game progress data corresponding to user actions to user terminal 12. This data transmission and reception between server 10 and user terminal 12 is repeated until the players finish playing the game.

In this embodiment, users can not only simply watch the competition, but also predict the results of the matches held in the competition and cast votes by specifying a predetermined amount of value from their own holdings. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, users can select matches they can vote on from among multiple matches and predict the winner of each match and cast their vote. Note that predicting the competition results is not limited to simply predicting the winner of the match, but also includes predicting the content of the match, such as the score difference or the match duration.

"Voting" refers to the act of betting on the outcome of a competition using the value of money, in-game currency, or game objects (mediums that can be used for voting) that a user possesses. If a user's bet is correct, they receive a payout (return for a correct prediction) calculated based on the amount of value they bet and the odds, increasing their value holdings. Conversely, if a user's bet is incorrect, their value decreases. Even if a user's bet is incorrect, under certain conditions (e.g., limited to the first round, or matches held in the early stages of the competition), some or all of the value they bet may be returned to the user. In this case, the return rate (a value indicating what percentage of the value bet is returned) will change as the competition progresses; for example, if there are many remaining matches available for voting, the return rate may be more favorable than if there were fewer matches.

"Odds" refers to the payout multiplier, a numerical value indicating how many times the value of a bet will be returned if the bet is successful. In this embodiment, the odds may be variable or fixed. Specifically, they may fluctuate in real time based on the betting status of the user or other users (the amount of value bet on each player), or fixed odds may be set for each match available for betting. For example, the odds may be set to 2x for each match in the first round, 3x for each match in the second round, and so on. The odds are calculated using known payout determination methods such as the parimutuel system or the bookmaker system, but other methods are also acceptable.

"In-game currency" is a type of value that users can possess and use as currency (a medium of exchange) within a game. In-game currency includes, for example, points, medals, or coins usable within the game. In-game currency can be used for voting, exchanged for other items or characters, or consumed when performing special actions. Note that games in which in-game currency can be used are not limited to competitive games (the same applies hereinafter).

"Game objects" are a type of value that users can possess, and include items or characters usable within the game. Game objects also include those that allow players to change the parameters of their player characters in real time, even during gameplay, such as restoring their health or increasing their attack power. Note that games in which game objects can be used are not limited to competitive games (the same applies hereinafter).

The value of in-game currency or other voting-eligible assets may be allocated to each of multiple users in equal amounts, predetermined amounts, before the start of a competition or before the start of a voting-eligible match. Furthermore, users may be prohibited from acquiring (purchasing) additional assets, or they may be allowed to acquire additional assets. If additional asset acquisition is allowed, the following conditions may be set:
(a) When value is provided to users before the start of a competition or before the start of a match for which voting is possible, it shall be provided under more favorable conditions than when it is provided after the start of a competition or before the start of a match for which voting is possible. When value is provided to users after the start of a competition or before the start of a match for which voting is possible, it shall be provided under less favorable conditions than when it is provided before the start of a competition or before the start of a match for which voting is possible. For example, additional purchases may be made at a higher price.
(b) When the amount of value a user holds falls below a predetermined amount, additional purchases will be possible, or the value may be granted in exchange for consideration.
(c) When value is awarded to users after the start of a match in which voting is possible, the amount of value the user possessed before the start of the match in which voting is possible will be the upper limit. In other words, the amount of additional value that can be purchased will be limited to the amount initially awarded.

In addition, users can, in principle, select the matches they want to vote on from all available matches as long as there are still matches available for voting. However, they may also set conditions such as the following:
(a) If a user's value is depleted, they will be unable to vote. In other words, they will not be able to acquire additional value.
(b) If the cumulative number of matches a user has voted for reaches a threshold, voting will be disabled. In other words, an upper limit will be set on the number of matches that can be voted for.
(c) If the tournament is conducted in a knockout format, and there are multiple matches in the same round, voting will be allowed for some of the matches in the same round. For example, as shown in Figure 2, if there are four matches in the first round, the user can choose to vote for any one of the matches, and in the second round, they can choose to vote for any one of the two matches.
(d) Each match will have a designated period during which users can submit their selections. For example, a second-round match can be selected after the first-round matches have finished and the pairings have been decided (after all the opponents have been determined), thus controlling the timing of when voting can begin.

When voting, the user can arbitrarily select the match to vote on from the matches available for voting before the match starts on the match selection screen G1 (Figure 3), and then arbitrarily specify the voting content on the voting screen G2 (Figure 4) and voting screen G3 (Figure 5). Here, an example of the match selection screen G1 and voting screens G2 and G3 will be described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5. In this embodiment, the voting screen G2 is accessed from the match selection screen G1 after the user has selected a predetermined match to vote on, and the voting screen G3 is accessed from the voting screen G2 after the user has selected a voting target on the voting screen G2; however, this is not limited to this configuration. Note that the match selection screen G1 and voting screens G2 and G3 only need to be displayed on the user terminal 12 used by the user, but they may also be displayed on the player terminal 11 used by the player.

As shown in Figure 3, the match selection screen G1 is a list screen of matches available for voting, displaying information to identify a match. This information includes the match date and time, the voting deadline (the time in parentheses in the figure), and the match pairings. The match selection screen G1 also displays selection buttons 71, 72, and 73 as icons for the user to specify the match to vote for. Each of the selection buttons 71, 72, and 73 is associated with a specific match; for example, selection button 71 is the icon for selecting the first match of the first round, Block A (match pairing: Player P1 vs. Player P2). That is, to select and vote for the above match, the user selects and taps selection button 71.

As shown in Figure 4, the voting screen G2 is a list screen of players who can be voted on, displaying information to identify each player. This information includes the player's name, the odds set for the player, and past performance. The voting screen G2 also displays voting buttons 74 and 75 as icons for the user to select the player to vote for. Voting buttons 74 and 75 are associated with each player; for example, voting button 74 is the icon for selecting player P1 as the target of the vote. That is, if the user predicts that player P1 will win this match, they select and tap voting button 74.

As shown in Figure 5, the voting screen G3 is a screen where, after selecting the player to vote for, the user specifies the value (e.g., the amount of value) to be used for the vote. It displays information about the selected voting target (match and player) and information indicating the type and amount of value the user currently possesses. The voting screen G3 also displays value specification buttons 76, 77, and 78 as icons for the user to specify the amount of value. For example, value specification button 76 is the icon selected when betting 1000 points. That is, if the user wants to bet 1000 points on player P1, they would select and tap value specification button 76.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the competition ends and there are no remaining matches that can be voted on, or when other termination conditions are met, the reward is determined based on the amount of value held by the user at that time, and the reward is awarded to the user. At this time, the reward is determined, for example, according to the range of value held by the user (Reward A for 1 to 100 items, Reward B for 101 to 200 items, etc.), or according to the result of comparing the amount of value held by the user with that of other users, i.e., according to the ranking of the amount of value held (Reward A for 1st place, Reward B for 2nd place, Reward C for 3rd place, Reward D for 4th to 10th place, etc.). The content of the reward may be such that the user can choose their desired reward from a selection of options set according to the amount of value or ranking.

"Rewards" refer to anything granted to a user, including treatment, rights, or goods. Rewards may include in-game currency, items, characters, or other game objects; data such as special moves (including formations, etc.) usable within the game; or the right to play the game jointly with specific players, such as the winning player, or to play as part of the same team (group). Rewards may also include money, food and beverages, plants, miscellaneous goods, clothing, daily necessities, electrical appliances, or handicrafts. They may also represent the right to receive specific services, such as meal vouchers, travel vouchers, accommodation vouchers, or facility usage vouchers. Furthermore, they may include financial products, land, or information.

Furthermore, the game of this embodiment may be a cooperative play-compatible game in which multiple players can play together by operating their respective player terminals 11. That is, players can not only play alone (solo play), but also play simultaneously with other players in so-called multiplayer (hereinafter referred to as cooperative play). Cooperative play-compatible games include cooperative play games in which multiple players cooperate, and competitive games in which multiple players compete against each other; either type is acceptable.

In this embodiment of the game, the number of players playing together and the number of users watching the game are not particularly limited and may be set to any number, although a maximum or minimum number of players may be predetermined. Furthermore, in this embodiment, players can play together as a team, users can play together as a team, or players and users can play together as a team. The combinations of players, users, or players and users are not particularly limited, including members playing together (including opponents), team members, or members playing together. For example, other players or users who have a friendship with a particular player or user and have mutually approved each other (hereinafter referred to as "friends") may play together or form a team.

<Configuration of the information processing device and terminal according to this embodiment>
Next, the configuration of the information processing device and various terminals according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information processing device according to this embodiment consists of a computer that processes game data and distributes that game data, more precisely, a server computer (hereinafter referred to as server 10). Server 10 is an example of a computer and, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to the player terminal 11 and the user terminal 12 so as to be able to communicate via a network 14, and together with the player terminal 11 and the user terminal 12, it constructs an information processing system S. Note that each terminal may communicate with each other via the network 14, or they may communicate directly without going through the network 14 via Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi-Direct, etc.

In this embodiment of the information processing system S, the game progresses as a competition through the cooperation of the server 10, the player terminal 11, and the user terminal 12, as described above. Specifically, part of the game progression processing is performed on the server 10 side, while part of the graphics processing and other operations are performed on the player terminal 11 and the user terminal 12. For example, the server 10 side executes a program that includes certain rules, logic, and algorithms. Meanwhile, the player terminal 11 and the user terminal 12 side progress the game in synchronization with the server 10, using the same rules, logic, and algorithms as the program executed on the server 10.

Furthermore, during cooperative play, a communication path for cooperative play is established between the player terminals 11, and the transmission and reception of various data required for cooperative play is carried out according to a known communication method. This data may be transmitted via a client-server system through the server 10, or via a peer-to-peer (P2P) system without the server 10. Cooperative play modes are classified into fully synchronous and asynchronous types, and either mode may be adopted. Fully synchronous modes include key input synchronization and command input modes, while asynchronous modes include server-centralized processing and client-distributed processing.

The server 10 may consist of a single computer or multiple computers arranged in parallel and distributed configurations. Furthermore, the server 10 may be a server computer for ASP (Application Service Provider), SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). In this case, since a series of steps in the information processing flow described later (excluding information input and display) are executed by the server computer, the player terminal 11 and user terminal 12 only need to input information to be handed over to the server computer and display information distributed from the server computer.

As shown in Figure 1, the server 10 has a processor 21, memory 22, communication interface 23, and storage 24 as hardware components, and these components are electrically connected via a bus 25. The server 10 also has an operating system (OS) and a dedicated program for processing game-related information installed as software. These programs correspond to the "program" of this invention. The processor 21 operates according to the above program, allowing the server 10 to function as the information processing device of this invention and execute a series of processes related to the progress of the game. The program of this invention may be obtained by reading it from a computer-readable recording medium (media), or by obtaining it (downloading) it via a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

The processor 21 may be composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), MCU (Micro Controller Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc.

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

The communication interface 23 may be configured, for example, by a network interface card or a communication interface board. The data communication standard using the communication interface 23 is not particularly limited and may include communication via Wi-Fi® wireless LAN, communication via 3G to 5G or later generations of mobile communication systems, or communication based on LTE (Long Term Evolution).

The storage 24 may consist of flash memory, HDD (Hard Disc Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), FD (Flexible Disc), MO disk (Magneto-Optical Disc), CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), SD card (Secure Digital card), or USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), etc. The storage 24 may be built into the server 10 or attached to the server body as an external device. Furthermore, the storage 24 may consist of an external computer (e.g., a database server) connected to the server body in a communicative manner. As a technology for recording various types of data, distributed ledger technology such as blockchain may be used to prevent unauthorized data tampering.

Server 10 distributes information necessary for game progression to each player and user, and also collects and stores information from each player and user. The information stored by Server 10 includes, for example, information about competitions, information about each player and user, and information about voting. Server 10 also performs various information processing related to game progression and distribution.

The player terminal 11 is a client terminal operated by the player to play the game. The user terminal 12 is a client terminal operated by the user to watch the game (including voting). The player terminal 11 and user terminal 12 can be composed of, for example, a personal computer, smartphone, mobile phone, tablet, game console, television receiver capable of information input, and wearable device. Note that Figure 1 shows two player terminals 11 and three user terminals 12 for illustrative purposes; however, in reality, there will be a number of player terminals 11 and user terminals 12 corresponding to the number of players and users.

The player terminal 11 and user terminal 12 receive game progress data from the server 10 and display the images (videos) indicated by that data on the display of the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12, or on a display device such as a TV connected to the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12, or output sound from speakers, etc. In other words, in this embodiment, the player terminal 11 and user terminal 12 also function as display units and sound output units.

Furthermore, the player terminal 11 and user terminal 12 receive player or user operations during gameplay and transmit information corresponding to those operations to the server 10. For example, a player performs gameplay operations on the player terminal 11 and transmits information based on those operations to the server 10. Meanwhile, a user performs voting operations on the user terminal 12 and transmits information based on those voting operations to the server 10. In addition to the above, users can also select their desired rewards; in this case, the user terminal 12 transmits information based on the reward selection operation to the server 10.

<Functions of an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention>
The configuration of the server 10, which is an information processing device according to this embodiment, will now be explained again from a functional standpoint. As shown in Figure 6, the server 10 has a storage unit 30, an information acquisition unit 40, a display control unit 50, and a game processing unit 60. Of these, the storage unit 30 is realized by a memory 22 or storage 24, and the other functional units are realized by the cooperation of the hardware equipment constituting the server 10 and the program installed on the server 10. If the server 10 is composed of multiple computers, the above functions may be distributed so that each of the multiple computers performs different functions from one another.
The following sections will provide a detailed explanation of each functional component.

[Storage]
The memory unit 30 stores information necessary for game progression and various other information necessary for playing the game. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the memory unit 30 includes a game information memory unit 31, a player information memory unit 32, a user information memory unit 33, and the like.

The game information storage unit 31 stores information related to game progress, such as the game program. It also stores various other game-related information, such as participation conditions, match pairings, and other match-related information. Match information, a type of game information, is stored in conjunction with an identification ID that identifies each match, as shown in Figure 7. For example, match information includes information identifying the competition in which the match is held (tournament name), the date and time of the match, pairing information, odds, and betting deadline. Pairing information includes match rank (first round, second round to final, etc.), tournament position (e.g., first match of Block A), and match pairings. Other information may also be included in the match information.

The player information storage unit 32 stores player information for each player. As shown in Figure 8, the player information is linked to a player name (identification ID or game account name) that identifies each player, and various types of information are stored. For example, player information includes the player's rank, information about the character the player controls, and information about past battle records. Character information includes identification information such as the character's name, appearance, and values of each parameter. Furthermore, other information may also be included in the player information, such as personal information of the player (contact information, etc.), total play time (game play time), play history (game play date and time and number of game plays), information about owned items (item identification information and number of items), payment history, total amount charged, and information about other players or users registered as friends.

The user information storage unit 33 stores user information for each user. As shown in Figure 9, user information is linked to a username (identification ID or game account name) that identifies each user, and various types of information are stored. For example, user information includes information on owned value (number of items), voting information, and acquired rewards. Voting information includes an identification ID for identifying the vote, voting date and time, the match being voted for, the player predicted to win, and the amount of value designated for the vote. Acquired reward information includes identification information such as the reward name and the number of items owned. Furthermore, user information may also include other information, such as personal information of the user (contact information, etc.), total viewing time (game viewing time), viewing history (game viewing date and time and number of game viewings), voting results, information on owned items (item identification information and number of items), payment history, total billing amount, and information on other players or users registered as friends.

[Information acquisition department]
The information acquisition unit 40 acquires information (data) based on operations performed by the player and user on the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12 by communicating with the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12. As shown in Figure 6, the information acquisition unit 40 has a first information acquisition unit 41 and a second information acquisition unit 42.

The first information acquisition unit 41 acquires information based on operations performed by the player on the player terminal 11 by communicating with the player terminal 11. The information acquired by the first information acquisition unit 41 includes information based on gameplay operations performed by the player to play the game. It also includes various selections, specifications, instructions, requests, commands, permission or denial, registration, and other input operations performed by the player during or before/after the game. Furthermore, the information acquired by the first information acquisition unit 41 includes information based on operations related to cooperative play, such as recruitment for cooperative play, applications for cooperative play, and approval or rejection of such applications.

The second information acquisition unit 42 acquires information based on operations performed by the user on the user terminal 12 by communicating with the user terminal 12. In particular, the second information acquisition unit 42 corresponds to the voting acceptance unit of the present invention, and the information acquired by the second information acquisition unit 42 includes information based on voting operations performed by the user to cast a vote, and information based on reward selection operations performed to select a reward. That is, the second information acquisition unit 42 accepts votes from the user for predictions regarding the outcome of a predetermined match among one or more voteable matches, with the user betting a value specified from the value they possess. Furthermore, it includes various selections, specifications, instructions, requests, commands, permission or denial, registration, and other input operations performed by the user during or before/after the game. In addition, the information acquired by the second information acquisition unit 42 includes information based on operations related to cooperative play, such as recruitment for cooperative play, applications for cooperative play, and acceptance or rejection of such applications.

[Display Control Unit]
The display control unit 50 communicates with the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12 to deliver information (data) necessary for the game's progress during or before/after the game, and displays the game screen, that is, a screen that reflects the results of information processing by the game processing unit 60, which will be described later. As shown in Figure 6, the display control unit 50 has a first display control unit 51 and a second display control unit 52.

The first display control unit 51 displays, on the player's player terminal 11, a game play screen which is a live video showing the player playing the game, and screens for the player to make various selections, specifications, instructions, requests, commands, permissions, or denials.

The second display control unit 52 displays, on the user's user terminal 12, a game play screen which is a live video of the player playing the game, a match selection screen G1 (Figure 3), a voting screen G2 (Figure 4), and a voting screen G3 (Figure 4) for accepting votes from the user, as well as screens for the user to make various selections, specifications, instructions, requests, commands, permits, or denies.

[Game Processing Unit 60]
The game processing unit 60 performs information processing necessary for the game to progress, specifically by performing information processing to advance the game according to the various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 40. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, the game processing unit 60 includes a management unit 61, a value update unit 62, a return unit 63, and a reward granting unit 64.

The game processing unit 60 performs processing to advance the game by changing various parameters based on the information acquired by the first information acquisition unit 41. For example, in a competitive fighting game, it controls the movement of the player's character and attacks other characters based on the information acquired by the first information acquisition unit 41. If an attack by a character hits another character, it reduces parameters such as the health of the other character based on the attack power of the character and the defense power of the other character. Furthermore, the game processing unit 60 updates information such as the user who voted based on the information acquired by the second information acquisition unit 42.

The management unit 61 manages the value available for voting, associating it with each user who possesses it. Specifically, it assigns a predetermined amount of value to each of multiple users before the start of a match in which voting is possible. Furthermore, when assigning value to users before the start of a match, the conditions for assigning value are more favorable than those for assigning it after the match has started. Also, if a user possesses less value than the predetermined amount, the system can assign value to the user in exchange for compensation. Additionally, when assigning value to users after the start of a match in which voting is possible, the system can assign value to the user up to the amount of value the user possessed before the start of the match.

The value update unit 62 updates the value held by the user based on the results of the match the user voted for. Specifically, when a vote is made, the value held is reduced by the amount of value specified by the user. Then, based on the match results, it determines whether the vote was correct or incorrect. If the vote is correct, the value held by the user is increased based on the amount of value specified by the user for the vote and the odds. On the other hand, if the vote is incorrect, the value remains reduced unless part or all of the value is returned by the return unit 63 described later.

The return unit 63 returns part or all of the value specified by the user for their vote to the user if the user's vote is unsuccessful and the predetermined conditions are met. In this case, the return rate may be changed according to the progress of the competition.

The reward distribution unit 64, upon fulfilling termination conditions such as the absence of remaining voting matches, determines the reward based on the amount of value held by the user at that time and distributes the reward to the user. The content of the reward may be chosen by the user themselves.

The configurations of the server 10, player terminal 11, and user terminal 12 have been described above. While the server 10, player terminal 11, and user terminal 12 generally possess various other functions, only the characteristic functions that contribute to the effectiveness of the information processing system S in this invention will be described here. Other known functions will not be illustrated or described.

<Information processing flow related to one embodiment of the present invention>
Next, with reference to Figure 10, the flow of information processing performed in the information processing system S having the above configuration (hereinafter referred to as the information processing flow) will be described. The information processing flow employs the information processing method of the present invention and is realized by using the information processing system S, which functions as a computer system. In other words, each step in the information processing flow corresponds to a component of the information processing method of the present invention. Note that the information processing flow described below is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps added, or the order of execution of steps changed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Information Processing Flow]
This information processing flow involves receiving votes from users, updating their held values, and awarding rewards, and is the core information processing flow for running competition-related services. This information processing flow proceeds, for example, according to the flow shown in Figure 10.

When the server 10 (specifically, the game processing unit 60 and the value update unit 62) determines that it has received a vote from a user regarding the outcome of a predetermined match among the matches available for voting, with the user betting a specified value from their held value (S101: YES), that is, when the second information acquisition unit 42 acquires information based on the voting operation from the user's user terminal 12 via the network 14, it reduces the user's held value by the specified amount (S102). Specifically, it stores and updates the information of the specified value in the user information storage unit 33.

Next, after the match ends, the server 10 (specifically, the game processing unit 60 and the value update unit 62) determines, based on the match results, that the user's prediction-based bet was correct (S103: YES). In this case, the server 10 pays the user a payout based on the value specified by the user in their bet and the odds (S104), increasing the value held by the user (S105). Specifically, the server stores and updates the information of the assigned value in the user information storage unit 33.

On the other hand, if the server 10 (specifically the game processing unit 60 and the value update unit 62) determines, based on the competition results, that the user's prediction-based vote was incorrect (S103: NO), it then determines whether a predetermined condition is met (S106). If it determines that the predetermined condition is met (S106: YES), the server 10 (specifically the game processing unit 60 and the return unit 63) returns part or all of the value specified in the vote to the user (S107), and the server 10 (specifically the game processing unit 60 and the value update unit 62) increases the value held by the user according to the returned value (S105). Specifically, the information of the returned value is stored and updated in the user information storage unit 33. If it determines that the predetermined condition is not met (S106: NO), the process proceeds directly to the next step.

Next, if the server 10 (specifically, the game processing unit 60 and the reward distribution unit 64) determines that the termination conditions have been met, such as the end of the competition and the absence of any remaining matches that can be voted on (S108: YES), it determines the reward based on the amount of value held by the user at that time (S109), grants the determined reward to the user (S110), and terminates the process. Specifically, it stores the information of the granted reward in the user information storage unit 33 and terminates the process. On the other hand, if it determines that the termination conditions have not been met (S108: NO), it returns to a state where it can accept the next vote.

Furthermore, if the server 10 (specifically the game processing unit 60 and the value update unit 62) determines that it has not received any votes from users (S101: NO), it will terminate the process.
The above is an example of the information processing flow of the present invention.

<Other Embodiments>
To date, the information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program of the present invention have been described with specific examples. However, the above embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments; other embodiments are also conceivable.

In the above embodiments, e-sports was given as an example of a competition, but the competition to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to games conducted in a virtual space such as e-sports. For example, it may be sports conducted in the real world, or games conducted in the real world such as card games using physical cards, or board games using physical pieces or stones such as chess, shogi, or go. Furthermore, it may be a competition that tests the ability to solve problems such as mathematics, or practical skills such as using a calculator or bookkeeping.

In the above embodiment, prizes or rewards are awarded to players according to the competition results, such as the final ranking in the tournament, but this is not limited to this. For example, when players compete against each other, the type and amount of prizes or rewards may be set for each match based on the number of users watching the match (number of viewers, access count, or PV count, etc.), the viewing time of the users, or the total value of the votes assigned by the users, and these prizes or rewards may be distributed to each player according to the results of the match. For example, a high amount of prize or reward may be set for a match that is watched by many users and generates excitement, and this prize or reward may be distributed between the winning and losing players in a ratio such as 2:1. This can encourage many players to participate in the tournament.

In the above embodiment, the server computer (i.e., server 10) that processes and distributes game data functions as the information processing device of the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this, and some of the functions of server 10 may be provided on the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12. For example, some or all of the functions of the game processing unit 60 may be provided on the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12. Furthermore, in this embodiment, game data processing and game data distribution are performed on a single server, but these may be separated into a game data processing server and a game data distribution server. In other words, the game system and the distribution system may be configured separately.

In the above embodiment, player information and user information are stored and held on a server computer for game data distribution (i.e., server 10). However, a separate database server (not shown) may be provided to store the information collectively, or the information may be stored on the player terminal 11 or user terminal 12.

The form of the game is not particularly limited. Games include, for example, social games that can be played using only a web browser and an SNS (Social Networking Service) account. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, players and users can, in principle, enjoy all functions for free, but some functions may be limited and available for a predetermined fee. In addition, various conditions may be set to give players and users who pay the predetermined fee an advantage when using the competition-related services. This fee may be based on a pay-per-use system, or it may be a one-time payment that is effective for a certain period (e.g., one month or one year) for the user (subscription).

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

[1] The information processing device according to this embodiment includes: a management unit that manages the value available for voting in association with each user who possesses it; a voting acceptance unit that accepts votes from users, which are predictions for the outcome of a predetermined match out of one or more matches that can be voted on, with the user betting a value specified from the value they possess; a value update unit that updates the value the user possesses based on the outcome of the predetermined match; and a reward granting unit that grants a reward to the user based on the value the user possesses when the termination conditions are met.
According to the information processing device described above, users can bet their own value on each designated match, and once all betting matches have concluded, they can receive rewards based on their accumulated value. This allows users to enjoy the game until the very last match, even if multiple matches are being played.

[2] In the above-mentioned information processing device, the management unit assigns a predetermined amount of value to each of several users before the start of a match in which voting is possible.
This allows users to receive a predetermined amount of value that can be used for voting before the start of a match they can vote on, so even if there are multiple matches, users can enjoy the game more until the very last match.

[3] In the above-mentioned information processing device, if the management unit grants value to a user before the start of a match in which voting is possible, it grants the value under more favorable conditions than if it were done after the start of a match in which voting is possible.
This allows users to receive a predetermined amount of value that can be used for voting under more favorable conditions before the start of a voteable match than after the start of the match, and even after the start of the match, they can still receive a predetermined amount of value that can be used for voting, albeit under less favorable conditions than before the start of the match. Therefore, even when multiple matches are held, users can enjoy the game even more until the very last match.

[4] In the above-mentioned information processing device, the management unit may, if the value held by the user is less than a predetermined amount, grant value to the user in exchange for payment.
This allows users to receive (purchase) a predetermined amount of value in exchange for payment when their own value falls below a predetermined level, enabling them to enjoy the game even more, even if multiple matches are played, right up to the final match.

[5] In the above-mentioned information processing device, if the management unit assigns value to a user after the start of a match in which voting is possible, it may assign value to the user up to the amount of value the user possessed before the start of the match in which voting is possible.
This allows users to receive a predetermined amount of value that can be used for voting, even after a voting-eligible match has started, although it will be limited to the amount of value they held before the match began. This means that even if multiple matches are held, users can enjoy the game even more until the very last match.

[6] In the above-described information processing device, the voting acceptance unit allows users to submit votes for matches until the value held by the user runs out or the cumulative number of matches voted for by the user reaches a threshold.
This allows users to select and vote for any match from all available matches until their own value runs out or the cumulative number of matches they have voted for reaches a threshold. This means that even when multiple matches are taking place, users can enjoy the game to the very end.

[7] In the above-mentioned information processing device, if one or more matches that can be voted on are conducted in a tournament format, the voting reception unit will allow users to vote on some of the matches in the same round if there are multiple matches in the same round.
This allows users to vote on some of the matches within the same round when the tournament is conducted in a knockout format. As the tournament progresses through the rounds, semifinals, and finals, and the number of matches decreases, votes from other users tend to concentrate, making the competition even more exciting. This ensures that even when multiple matches are played, users can enjoy the game to the very end.

[8] In the above-mentioned information processing device, a multiplier is set for each of the one or more matches that can be voted on, and the value update unit updates the value held by the user based on the value specified by the user for a given match and the multiplier set for that given match.
This allows users to update the value they hold based on the value they specify and the multiplier set for each match. For example, if the multiplier for later matches is set higher, the tournament will become more exciting as it progresses, allowing users to enjoy the game even more until the very last match, even if multiple matches are played.

[9] In the above-described information processing device, the value update unit updates the value held by the user based on the odds for each of the multiple voting targets set based on the value specified for each of the multiple voting targets, and the value specified by the user for the voting target that the user has selected from among the multiple voting targets.
This allows users to update the value they hold based on the odds that fluctuate depending on the value they specify and the voting status of other users. Therefore, for example, highly anticipated matches that attract many users will become even more exciting, allowing users to enjoy the game even more until the very last match, even if multiple matches are being played.

[10] The above-mentioned information processing device has a return unit that returns a portion of the value specified by the user to the user when the user's vote is unsuccessful and predetermined conditions are met, and the return unit returns the value to the user under more favorable conditions when there are many remaining matches in which voting is possible than when there are few remaining matches.
This means that even if a user's vote is unsuccessful, especially if there are many remaining matches to vote on, a portion of the value they allocated to their vote will be returned under favorable conditions. This allows users to enjoy the game even more, right up to the final match, even when multiple matches are being played.

[11] Furthermore, according to the information processing method of this embodiment, the computer manages the value available for voting in association with each user who possesses it, the computer accepts votes from users that are predictions for the outcome of a predetermined match out of one or more matches that can be voted on, with the user betting a value specified from the value held by the user, the computer updates the value held by the user based on the outcome of the predetermined match, and if the termination conditions are met, the computer grants the user a reward based on the value held by the user.
According to the information processing method described above, users can bet their own value on each designated match, and once all betting matches have concluded, they can receive rewards based on their accumulated value. This allows users to enjoy the game until the very last match, even if multiple matches are being played.

[12] Furthermore, according to the program of this embodiment, the computer manages the value available for voting, associating it with each user who possesses it, accepts votes from users for predictions on the outcome of a predetermined match out of one or more matches that can be voted on, with the user betting a value specified from the value they possess, updates the value the user possesses based on the outcome of the predetermined match, and if the termination conditions are met, rewards the user based on the value the user possesses.
According to the program described above, users can bet their accumulated value on each designated match, and once all betting matches have concluded, they can receive rewards based on their accumulated value. This ensures that users can enjoy the game until the very last match, even if multiple matches are being played.

10 Server 11 Player terminal 12 User terminal 14 Network 21 Processor 22 Memory 23 Communication interface 24 Storage 25 Bus 30 Storage unit 31 Game information storage unit 32 Player information storage unit 33 User information storage unit 40 Information acquisition unit 41 First information acquisition unit 42 Second information acquisition unit 50 Display control unit 51 First display control unit 52 Second display control unit 60 Game processing unit 61 Management unit 62 Value update unit 63 Return unit 64 Reward granting unit 71 Selection button 72 Selection button 73 Selection button 74 Voting button 75 Voting button G1 Match selection screen G2 Voting screen G3 Voting screen S Information processing system

Claims (5)

Equipped with a processor,
The aforementioned processor,
For each user watching multiple matches played by players in a competitive tournament, a value that can be used to vote on predictions about the match results is associated.
The user is provided with a match selection screen to choose a match to vote on from one or more matches that are eligible for voting.
If a match is selected by the user from the aforementioned match selection screen, the system accepts votes from the user regarding predictions for the outcome of the selected match, with the user placing a bet on at least a portion of the value they possess.
Based on the results of the selected match, update the value associated with the user.
If the user's vote is unsuccessful and certain conditions are met, part or all of the value specified for the vote will be returned to the user, and the return rate will be adjusted according to the progress of the competition.
The aforementioned multiple matches are conducted in a tournament format that repeats multiple phases, with multiple matches taking place in a predetermined phase.
Each of the aforementioned matches is characterized by having a designated registration period during which user selections can be accepted, and this registration period begins after the end of the match in the previous phase.
If there are no remaining matches in the aforementioned competition that are eligible for voting, the user will be rewarded based on the amount of value associated with the user at that time.
Information processing device. The aforementioned voting period begins after the matches in the phase preceding the match to be voted for have finished and the players participating in the match to be voted for have been determined.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The processor associates a value that can be used to vote on predictions about the outcome of matches for each user watching multiple matches played by players in a competitive tournament.
The processor provides the user with a match selection screen to choose a match to vote on from one or more matches that are eligible for voting.
When the processor receives a vote from the user regarding a match selected by the user from the match selection screen, the vote is a prediction of the outcome of the selected match, with the user betting at least a portion of the value they possess.
The processor updates the value associated with the user based on the results of the selected match.
If the user's vote is unsuccessful and certain conditions are met, the processor will return part or all of the value specified for the vote to the user, and will change the return rate according to the progress of the competition.
The aforementioned multiple matches are conducted in a tournament format that repeats multiple phases, with multiple matches taking place in a predetermined phase.
The processor sets an acceptance period for each of the aforementioned matches during which it can accept user requests, and the acceptance period is characterized in that it begins after the end of the match in the previous phase.
If the processor finds no remaining matches in the aforementioned competition that are eligible for voting, it will reward the user based on the amount of value associated with the user at that time.
Information processing methods. The processor associates a value with each user watching multiple matches played by players in a competitive tournament, which can then be used to vote on their predictions about the match results.
The processor provides the user with a match selection screen to choose a match to vote on from one or more matches that are eligible for voting.
When a match has been selected by the user from the match selection screen, the processor accepts a vote from the user predicting the outcome of the selected match, with the user betting at least a portion of the value they possess.
The processor updates the value associated with the user based on the results of the selected match.
If the user's vote is unsuccessful and certain conditions are met, the processor will return part or all of the value specified for the vote to the user, and will change the return rate according to the progress of the competition.
The aforementioned multiple matches are conducted in a tournament format that repeats multiple phases, with multiple matches taking place in a predetermined phase.
The processor is configured to set an acceptance period for each of the aforementioned matches during which it can accept user requests, and the acceptance period is characterized in that it begins after the end of the match in the previous phase.
If there are no remaining voting matches in the aforementioned competition, the processor will reward the user based on the amount of value associated with the user at that time.
program. The system includes a server and multiple terminal devices operated by each of several users.
The processor of the aforementioned terminal device is
For each user watching multiple matches played by players in a competitive tournament, a value that can be used to vote on predictions about the match results is associated.
The user is provided with a match selection screen to choose a match to vote on from one or more matches that are eligible for voting.
If a match is selected by the user from the aforementioned match selection screen, the system accepts votes from the user regarding predictions for the outcome of the selected match, with the user placing a bet on at least a portion of the value they possess.
Based on the results of the selected match, update the value associated with the user.
If the user's vote is unsuccessful and certain conditions are met, part or all of the value specified for the vote will be returned to the user, and the return rate will be adjusted according to the progress of the competition.
The aforementioned multiple matches are conducted in a tournament format that repeats multiple phases, with multiple matches taking place in a predetermined phase.
Each of the aforementioned matches is characterized by having a designated registration period during which user selections can be accepted, and this registration period begins after the end of the match in the previous phase.
If there are no remaining matches in the aforementioned competition that are eligible for voting, the user will be rewarded based on the amount of value associated with the user at that time.
system.