Information processor, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To appropriately set roles in consideration of the number of players for each role in a game setting a role for each of a plurality of players before a collaborative play starts.SOLUTION: A computer receives from each of a plurality of players playing a game in collaboration selection operation that selects one of many kinds of roles. The computer sets a role to be played by a player during the collaborative play of the game with respect to each of the plurality of players on the basis of the player's operation. Among the plurality of players, when a target player accepts a role change request after the selection operation by the target player is received before the collaborative play of the game is started, the role of the target player is set to one different from the type of role selected by the target player in selection operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In a game in which multiple players play together, a role in the game may be set for each player from among multiple types of roles (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes that before starting to play the game together, the roles of each of the multiple players are set according to a predetermined setting procedure, and players with different roles play the game together. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-124489 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When players with different roles play a game together, as in the game described in Patent Document 1, by setting the role of each player before starting joint play, the number of players set for each role may differ between roles. In such a case, if the number of players set for a certain role does not reach the required number, it may be impossible to start joint play of the game, which may cause problems in playing the game.

[0005] In view of the above, an objective of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that are capable of appropriately setting roles taking into consideration the number of players for each role, etc., in a game in which the roles of multiple players are set before collaborative play begins. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an operation receiving unit that receives operations performed by each of a plurality of players playing a game together, and a role setting unit that sets, for each of the plurality of players, a role to be played by the player during joint play of the game based on the operation, wherein the operation receiving unit receives a selection operation from each of the plurality of players to select one of a plurality of roles before joint play of the game begins, and when a target player among the plurality of players responds to a role change request between the time when the operation receiving unit receives the selection operation by a target player and the time when joint play of the game begins, the role setting unit sets the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, during the period from when multiple players select roles until cooperative play of a game is started, the role of a target player in response to a role change request can be set to a role different from the role selected by the target player. As a result, the role setting of each player in the game is flexible, and cooperative play of the game by multiple players can be performed smoothly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a playable area in a game. [Diagram 2] 13 is an example of a play screen displayed when playing the game in a first role. [Diagram 3] 13 is an example of a play screen displayed when playing the game in a second role. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a plugging operation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a selection operation. [Figure 6] 13 is an example of an inquiry screen. [Figure 7] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system including an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functions of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of player information. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of information processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of a role setting process. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of a first screen display process. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of a second screen display process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is merely one of the specific examples given to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention naturally includes its equivalents. In addition, the screen examples shown in the drawings referenced in the following description are merely examples, and the screen configuration examples, the content of the information displayed, and the GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc. can be freely designed according to the content of the information processing, the design specifications of the system, and the preferences of the player, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0010] [Games that can be played with this invention] A game that can be played through the information processing device of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a "game") will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an area that can be played in the game, and more specifically, shows an overall image of the area. Figs. 2 to 3 are examples of play screens for the game. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an input operation, which will be described later. The operation terminals shown in Figs. 2 to 6 are operation terminals operated by a player viewing the play screens shown in these figures.

[0011] A game is content that a player plays while viewing a screen on a gameplay control terminal, specifically, an online game that uses data communication. Online games include browser games that use a web browser, social games provided on SNS (Social Networking Service), games that can be played by downloading dedicated application software such as mobile games, and regularly updated online games such as play-by-web (PBW). There are no particular limitations on the genre (classification) of games.

[0012] A player can play the game by selecting either a single-player mode or a cooperative play mode (multi-player mode) with multiple players.

[0013] A player who selects the single play mode operates a predetermined in-game character (hereinafter referred to as a field moving character J1) during game play. The field moving character J1 corresponds to the first character, and moves on a field set within the area shown in FIG. 1 based on the player's operation (hereinafter referred to as a movement operation). A game area is an in-game space set for the purpose of clearing, and there are one or more of these in the game. A field is a terrain set for each area, and is, for example, a two-dimensional area such as a floor, ground, or water surface.

[0014] The appearance (display image) of the field moving character J1 can be set arbitrarily depending on the content of the game, but in the following explanation, it is assumed to be a humanoid as shown in Fig. 1. Also, the number of field moving characters J1 that can be operated by one player may be one or more than two, but in the following explanation, it is assumed to be one.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1, an enemy character E appears on the field, and auxiliary objects H are arranged according to a certain rule or irregularly. The enemy character E appears on the field as an example of an appearing character and interferes with the player's game play (specifically, the movement and other actions of the field moving character J1). The enemy character E is a different character from the field moving character J1 and the support character J2 described later.

[0016] The auxiliary object H is used by the player during game play, and for example, when the field-moving character J1 approaches or comes into contact with the auxiliary object H, an effect corresponding to the auxiliary object H is given to the player. The effect corresponding to the auxiliary object H includes, for example, the provision of a benefit or item that can be used in the game, a change in a parameter such as the recovery of physical strength, a change in the field situation such as a decrease in the number of enemy characters E appearing on the field, and the occurrence of a predetermined event such as the appearance of a boss enemy.

[0017] In the single play mode, the player performs a movement operation (corresponding to a first operation) on the field moving character J1 while watching the field moving character J1 on the game play screen. At this time, a part of the field, specifically a certain range including the current position of the field moving character J1 (the area surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 1) is displayed on the play screen as shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] An example of the movement operation is an operation of dragging the field moving character J1 displayed on the screen to the destination (the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 2) while touching the screen, as shown in Fig. 2. The method of performing the movement operation is not particularly limited, but examples include a method using the directional keys of a controller (not shown), a method using voice input, a method of detecting the player's body movements such as motion capture, or a method of analyzing the player's brain waves during game play.

[0019] When the field moving character J1 moves on the field in response to a movement operation, the part of the field displayed on the screen changes accordingly. The player can grasp the current position of the field moving character J1 (the position after the movement) through the screen after the change.

[0020] 2 is a screen when a part of the field is viewed from directly above, but is not limited to this. The screen displayed during game play may be a screen when a part of the field is viewed from an arbitrary line of sight (view angle), and the angle may be freely changed according to the player's preference during game play.

[0021] Parameters are set for the field moving character J1. The parameters are values ​​or statuses that the player monitors (checks) and manages during game play, and are set for each player in the game. In other words, the parameters can be said to be parameters related to the player who operates the field moving character J1. The parameters include numerical values ​​and properties related to the field moving character J1, such as values ​​indicating the state (current state) of the character, such as stamina and hunger, values ​​indicating abilities, such as attack power and movement speed, type and attributes, screen display size, and other characteristics.

[0022] During game play, the parameters change (are updated) in conjunction with the progress of the game, specifically, the movement and state changes of the field-moving character J1. For example, when the field-moving character J1 moves on the field or is affected by an enemy character E on the field (specifically, an attack or obstruction, etc.), the physical strength, which is one type of parameter, decreases. When the physical strength of the field-moving character J1 reaches 0 (zero) (corresponding to an example of a predetermined state), play cannot continue, i.e., the game is over.

[0023] During game play, the player can change parameters by using an auxiliary object H placed on the field or an input object T inserted onto the field. For example, when the player uses an auxiliary object H or an input object T that corresponds to a vitality recovery item, the vitality of the field-moving character J1 can be increased (recovered). The parameters do not necessarily have to be changed in conjunction with the movement of the field moving character J1, and may be changed, for example, in response to the operation (movement operation, etc.) of the player operating the field moving character J1.

[0024] The player can clear an area when the clearing condition for that area is met, such as when the field-moving character J1 reaches a predetermined position on the field or when a predetermined enemy character E that appears on the field is defeated. In addition, the player can move to the next area by clearing one area, and move the field-moving character J1 on the field set in the area after the move.

[0025] Next, the cooperative play mode will be described. In the cooperative play mode, multiple players can play together in the same area at the same timing (i.e., at the same time). In addition to players cooperating with each other to play with the common goal of clearing an area, cooperative play also includes players competing with each other in the same area, and multiple players splitting into multiple teams and playing against each other in the same area. In the following description, playing cooperatively is also referred to as "participating in cooperative play."

[0026] The multiple players participating in the cooperative play are divided into one player participating as a host and one or more players participating as guests. Specifically, in the cooperative play mode, one player who selects the cooperative play mode becomes the host and recruits guests to participate in the cooperative play. The procedure by which a guest applies to play cooperatively is not particularly limited, but for example, a list of hosts currently recruiting guests may be displayed in a selectable manner on the screen of a player who wishes to play cooperatively. Then, a player may apply to participate in a cooperative play hosted by a host by selecting one of the hosts from the displayed list.

[0027] Each of the multiple players who play together selects a role before the start of the joint play. A role is a role in a game that each of the multiple players who play together plays, and in the present invention, before the start of the joint play, each player selects one of multiple types of roles. The multiple types of roles are, for example, a first role and a second role, and each player selects one of these roles before the start of the joint play. Note that the multiple types of roles may include roles other than the first role and the second role; that is, the number of roles that each player can select may be three or more.

[0028] Incidentally, in the present invention, "before cooperative play begins" refers to the time before multiple players begin playing in an area of ​​the game, specifically, the time before actually performing operations on the field-moving character J1 and the support character J2 described below.

[0029] After that, the role of each player is set according to the selection result of each player, and the joint play starts. In the joint play, each player plays the game in the role that has been set. Specifically, the first role is the role of operating the above-mentioned field moving character J1 to progress the game. During the joint play, the field moving character J1 and a part corresponding to the current position of the field moving character J1 in the field are displayed on the play screen (hereinafter also referred to as the first screen G1) of the player set to the first role. The player set to the first role performs a movement operation as a first operation on the field moving character J1 while looking at the first screen G1.

[0030] The second role is a role that assists (supports) the player set to the first role during cooperative play. Assisting the player set to the first role means playing the game from a different perspective than the player set to the first role, specifically, playing the game in such a way that the player set to the first role progresses the game to an advantage.

[0031] To explain the second role in detail, a player set to the second role operates a support character J2 different from the field moving character J1 during cooperative play. The support character J2 corresponds to the second character and has a motif of an air vehicle such as a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). The number of support characters J2 that can be operated by one player set to the second role may be one or more than two, but in the following explanation, it is assumed that there is one support character J2.

[0032] During the cooperative play, the play screen of the player set to the second role (hereinafter also referred to as the second screen G2) displays the support character J2 and a portion of the field corresponding to the position of the support character J2 from an overhead perspective, as shown in Fig. 3. The player set to the second role performs operations (hereinafter referred to as flying operations) on the support character J2 while looking at the second screen G2. The flying operations correspond to the second operations.

[0033] An example of the flight operation is an operation of touching the support character J2 displayed on the screen and dragging it to a destination, as shown in Fig. 3. The method of performing the flight operation is not particularly limited, but examples include a method using directional keys on a controller (not shown), a method using voice input, a method of detecting the player's body movements such as motion capture, or a method of analyzing the player's brain waves during game play.

[0034] The support character J2 moves (flies) within the area where the field moving character J1 exists based on a flying operation. Specifically, the field moving character J1 and the support character J2 exist in different layers in the same area. The layer to which the support character J2 can move is a layer higher than the layer to which the field moving character J1 can move.

[0035] Strictly speaking, the support character J2 can move in a movement space that is virtually set as a space at a different height from the field in the game, specifically, in the space above the field (sky). This allows the support character J2 to move throughout the entire field, and can move freely even in areas of the field where the field-moving character J1 cannot move. For example, the field-moving character J1 cannot move in areas of the field where obstacles are placed due to restrictions such as obstacles, whereas the support character J2 is not restricted in movement by the obstacles. The movement range of the support character J2 is not limited to the space above the field (sky), but may be the space below the field (underground, etc.).

[0036] Then, when the support character J2 flies above the field in response to the flight operation, the portion of the field displayed on the second screen G2 is switched accordingly. This allows the player set to the second role to grasp the current position (position after movement) of the support character J2 through the second screen G2 after switching. Also, the player set to the second role can check the movement action of the field-moving character J1 while the field-moving character J1 is displayed on the second screen G2. This allows the player set to the second role to watch (spectate) the play by the player set to the first role during cooperative play.

[0037] 3 is a screen in which a part of the field is viewed from directly above, but is not limited to this. The second screen G2 may be a screen in which a part of the field is viewed from any line of sight angle (view angle), and the angle may be freely changed according to the preference of the player set to the second role during game play.

[0038] Also, the second screen G2 may show a part of the field or the whole field. For example, when a player set to the second role performs an operation for enlarging the display, a part of the field may be enlarged at a magnification corresponding to the amount of the operation and displayed on the second screen G2. Conversely, when an operation for reducing the display is performed, a part or the whole of the field may be reduced according to the amount of the operation and displayed on the second screen G2.

[0039] As described above, the player set to the second role can use flight operations to fly the support character J2 above the field, thereby visually checking each area of ​​the field on the second screen G2 and overlooking the entire field, including the location of the field-moving character J1.

[0040] On the other hand, the support character J2 cannot attack the enemy character E on the field, and is not affected by the enemy character E (specifically, attacks, interference, etc.). Furthermore, the support character J2 cannot use the auxiliary object H and the thrown-in object T. In other words, the player set to the second role cannot enjoy the effects of the auxiliary object H and the thrown-in object T. Instead, the player set to the second role can perform an operation (hereinafter referred to as an throw-in operation) to throw an thrown-in object T onto the field as a support item for the player set to the first role during cooperative play.

[0041] The throw-in operation is performed through the second screen G2. Specifically, the player set to the second role selects an object to be thrown in as the throw-in object T from among the objects he possesses in the game, and clicks a button corresponding to the type of object selected as the throw-in object T among the object selection buttons displayed on the second screen G2, as shown in the left diagram of Fig. 4. After that, the player set to the second role specifies the position on the field where the throw-in object T is to be placed. The object used as the throw-in object T and the position of the throw-in object T are not limited to being determined based on the will of the player set to the second role, and may be determined automatically by, for example, a lottery.

[0042] By performing the throw-in operation according to the above procedure, the throw-in object T is thrown onto the field from the support character J2 operated by the player who performed the throw-in operation, as shown in the right diagram of Fig. 4. As described above, the throw-in object T is used when the field-moving character J1 operated by the player set to the first role approaches the throw-in object T. In other words, the effect of the throw-in object T is imparted to the player set to the first role.

[0043] The effect of the thrown-in object T varies depending on the type of thrown-in object, and the contents of the effect (i.e., the type of object) can be determined arbitrarily depending on the contents of the game. The types of thrown-in objects T may include types that hinder the play of the player set to the first role, in addition to types that assist the player set to the first role.

[0044] In addition, a player set to the second role can purchase an object that can be used as an input object T during game play, and can input the purchased object onto the field as the input object T.

[0045] The operation of purchasing an object is performed, for example, through the second screen G2. Specifically, when a player set to the second role performs a predetermined operation on the second screen G2, a list of purchasable objects (not shown) is displayed. The player selects a desired object from the list. By performing the purchase operation according to the above procedure, the player who performed the purchase operation is granted the right to use the purchased object, and specifically, the number of times the object can be used increases by the number of objects purchased. In addition, a settlement process is executed in conjunction with the purchase of the object. The settlement process is executed according to a known execution procedure, and for example, the amount of in-game currency held by the player who performed the purchase operation is reduced according to the type and number of objects purchased.

[0046] Note that an object that can be used as the investment object T may be acquired by a method other than purchase, for example, by playing a lottery event held within the game.

[0047] As described above, in the cooperative play mode, each of multiple players playing cooperatively plays the game in either the first role or the second role, and controls one of the in-game characters corresponding to the role, i.e., the field-moving character J1 or the support character J2.

[0048] In the cooperative play mode, a plurality of players can select the first role and play the game. In this case, a field moving character J1 exists on the field for each player set to the first role, and each player set to the first role operates his / her own field moving character J1. Parameters are set for the field moving character J1, in other words, parameters are set for the player operating the field moving character J1. When a plurality of players play cooperatively in the first role, each player plays cooperatively while monitoring his / her own parameters. During the cooperative play, a player whose parameters reach a predetermined state, specifically, whose vitality is 0, cannot continue playing in the first role.

[0049] In addition, in the cooperative play mode, when multiple players are set to the first role and one or more players are set to the second role, the player set to the second role can assist a designated player among the multiple players set to the first role during cooperative play, and cooperate with the player to be supported. The player to be supported may be designated before the cooperative play is started, or may be designated during the cooperative play. Furthermore, the player to be supported may be randomly determined from among the multiple players set to the first role, regardless of the intention of the player set to the second role.

[0050] In addition, in the cooperative play mode, a minimum required number of players (lower limit) who play the game in the first role is determined, and cooperative play can be started only if the number of players who select the first role is not equal to or greater than the lower limit. In other words, the first role corresponds to a "predetermined role" for which a lower limit on the number of players is determined. On the other hand, there is no minimum limit on the number of players playing the game in the second role, and as long as the number of players selecting the first role is equal to or greater than the minimum limit, a cooperative play can be started even if the number of players selecting the second role is any number, for example, even if there is no player. However, this is not limited to this, and a minimum required number (minimum number) may be determined for the number of players playing the game in the second role.

[0051] In addition, for each of the first role and the second role, a maximum number (upper limit) of players who can play simultaneously in one cooperative play is set, and each role of multiple players in cooperative play is set so that the number of players for each role does not exceed the maximum number.

[0052] [Role-related operations and processing] Each player is assigned a role during the cooperative play, and each player performs operations according to the assigned role. The role is set before the cooperative play starts, and can be changed during the cooperative play if a certain condition is met. As described above, unless the number of players set for the first role is equal to or greater than the minimum required number (lower limit), the cooperative play cannot start. Furthermore, for each role, an upper limit is set for the number of players who will play that role during cooperative play. Therefore, the role of each player is set so that the number of players for each role does not exceed the upper limit.

[0053] The following will provide an overview of the operations and processes related to the roles. In the following, the explanation will be given assuming that the lower limit of the number of players set for the first role is two, and the upper limit of the number of players for each role is three. However, these values ​​are merely examples, and each of the above-mentioned lower limit and upper limit can be set to any value.

[0054] (Role selection and setting) Each of the multiple players who will play together performs a selection operation to select one of multiple roles, specifically, a first role and a second role, before starting the joint play. To be more specific, when playing together, one player becomes a host and recruits guests. After that, the host and each of the guests selects a role they want while looking at the role selection screen of FIG. 5 that is displayed before starting the joint play, and clicks a button on the role selection screen that corresponds to the selected role. This operation corresponds to a selection operation.

[0055] The role selection screen displays the selection results of the player who performed the selection operation, as shown in Figure 5. Target players who have not yet performed a selection operation can select their own role while checking the roles selected by other players. This allows role matching to be performed.

[0056] In the above procedure, first, the host recruits guests and accepts applications from more than the number of guests necessary for playing together, and then each player performs a selection operation to match roles. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, each player may perform a selection operation at the stage of recruiting / applying guests before matching. In this case, a screen showing the matching results based on the selection operation performed by each player when applying as a guest, that is, the role selection results by each player, may be displayed.

[0057] In normal cases, when the host performs an operation to start joint play after checking the matching result on the role selection screen, a role is assigned to each player, and then joint play begins. In this case, the role assigned to each player is the role selected by each player in response to the selection operation, i.e., the role desired by each player.

[0058] On the other hand, if the conditions for starting joint play are not met when the host and guest have finished their respective selection operations, a role change request is made. To explain this with a specific example, in the case shown in Fig. 5, the number of players set to the first role does not reach the lower limit (2 players), so joint play cannot start as it is. In this case, a role change request is made to the target player who selected the second role in the selection operation by displaying the inquiry screen G3 shown in Fig. 6, for example.

[0059] The target player is a player among a plurality of players playing cooperatively who is the target of a role change request, and is, for example, a player for whom the above-mentioned inquiry screen G3 is displayed on the operation terminal.

[0060] The target player to whom the role change request has been made decides whether to comply with the request, and if so, clicks the consent button in the inquiry screen G3 (a button marked "Yes" on the screen). In this case, the role of the target player who complies with the role change request is set to a role different from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation, i.e., the first role. It is preferable that the target player who complies with the role change request be given a privilege that can be used during the immediate joint play, such as an item or character to advance the game advantageously, as compensation (apology).

[0061] In the above specific example, when the number of players set to the first role is less than the lower limit, a role change request is made to the player who selected the second role in the selection operation, and the role of the player (target player) who responded to the role change request is set to the first role, but this is not limited to this. In a case where a lower limit is set for the number of players who are set to the second role, when each player who applied to be a guest performs a selection operation, when the number of players who are set to the second role is less than the lower limit, a role change request may be made to the player who selected the first role in the selection operation. Then, the role of the player who responded to the role change request (target player) may be set to the second role.

[0062] The role change request is not limited to a clear request such as the inquiry screen G3 shown in FIG. 6, but may be a screen display or a performance that implicitly indicates that a role change is necessary at the present time. For example, when a screen showing the matching result (i.e., the role selection result by each player) is displayed after each player performs a selection operation at the stage of guest recruitment / application before matching, each player can check through the screen whether or not the number of players for each role is sufficient. In this case, the selected role may be made changeable, and a player who has selected a role with a sufficient number of players may voluntarily offer to change to a role with a shortage of players. At this time, a screen or a message showing a role with a shortage of players may be displayed as a role change request to a player who has selected a role with a sufficient number of players. The screen showing a role with a shortage of players may be the screen showing the matching result itself.

[0063] Furthermore, during the period from when the target player responds to the role change request until the collaborative play starts, the upper limit of the number of players who can select the same type of role as the type selected by the target player through the selection operation is reduced, and more specifically, is reduced from the original upper limit by 1. To explain this with a specific example, in a situation where the number of players who have selected the second role reaches the upper limit (3 players) while the number of players who have selected the first role is 1 player, which is below the lower limit, if the target player who selected the second role through the selection operation responds to the role change request, the upper limit of the number of players who can select the second role is set to 2 players until the collaborative play starts.

[0064] (Role change) A target player who responded to a role change request before the start of cooperative play plays the game in a role of a different type from the role selected by the selection operation during cooperative play. On the other hand, if a predetermined condition (hereinafter referred to as a change condition) is met during cooperative play, the role of the target player can be changed to the role of the type selected by the target player in the selection operation (hereinafter referred to as an initial role). The change condition is that a situation arises in which the role of the player who responded to the role change request can be changed to the initial role during cooperative play.

[0065] More specifically, if a target player selected a first role in the selection operation but has been set to a second role in response to a role change request, when a first change condition is met, the role of the target player is changed from the second role to the first role. The first change condition is that the parameters of another player who has been set to the same type of role (i.e., the first role) as the type selected by the target player in response to the role change request through a selection operation, more specifically, the parameters of the field-moving character J1 operated by the other player, are in a predetermined state, specifically, their stamina becomes 0, making it impossible to continue playing.

[0066] When the first change condition is established, the role of the other player whose parameters have reached a predetermined state is swapped with the role of the target player in response to the role change request, and the joint play between the target player and the other player is continued in the swapped role. In other words, by swapping roles, the other player takes on the second role, and in the joint play that is continued thereafter, the player performs operations according to the second role, i.e., flying operations and throwing operations of the support character J2.

[0067] Furthermore, if a target player selected a second role in the selection operation but has been set to the first role in response to a role change request, when the second change condition is met, the role of the target player is changed from the first role to the second role. The second change condition is that the parameters of the target player in response to the role change request, more specifically, the parameters of the field moving character J1 operated by the target player, become a predetermined state, specifically, the stamina becomes 0, making it impossible to continue playing.

[0068] For example, if a target player who selected the second role in the selection operation is set to the first role in response to a role change request, and a player joins in the middle of a joint play, the target player's role may be changed from the first role to the second role if the role set for the player who joins in the middle of a joint play is the first role.

[0069] As described above, when a role is changed during cooperative play, a target player who was set to a role different from his or her initial role in response to a role change request before the start of cooperative play can play cooperatively in his or her initial role once the change conditions are met.

[0070] In addition, when switching roles, the target player may take over the state and parameters (except for stamina) of the character before the role switch, and may resume the cooperative play from the position before the role switch. Specifically, when the role of the target player is changed from the first role to the second role, the target player can then operate the support character J2 and perform the insertion operation. Here, the type and number of objects that can be inserted are already set for the target player at the time of the role switch, and the target player can perform the insertion operation within the set range. In addition, the target player may start operating (flying operation) the support character J2, which has become possible due to the role switch, from the position where the on-field moving character J1 that he had been operating up until then was located immediately before the role switch.

[0071] On the other hand, when the role of the target player is changed from the first role to the second role, the target player can then operate the field moving character. At this time, the target player may start the operation (movement operation) of the field moving character J1, which has become possible due to the role exchange, from the position where the support character J2 that he has been operating up until then was located just before the role exchange (hereinafter, the position just before the support character J2). At this time, if the position just before the support character J2 is a position where the field moving character J1 cannot move, the joint play may be resumed from a position where the field moving character J1 can move and which is determined according to the just before position of the support character J2 (for example, a position close to the just before position). Alternatively, when the field moving character J1 operated by the player whose role is exchanged with the target player (i.e., the player who was the first role before the role exchange) becomes in a predetermined state (a state of 0 vitality), the joint play may be resumed from the position of the field moving character J1 at that time.

[0072] (Roles for multiple cooperative play) In a game, players can play a joint game multiple times. A player who plays a joint game multiple times (hereinafter, referred to as a specific player) performs a selection operation before the start of each joint game, i.e., selects a role for each joint game. Then, in each joint game, the specific player plays the role selected in the selection operation, except when responding to a role change request.

[0073] Here, among multiple joint plays performed by a specific player, the first joint play is called the first joint play, and the later joint play is called the second joint play. If the role of the specific player is different between the first joint play and the second joint play, a certain advantage is given to the specific player in the second joint play. The advantage means that the game can be played under more advantageous conditions for the specific player compared to when the role of the specific player is the same between the first joint play and the second joint play. Specifically, the following (a1) to (a3) ​​are given as examples of advantages. (a1) Granting items or effects that give an advantage in the second cooperative play (a2) To ease the game conditions in the second cooperative play by providing parameter-related benefits such as reducing or slowing down parameter consumption. (a3) To give preferential treatment to the number of objects that can be used in the second cooperative play, such as by increasing the upper limit of the number of objects that can be input as input object T or by increasing the number of objects that are normally difficult to obtain. (a4) Increasing the number of rewards (items) that can be acquired through a second cooperative play In addition, when the advantage is (a1) or (a4) above, the recipient of the benefit (item) may be the specific player only, or may include other players who participate in the second cooperative play together with the specific player.

[0074] The second cooperative play refers to a cooperative play that takes place after the first cooperative play, and may be a cooperative play that takes place immediately after the first cooperative play, or a cooperative play that takes place several times after the first cooperative play.

[0075] [Regarding the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention and the operation terminal of each player] Next, an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an operation terminal of each player will be described. Note that the following description will be given assuming a situation in which four players A to D play the same area of ​​the game together in a cooperative play mode.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 7, each player has an operation terminal 11-14 for the game. Each operation terminal 11-14 is a client terminal, and specifically, is configured by a personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a television receiver capable of inputting information, a wearable terminal, or the like. Each operation terminal 11-14 is communicably connected to the server 10 via a communication network 15 as shown in Fig. 7. The communication network 15 is a communication line network consisting of, for example, the Internet or a mobile communication network, and may include a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like.

[0077] The server 10 is an example of the "information processing device" of the present invention, and is a computer that generates, transmits, and receives data necessary for the game progress, and executes various information processes related to the game progress, and is, more specifically, an SNS server, for example. The server 10 may be composed of one computer, or may be composed of multiple computers distributed in parallel. The server 10 may also 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, a series of information processes related to the game progress (excluding input and display of information) are executed by the server 10, so that the operation terminals 11 to 14 of each player only need to input information to be handed over to the server 10 and output information distributed from the server 10.

[0078] 7, the server 10 has a processor 21, a memory 22, a communication interface 23, and a storage 24 as hardware devices, which are electrically connected via a bus 25. The processor 21 may be configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

[0079] The memory 22 may be configured with semiconductor memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The communication interface 23 may be configured with, for example, a network interface card or a communication interface board. The standard of data communication by the communication interface 23 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include communication by wireless LAN based on Wi-fi (registered trademark), communication by 3G to 5G or a later generation mobile communication system, and communication based on LTE (Long Term Evolution).

[0080] The storage 24 may be configured with a flash memory, a hard disc drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disc (FD), a magneto-optical disc (MO disc), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a secure digital card (SD card), or a universal serial bus memory (USB memory). The storage 24 may be built into the server 10, or may be attached to the server body in an external form. Furthermore, the storage 24 may be configured with an external computer (e.g., a database server) communicably connected to the server body. As a technology for recording various data, a distributed ledger technology such as a block chain may be used to avoid unauthorized data tampering.

[0081] In addition, a program for an operating system (OS) and an information processing program for game progress are installed as software in the server 10. These programs correspond to the "programs" of the present invention, and are programs for controlling the server 10, which is a computer. In other words, by being executed by the above-mentioned processor 21, the server 10 performs the function of the information processing device of the present invention.

[0082] The program may be acquired by reading it from a computer-readable recording medium, or may be acquired (downloaded) via a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

[0083] During game play, the server 10 progresses the game by executing the above program. Specifically, the server 10 accepts operations for progressing the game from each of the players A to D, and executes a series of processes for progressing the game. For example, before the start of cooperative play, the server 10 executes a process for setting the roles of each of the players A to D. Specifically, before the start of cooperative play, the server 10 accepts a role selection operation from each player. Also, before the start of cooperative play, the server 10 makes a role change request to the target player as necessary.

[0084] During cooperative play, the server 10 also executes a process of generating display data for game play screens (for example, the first screen G1 and the second screen G2) and transmitting the display data to the operation terminals 11-14 of each player. During cooperative play, the server 10 also executes a process of changing parameters such as the vitality of the field moving character J1 for each player according to the progress of the game. In addition, the server 10 executes processes according to the operations of each player during cooperative play. For example, when an insert operation is performed, the server 10 executes a process of inserting an insert object T onto the field.

[0085] Furthermore, if a target player who has responded to the role change request is present among the multiple players performing cooperative play, the server 10 grants the target player a benefit that can be used during cooperative play.

[0086] Furthermore, in a scene where a specific player who plays multiple joint plays a second joint play, if the role of the specific player in the second joint play satisfies the above-mentioned condition for giving an advantage, the server 10 gives the specific player an advantage. This allows the specific player to proceed with the game (more specifically, the second joint play) under more advantageous conditions for the specific player.

[0087] Explaining the configuration of the server 10 from the configuration aspect again, as shown in Fig. 8, the server 10 has an operation reception unit 31, a role setting unit 32, a game progression unit 33, a display control unit 34, a memory unit 35, a request unit 36, a privilege granting unit 37, and a role changing unit 38. Of these functional units, the memory unit 35 is realized by the memory 22 or the storage 24, and the other functional units are realized by cooperation between various hardware devices constituting the server 10 and programs installed in the server 10. Each functional unit will be described in detail below.

[0088] (Operation reception section) The operation acceptance unit 31 accepts operations for progressing the game performed by the players through the operation terminals 11-14, and more specifically, acquires data indicating the operation contents from the operation terminals 11-14 via the communication network 15. Particularly in the collaborative mode, the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts operations for progressing the game for each player.

[0089] In the cooperative play mode, before the cooperative play starts, the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts a role selection operation from each of the multiple players who will play cooperatively. Also, before the cooperative play starts, if there is a target player who has responded to a role change request, the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts an operation from the target player to respond to the role change request (specifically, an operation of clicking the accept button on the inquiry screen G3 in FIG. 6).

[0090] In addition, when the target player responds to the role change request, the upper limit number of players who can select the same type of role as the type selected by the target player in the selection operation is reduced during the period from when the target player responded to the role change request to when the cooperative play starts. For example, when the target player responds to the role change request after selecting the second role in the selection operation, the upper limit number of players who can select the second role is reduced from three to two. This is to ensure a vacancy (slot) for a player to be set to the second role when the change condition (more specifically, the second change condition) is met during cooperative play and the role of the target player can be changed to the second role.

[0091] From the start of cooperative play until the cooperative play is continued, the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts a movement operation for the field moving character J1 from the player set to the first role, and accepts a flying operation for the support character J2 from the player set to the second role. Furthermore, during cooperative play, if the player set to the second role performs an operation to insert an insertion object T or an operation to purchase an object, the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts these operations.

[0092] (Role Setting Department) Before commencing joint play, the role setting unit 32 sets a role for each of the multiple players playing jointly based on the operation received from each player by the operation receiving unit 31, specifically, sets the role to either a first role or a second role. In normal cases, the role setting unit 32 sets the role of each player based on the selection operation of each player received by the operation receiving unit 31, specifically, sets the role to the role selected by the selection operation (i.e., the role desired by each player).

[0093] On the other hand, if the target player responds to a role change request during the period from when the operation receiving unit 31 receives the selection operation by the target player to when cooperative play is started, the role setting unit 32 sets the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation.

[0094] More specifically, before the start of cooperative play, when the number of players selecting a predetermined role is below the lower limit, and a target player who selected a role other than the predetermined role in a selection operation responds to a role change request, the role setting unit 32 sets the role of the target player to the predetermined role. To explain this by taking a specific example, in a case where the target player selects the second role in the selection operation while the number of players selecting the first role is below the lower limit, when the target player responds to a role change request, the role setting unit 32 sets the role of the target player to the first role instead of the second role.

[0095] Furthermore, when there is a specific player who will play a plurality of times in a cooperative play, the role setting unit 32 sets the role of the specific player for each round of cooperative play before the start of each round of cooperative play.

[0096] (Game Progression Department) During cooperative play, the game progression unit 33 progresses the game in accordance with operations received from each player. For example, when a movement operation is received from a player set to the first role, the game progression unit 33 moves the field moving character J1 operated by that player on the field in accordance with the movement operation. At this time, the game progression unit 33 may change the state of the field in conjunction with the movement of the field moving character J1, and may, for example, change the appearance position of an enemy character E on the field.

[0097] Furthermore, the game progression unit 33 changes the parameters of the player set to the first role, that is, the parameters and state of the field-moving character J1 operated by that player, according to the progress of the game. For example, if the field-moving character J1 is attacked (attacked) by the enemy character E while moving on the field, the game progression unit 33 executes a process of reducing the physical strength of the field-moving character J1 to reflect the attack.

[0098] Furthermore, when the field-moving character J1 uses an auxiliary object H or an thrown-in object T on the field, the game progression unit 33 gives an effect corresponding to that object to the player operating the field-moving character J1. For example, when a player uses a vitality recovery object, the game progression unit 33 executes a process to increase (restore) the vitality of the field-moving character J1 operated by that player.

[0099] In addition, when the stamina of the field-moving character J1 reaches 0, the player is unable to continue playing at that point, and is therefore unable to control the field-moving character J1 in subsequent cooperative play.

[0100] Furthermore, during cooperative play, when the game progression unit 33 receives a flight operation from a player set to the second role, the game progression unit 33 moves (flies) the support character J2 of that player in the sky above the field in response to the flight operation. The support character J2 flying in the sky above the field does not come into contact with the enemy character E on the field and is not attacked (acted upon) by the enemy character E. Therefore, during cooperative play, the game progression unit 33 does not reflect the attack from the enemy character E in the state of the support character J2.

[0101] Furthermore, during cooperative play, when the game progression unit 33 receives a throw-in operation from a player set to the second role, it places (throws in) an throw-in object T onto the field according to the type and placement position of the object specified in the throw-in operation. When the throw-in object T is thrown in, the game progression unit 33 executes a process of deducting the number of objects used as the throw-in object T from the possession of the player who performed the throw-in operation.

[0102] Furthermore, during cooperative play, when the operation receiving unit 31 receives a purchase operation from a player set to the second role, the game progression unit 33 executes a process to increase the number of purchased objects held by that player in accordance with the number of objects purchased.

[0103] Furthermore, when a specific player who is playing a plurality of cooperative plays plays a second cooperative play after the first cooperative play, if the role of the specific player differs between the first cooperative play and the second cooperative play, the game progression unit 33 gives the specific player an advantage in the second cooperative play. This allows the specific player to progress through the game under more advantageous conditions in the second cooperative play than when the role of the specific player is the same between the first cooperative play and the second cooperative play.

[0104] (Display control unit) During joint play, the display control unit 34 controls the operation terminals 11-14 of each player to display a play screen, and more specifically, generates display data for the play screen for each player and transmits the display data to the operation terminals 11-14 of each player. To be more specific, the display data for the first screen G1 is transmitted to the operation terminal of the player set to the first role, and the display data for the second screen G2 is transmitted to the operation terminal of the player set to the second role.

[0105] In addition, when the field moving character J1 moves on the field by receiving a movement operation from the player set to the first role, the display control unit 34 generates and transmits display data of the first screen G1 after the movement. The first screen G1 displayed based on this display data shows a part of the field according to the position of the field moving character J1 after the movement. As a result, the part of the field shown on the first screen G1 is switched at any time in conjunction with the movement of the field moving character J1.

[0106] Similarly, when the support character J2 flies above the field by receiving a flying operation from the player set to the second role, the display control unit 34 generates and transmits display data for the second screen G2 after the movement. The second screen G2 displayed based on this display data displays a portion of the field corresponding to the position of the support character J2 after the movement. As a result, the portion of the field displayed on the second screen G2 is switched at any time in conjunction with the movement (flight) of the support character J2.

[0107] (Storage part) The storage unit 35 stores various types of information necessary for the progress of the game. The information stored in the storage unit 35 includes area information and player information.

[0108] The area information is information about each of a plurality of areas set in the game, and is stored for each area in the storage unit 35. The area information includes an identification number of each area, information about the field in the area, and the clearing conditions of the area, etc. The information about the field includes the topography of the field, the type and position of the auxiliary object H placed on the field, and the type and appearance position of the enemy character E that appears on the field, etc.

[0109] The player information is information about each of a plurality of players who play together, and is stored for each player in the storage unit 35. As shown in Fig. 9, the player information includes each player's name, identification ID, area in which the player is playing, type and number of possessed objects (possessed items), type and number of in-game currencies possessed, and currently set role.

[0110] 9, the player information of the player set to the first role further includes information on the field-moving character J1 to be operated, such as the current state and parameters of the field-moving character J1, the current position on the field, etc. The player information of the player set to the second role further includes information on the support character J2 to be operated, such as the current position of the support character J2 in the area, the type and position of the inserted object T inserted by the support character J2, and information on the player designated as the support target (such as the name or identification ID), etc.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 9, the player information further includes flag information indicating whether or not the player is a player (target player) who responded to a role change request before the start of cooperative play. It should be noted that the player information is not limited to the information shown in FIG. 9, and may further include information other than the information shown in FIG.

[0112] (request part) The request unit 36 ​​issues a role change request to the target player when a role change request is necessary during the period from when the selection operation is received from each of the multiple players who will be playing cooperatively until the cooperative play starts.

[0113] A role change request is made, for example, when the number of players selecting the first role is less than the minimum required number (lower limit) before the start of cooperative play. Specifically, before the start of cooperative play, a target player selects a second role (a role other than a predetermined role) by a selection operation, and the number of players selecting the first role (predetermined role) is less than the lower limit for a predetermined time or more. In this case, the request unit 36 ​​makes a role change request to the target player. At this time, the request unit 36 ​​may set each of the players selecting the second role as a target player, and display an inquiry screen G3 on the operation terminal of each target player as to whether or not to comply with the role change request.

[0114] In the above case, if the number of players selecting the first role falls below the lower limit for a predetermined period of time or more before the start of the cooperative play, this triggers a role change request, but is not limited to this. For example, assume that a player participating in the cooperative play as a guest selects a second role (a role other than the predetermined role) by a selection operation before the start of the cooperative play, and the number of players selecting the first role (the predetermined role) falls below the lower limit. In this case, when a player participating in the cooperative play as a host performs a change request operation and the operation acceptance unit 31 accepts the change request operation, this may trigger the request unit 36 ​​to make a role change request to the target player.

[0115] In the change request operation, the host player designates one or more players from among the guest players. The request unit 36 ​​sets the guest player designated in the change request operation as the target player, makes a role change request to the target player, and specifically, displays a query screen G3 on the operation terminal of the target player.

[0116] (Benefits Granting Department) When a target player who responded to the role change request exists before the start of the cooperative play, the privilege granting unit 37 grants a privilege to the target player who responded to the role change request among the cooperative players. The privilege granted during the cooperative play is, for example, an item or a character that can be used in the cooperative play in which the target player responded to the role change request. The type and number of privileges granted by the privilege granting unit 37 can be determined arbitrarily in consideration of the specifications of the game, but it is preferable to determine them according to, for example, the field and difficulty level of the area in which the cooperative play is performed.

[0117] The benefit given by the benefit giving unit 37 is not limited to a benefit that can be used in a joint play in which the target player responded to the role change request, and may be a benefit that can be used in a joint play in which the target player responded to the role change request, for example, other than the time when the target player responded to the role change request. Alternatively, the benefit may be a benefit that can be used when the target player responded to the role change request plays the game in the single-play mode.

[0118] In addition, the procedure by which the benefit granting unit 37 decides which benefit to grant is not particularly limited, but for example, the target player in response to the role change request may select a benefit, and the benefit to be granted may be decided according to the selected type.

[0119] To be more specific, for example, a privilege given to a target player who has selected a first role in response to a role change request is a privilege that can be used when playing a joint game in the first role, or a privilege that exerts a predetermined effect in the joint game. This privilege may be a privilege that cannot be used when playing a joint game in the second role, or a privilege that does not exert a predetermined effect. Such a privilege may be, for example, an item that increases the parameters of the field moving character J1 in the joint game (for example, an item that recovers physical strength, or an item that increases an ability value such as attack power). A plurality of types of the above-mentioned benefits may be prepared, and one of them may be selected by the target player. Here, the selection includes the target player selecting one of the plurality of types of benefits, or the selection by a lottery in the game carried out in response to the target player's request (strictly speaking, automatic selection). Then, the selected type of benefit is given to the target player.

[0120] The timing of granting the privilege to the target player is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, the timing when the target player responds to a change request, or the timing when the target player changes to the original role (the first role selected by the target player in a selection operation before the start of the cooperative play) during cooperative play. Alternatively, if the target player can arbitrarily specify the timing at which the target player's role can be changed to the original role during cooperative play, the privilege may be granted to the target player at the specified timing. Alternatively, the privilege may be granted to the target player at a random timing during cooperative play.

[0121] The above-described method of granting a privilege may be similarly applied when the target player selects the second role in response to a role change request. In this case, the target player is granted a privilege that can be used as an input object T. More specifically, the number of objects corresponding to the privilege that the target player possesses to be used as input objects is increased.

[0122] (Role Change Department) When there is a target player who responded to a role change request before the start of cooperative play, and a change condition is established during cooperative play, the role change unit 38 changes the role of the target player who responded to the role change request to the initial role selected by the target player at the time of the selection operation.

[0123] As a specific example, a scene (first case) is assumed in which a target player who selected the second role in the selection operation responds to a role change request and is set to the first role. In the first case, during cooperative play, the parameters of the target player who responded to the role change request become a predetermined state, specifically, when the vitality of the field moving character J1 operated by the target player becomes 0 and the player is unable to continue playing, the change condition is established at that point.

[0124] In the first case, when a change condition is met during cooperative play, the role changing unit 38 changes the role of the target player in response to the role change request to the second role, which is the original role.

[0125] As another specific example, a scene (second case) is assumed in which a target player who selected a first role in a selection operation is set to a second role in response to a role change request. In the second case, during cooperative play, the parameters of another player who has been set to the first role become a predetermined state, specifically, when the vitality of the field moving character J1 operated by the other player becomes 0 and the player is unable to continue playing, the change condition is established at that point.

[0126] In the second case, the role changing unit 38 changes the role of the target player in response to the role change request to the initial role, that is, the first role, when the change condition is met. Also, in the second case, the role of the other player who has become unable to continue playing due to the change in the role of the target player is changed from the first role to the second role. That is, in the second case, when changing the role of the target player in response to the role change request, the role changing unit 38 exchanges the role of the target player with the role of the other player who has become unable to continue playing. Thereafter, the target player whose roles have been swapped and the other player each continue playing together in their new roles.

[0127] [Information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention] Next, as an example of the information processing method of the present invention, an information processing flow for game progress (hereinafter, referred to as this information processing flow) will be described. Note that this information processing flow is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the order of steps may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0128] This information processing flow is executed by a computer constituting an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention, i.e., a server 10, according to the flow shown in Fig. 10. In the following, a scene is assumed in which four players A to D play together in the same area, with player A participating in the joint play as a host, and players B to D participating in the joint play as guests.

[0129] In this information processing flow, first, a role setting process is executed as shown in Fig. 10 (S001). The role setting process is executed before the start of cooperative play according to the flow shown in Fig. 11. In the role setting process, first, the server 10 accepts a role selection operation from each of the players A to D (S011).

[0130] In step S011, the server 10 displays the role selection screen shown in FIG. 5 on the operation terminals 11-14 of each of the players A-D. While viewing the displayed role selection screen, each player selects either the first role or the second role, and clicks a button on the role selection screen corresponding to the selected role. The selection results of each player are converted into data by the operation terminal of each player and transmitted to the server 10. In this way, the server 10 accepts the selection operation from each player.

[0131] When the server 10 receives a selection operation from each player, it determines whether the number of players selecting the first role at that time is equal to or greater than the minimum required number (lower limit number) (S012). If the number of players selecting the first role is equal to or greater than the lower limit number, it proceeds to step S013. In step S013, the server 10 sets the role of each player based on the selection operation received from each player, specifically, sets the role to the role selected by each player through the selection operation (S013).

[0132] On the other hand, when the number of players selecting the first role falls below the lower limit, if the time during which the number of players selecting the first role falls below the lower limit continues for a predetermined time or more (S014), the server 10 makes a role change request to the target player (S015). In step S015, the server 10 makes the operation terminal of the target player display the inquiry screen G3 of FIG. 6, thereby inquiring of the target player whether or not to accept the role change request. Here, the target player to whom the role change request is made may be all players who have selected the second role at that time, or may be a player designated by the host, player A, among the players who have selected the second role.

[0133] If the target player to whom the role change request has been made agrees to the request, he or she performs a reply operation to agree to the request, such as by clicking an accept button in the inquiry screen G3 (S016). When the server 10 accepts the reply operation from the target player, it sets the roles of each player before the cooperative play starts (S017). At this time, the server 10 sets the role of the target player in response to the role change request to a role different from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation (i.e., the first role).

[0134] After step S016 is performed, the upper limit number of players who can select the second role may be decremented by -1 (S018) until the cooperative play starts. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which a target player who has responded to a role change request is treated at a disadvantage in terms of role setting.

[0135] The role setting process ends when the above steps are completed. In the following, a case will be described in which players A and C are set to the first role, and players B and D are set to the second role. In addition, player C is assumed to be a target player who selected the second role during the selection operation, but responded to a role change request and was set to the first role before the start of cooperative play.

[0136] Returning to the information processing flow in Fig. 10, when the role setting process is completed, the joint play can start (S002). When the joint play starts, the server 10 gives a benefit that can be used during the joint play to the target player C who responded to the role change request before the start of the joint play (S003).

[0137] Although not shown, the server 10 determines whether a specific player who plays a cooperative game multiple times (a player for whom the current cooperative game is the second or subsequent cooperative game) is included among the multiple players playing the cooperative game. If a specific player is included, the server 10 compares the role of the specific player in the current cooperative game with the role of the specific player in the previous cooperative game. Here, the current cooperative game corresponds to the second cooperative game, and the previous cooperative game corresponds to the first cooperative game.

[0138] If the role of the specific player is different between the current joint play and the previous joint play, the server 10 (more specifically, the game progression unit 33) gives an advantage to the specific player in the current joint play. In other words, the current joint play is carried out under more advantageous conditions for the specific player than when the role of the specific player was the same between the current joint play and the previous joint play.

[0139] During the cooperative play, the server 10 executes a screen display process from time to time, and displays a play screen corresponding to each operation of the players A to D on the operation terminal of each player (S004). The screen display process includes a process for the player set to the first role (hereinafter referred to as a first screen display process) and a process for the player set to the second role (hereinafter referred to as a second screen display process).

[0140] The first screen display process proceeds according to the flow shown in Fig. 12 and is performed via data communication between the server 10 and the operation terminals 11, 13 of players A and C who are set to the first role. Here, the first screen display process performed between the server 10 and the operation terminal 11 of player A will be described, with player A being the representative of the players who are set to the first role.

[0141] In the first screen display process, the server 10 first generates display data for the first screen G1 and transmits it to the operation terminal 11 of the player A (S021). As a result, the first screen G1 showing the field-moving character J1 and a part of the field is displayed on the operation terminal 11 (S022). Note that the first screen G1 displayed at the start of the joint play shows a part of the field that corresponds to the initial position (start position) of the field-moving character J1.

[0142] During the joint play, the player A performs a movement operation on the field moving character J1 from time to time while viewing the first screen G1 (S023). The server 10 accepts the movement operation from the player A through communication with the operation terminal 11 (S024), and moves the field moving character J1 on the field in accordance with the accepted movement operation (S025). After that, the server 10 generates display data for the first screen G1 (hereinafter referred to as the "first screen G1 after movement") that displays a portion of the field corresponding to the position of the field moving character J1 after the movement, and transmits the display data to the operation terminal 11 (S026). As a result, the first screen G1 after the movement is displayed on the operation terminal 11 (S027).

[0143] Thereafter, steps S024 to S027 are repeated every time player A performs a movement operation, and the first screen G1 displayed on the operation terminal 11 is updated as needed. The first screen display process continues during the joint play and ends when the game ends (S028). The game ends when a condition for ending the joint play is met, such as when a predetermined area is cleared, when a preset joint play time (time limit) has elapsed, or when player A has suspended (retired) play.

[0144] Although not specifically shown, during cooperative play, the server 10 appropriately changes the state and parameters of the field-moving character J1 in accordance with the progress of the game, and updates the player information of player A stored in the memory unit 35 accordingly.

[0145] The second screen display process proceeds according to the flow shown in Fig. 13, and is performed via data communication between the server 10 and the operation terminals 12, 14 of players B, D who are set to the second role. Here, the second screen display process performed between the server 10 and the operation terminal 12 of player B will be described, with player B being taken as the representative of the players who are set to the second role.

[0146] In the second screen display process, the server 10 first generates display data for the second screen G2 and transmits it to the operation terminal 12 of the player B (S031). As a result, the second screen G2 showing the support character J2 and a part of the field is displayed on the operation terminal 12 (S032). Note that the second screen G2 displayed at the start of the joint play shows a part of the field that corresponds to the initial position (start position) of the support character J2.

[0147] During the joint play, the player B performs flight operations on the support character J2 as needed while viewing the second screen G2 (S033). The server 10 accepts flight operations from the player B through communication with the operation terminal 12 (S034), and moves the support character J2 above the field in accordance with the accepted flight operations (S035). After that, the server 10 generates display data for the second screen G2 (hereinafter referred to as the "second screen G2 after movement") that displays a portion of the field corresponding to the position of the support character J2 after the movement, and transmits the data to the operation terminal 12 (S036). As a result, the second screen G2 after the movement is displayed on the operation terminal 12 (S037).

[0148] Thereafter, steps S034 to S037 are repeatedly performed every time the player B performs a flight operation, and the second screen G2 displayed on the operation terminal 12 is updated accordingly. The second screen display process continues while the joint play is being performed, and ends when the game ends (S038).

[0149] Although not shown, when player B performs a throw-in operation to throw an throw-in object T onto the field during joint play, the server 10 accepts the throw-in operation from player B and executes a process to throw (place) the throw-in object T onto the field. In response to this, the server 10 generates display data for displaying the first screen G1 and the second screen G2 when the throw-in object T is placed on the field, and transmits the generated display data to the operation terminals 11 and 12.

[0150] Returning to the information processing flow of Figure 10, when a change condition is met during cooperative play (S005), the server 10 changes the role of the target player C who responded to the role change request before the start of cooperative play to the original role (S006).

[0151] To be more specific, for example, while the target player C is playing a cooperative game in the first role, when the parameters of the player C reach a predetermined state, more specifically, when the vitality of the field moving character J1 operated by the player C reaches 0, the change condition is established. Then, in response to the establishment of the change condition, the server 10 changes the role of the player C from the first role to the second role. After the role change, the server 10 begins to accept flying operations from the player C to the support character J2.

[0152] Also, as a different case from the above, a scene where the player B selected the first role by a selection operation, but was set to the second role in response to a role change request (i.e., the case where the player B corresponds to the target player) is assumed. In such a case, when the parameters of the player (e.g., the player A) who plays together in the first role reach a predetermined state, more specifically, when the vitality of the field moving character J1 operated by the player A reaches 0, the change condition is established.

[0153] In the above case, the server 10, when the change condition is met, changes the role of the player B who responded to the role change request to the first role, which is the original role. At this time, the server 10 exchanges the role of the player A, whose parameters have reached a predetermined state, with the role of the player B. Thereafter, the players B and A continue the joint play in the changed (exchanged) roles. That is, in the joint play continued after the role change (exchange), the server 10 accepts a movement operation from the player B to the field moving character J1, and accepts a flying operation from the player A to the support character J2.

[0154] Each of steps S004 to S006 in this information processing flow after the screen display process is repeatedly performed while the joint play continues. Then, when the game ends, more specifically, when the joint play ends, this information processing flow ends (S007).

[0155] [Other embodiments] Up to this point, the information processing device, information processing method, and program of the present invention have been described using specific embodiments. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and other embodiments may be considered.

[0156] In the above embodiment, the server 10 as an example of a computer functions as the information processing device of the present invention, but some of the functions of the server 10 may be provided on the players' operation terminals 11-14. For example, the game progression unit 33 may be provided on the players' operation terminals 11-14. In that case, in cooperative play, the operation terminal of each player receives data for progressing the game from the server 10 and executes processing for progressing the game in accordance with the operations of each player.

[0157] In the above embodiment, the communication method used when the operation terminals of the multiple players who play together communicate is a method via the server 10 (client-server method), but it may also be a P2P (peer-to-peer) method that does not involve the server 10. In that case, the operation terminals of the players cooperate to function as the information processing device of the present invention.

[0158] [summary] The present invention is achieved by the following configurations [1] to

[17] , and each of the configurations can provide various effects.

[0159] [1] The information processing device of the present invention includes an operation receiving unit that receives an operation performed by each of a plurality of players who play a game together, and a role setting unit that sets, for each of the plurality of players, a role to be played by the player during the joint play of the game based on the operation. The operation receiving unit receives a selection operation from each of the plurality of players to select one of a plurality of roles before the joint play of the game starts. Furthermore, if a target player among the plurality of players responds to a role change request during the period from when the operation receiving unit receives the selection operation by a target player to when the joint play of the game starts, the role setting unit sets the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation. According to the above configuration, for example, a target player can be requested to change his / her role so that the number of players required to start a cooperative play for a certain role is secured, and the role of the target player in response to the request can be changed from the initial role selected at the time of the selection operation. This allows flexibility in setting the role of each player in a cooperative play. As a result, a cooperative play performed by a plurality of players can be started (implemented) smoothly.

[0160] [2] The information processing device of the present invention may include a reward providing unit that provides a reward to a target player who responds to a role change request during cooperative play of a game. According to the above configuration, a reward is given to a target player who responded to a role change request before the start of cooperative play, which makes it easier for the target player to respond to the role change request. In other words, an incentive for responding to a role change request can be given to the target player.

[0161] [3] The information processing device of the present invention may also include a role changing unit that, when a predetermined condition is met during cooperative play of a game, changes the role of a target player in response to a role change request to a role of a type selected by the target player through a selection operation. According to the above configuration, when a predetermined condition (change condition) is satisfied, the target player who responded to the role change request can play in a joint play in the original role that he / she selected by the selection operation. This makes it easier for the target player to respond to the role change request, and also allows the target player to enjoy a joint play in the original role.

[0162] [4] In the information processing device of the present invention, the multiple types of roles may include a first role of operating a first character in a joint play of a game, and a second role of operating a second character in a joint play of a game. The information processing device of the present invention may also include a game progression unit that progresses the game in response to an operation of a player. The game progression unit may change the state of the first character to reflect an action from a character appearing in the game that is different from the first character and the second character, and may not reflect the action from the appearing character in the state of the second character. According to the above configuration, in a cooperative play, each player progresses through the game by operating an in-game character according to the role set for each player. Here, the nature of the in-game character operated by the player of each role differs between the first role and the second role. Therefore, during a cooperative play, a target player whose role has been changed can operate multiple in-game characters with different natures. As a result, the interest of the game can be increased.

[0163] [5] In the information processing device of the present invention, the operation receiving unit may receive, as operations performed by a player set to the second role, an input operation for inputting an input object onto a field in the game from the second character during collaborative play of the game, and a purchase operation for purchasing an input object during collaborative play of the game. According to the above configuration, a player set to the second role can perform input operations and purchasing operations during cooperative play, mainly to assist (support) the player set to the first role.

[0164] [6] In the information processing device of the present invention, the game progression unit may move a first character within a field of the game in response to operations of a player set to a first role, and the game progression unit may move a second character within a movement space that is virtually set as a space at a different height from the field of the game in response to operations of a player set to a second role. According to the above configuration, the second character moves in a movement space at a different height from the movement space of the first character. As a result, the player who operates the second character, i.e., the player who is set to the second role, can find the first character and watch the action of the first character by moving the second character during joint play. As a result, the player who is set to the second role can watch the operation (play) of the player who is set to the first role during joint play.

[0165] [7] In the information processing device of the present invention, a minimum number of players playing a predetermined role in a joint game play may be determined. Preferably, before the start of the joint game play, when the number of players selecting the predetermined role is below the minimum number, and a target player who selected a role other than the predetermined role by a selection operation responds to a role change request, the role setting unit sets the role of the target player to the predetermined role. According to the above configuration, the effect of the present invention is more prominent. To explain in detail, when the number of players playing a predetermined role needs to be equal to or more than a lower limit in order to perform a joint play, a situation may occur in which the number of players selecting the predetermined role falls below the lower limit. In such a situation, the joint play is not started and the game is put into a waiting state until the number of players selecting the predetermined role reaches or exceeds the lower limit. In contrast, in the present invention, the role of the target player in response to the role change request is set to a predetermined role, thereby ensuring the number of players playing the predetermined role. This shortens the waiting time before the start of the joint play, and allows the joint play to start smoothly.

[0166] [8] In the information processing device of the present invention, the multiple players may be divided into players who participate in the joint play of the game as guests and players who participate in the joint play of the game as hosts who invite guests. The information processing device of the present invention may also have a request unit that makes a role change request to the target player based on an operation of the player participating as the host when a target player participating as a guest selects a role other than a predetermined role by a selection operation before the start of the joint play of the game and the number of players selecting the predetermined role falls below a lower limit. According to the above configuration, when the number of players selecting a predetermined role falls below the lower limit, a role change request can be made to a target player according to the will of the player participating in the cooperative play as the host, thereby making it possible to start the cooperative play smoothly.

[0167] [9] The information processing device of the present invention may have a request unit that makes a role change request to the target player when, before cooperative play of a game begins, the target player selects a role other than a predetermined role through a selection operation and the number of players selecting the predetermined role falls below a lower limit for a predetermined period of time or more. According to the above configuration, when the number of players selecting a predetermined role falls below the lower limit for a predetermined period of time or more, a role change request can be made to the target player. By setting the time condition for making a role change request in this manner, the role change request can be made to the target player at an appropriate time, and as a result, cooperative play can be started smoothly.

[0168]

[10] In the information processing device of the present invention, when the number of players selecting a specified role falls below a lower limit for a specified period of time or more, the request unit may cause the operation terminal of the target player to display an inquiry screen asking whether or not to comply with the role change request. According to the above configuration, a role change request can be appropriately made to the target player using the GUI.

[0169]

[11] In the information processing device of the present invention, parameters set for each player in a game may change as the game progresses. In this case, when the parameters of a target player in response to a role change request reach a predetermined state during a cooperative play of the game, a role changing unit may change the role of the target player in response to the role change request to a role of a type selected by the target player through a selection operation. According to the above configuration, the target player who responded to the role change request can play in a joint play in the role originally selected by the selection operation when his / her parameters reach a predetermined state. This allows the target player to have the opportunity to enjoy a joint play in the role he / she desires, even if he / she responded to the role change request before the start of the joint play. As a result, it becomes easier to induce (invite) players to play in a joint play.

[0170]

[12] In the information processing device of the present invention, parameters set for each player in a game may change according to the progress of the game. In this case, when parameters of other players set to a role of the same type as a role selected by a target player in response to a role change request through a selection operation reach a predetermined state during a cooperative play of the game, a role changing unit may change the role of the target player in response to the role change request to the role of the type selected by the target player in the selection operation. According to the above configuration, the target player who responded to the role change request can start playing cooperatively in the role originally selected by the selection operation when the parameters of other players who selected the same role by the selection operation reach a predetermined state. This allows the target player to have the opportunity to enjoy cooperative play in the role he or she desires, even if the target player responded to the role change request before the cooperative play begins. As a result, it becomes easier to induce (invite) players to play cooperatively.

[0171]

[13] In the information processing device of the present invention, when changing the role of the target player in response to a role change request, the role changing unit may swap the role of the other player with the role of the target player in response to the role change request, and joint play of the game by the target player and the other player may be continued with the swapped roles. According to the above configuration, the target player who responded to the role change request and the other player whose parameters have reached a predetermined state can continue the joint play in the role after the exchange. This allows the target player and the other player to enjoy joint play in a plurality of roles (specifically, the first role and the second role), and as a result, the interest of the game (particularly the joint play) is increased.

[0172]

[14] In the information processing device of the present invention, the upper limit on the number of players who can select the same type of role as the type selected by the target player through a selection operation may be reduced during the period from when the target player responds to a role change request to when cooperative play of the game begins. According to the above configuration, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a target player who has responded to a role change request is treated unfavorably in terms of role setting. To explain the above effect in detail, for example, if a target player who selected the second role in a selection operation before the start of cooperative play changes to the first role in response to a role change request, and another player subsequently selects the second role, the number of players set to the second role reaches the upper limit (three players). In this case, even if a change condition is established during cooperative play, the role of the target player cannot be changed to the second role (original role) because the number of players set to the second role has reached the upper limit. To avoid the above situation, when the target player responds to the role change request, the upper limit of the number of players who can select the second role is reduced to two until the start of cooperative play. This ensures that there is an opening (slot) for a player to be set to the second role during cooperative play. As a result, when the change conditions are met during cooperative play, the role of the target player who responded to the role change request is reliably changed to the original role.

[0173]

[15] The information processing device of the present invention may include a game progression unit that progresses a game in response to a player's operation. The role setting unit may set a role for a specific player who plays a game multiple times in each of the multiple times of cooperative play performed by the specific player. In a second cooperative play performed after a first cooperative play among the multiple times of cooperative play, if the role of the specific player differs between the first cooperative play and the second cooperative play, the game progression unit preferably progresses the game under conditions that are more advantageous for the specific player than when the role of the specific player is the same between the first cooperative play and the second cooperative play. According to the above configuration, when a specific player selects a different type of role in the second cooperative play from the first cooperative play, an advantage is given to the specific player. This motivates the specific player to play the second cooperative play in a different type of role from the first cooperative play. As a result, it becomes easier for the specific player to select multiple types of roles evenly in multiple cooperative plays performed by the specific player.

[0174]

[16] An information processing method of the present invention is characterized in that a computer receives a selection operation from each of a plurality of players playing a game together before the start of joint play of the game, in which the player selects one of a plurality of roles, and the computer sets, for each of the plurality of players, a role to be played by the player during joint play of the game based on the player's operation, and if a target player among the plurality of players responds to a role change request between the reception of the selection operation by a target player and the start of joint play of the game, the computer sets the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation. According to the above method, the role of the target player in response to the role change request before the start of cooperative play is changed from the initial role selected at the time of the selection operation, which allows flexibility in the role setting of each player in the game. As a result, cooperative play by multiple players can be started smoothly.

[0175]

[17] The program of the present invention is characterized in that it causes a computer to accept a selection operation from each of a plurality of players playing a game jointly before joint play of the game begins, in which the computer selects one of a plurality of roles, and causes the computer to set, for each of the plurality of players, the role that the player will play during joint play of the game based on the player's operation, and if a target player among the plurality of players responds to a role change request between the acceptance of the selection operation by a target player and the start of joint play of the game, causes the computer to set the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation. By having a computer execute the above program, the roles of each player in the game can be set flexibly, and as a result, cooperative play by multiple players can be smoothly started. [Explanation of symbols]

[0176] 10. Information processing device 11, 12, 13, 14 Operation terminal 15 Communication Networks 21 Processors 22 Memory 23 Communication Interface 24 Storage 25 Bus 31 Operation reception section 32 Role Setting Department 33 Game Progression Section 34 Display control section 35 Storage section 36 Request part 37 Benefits Granting Department 38 Role Change Division E Enemy Character G1 1st screen G2 2nd screen G3 Inquiry Screen H Auxiliary Objects J1 Field moving character (first character) J2 Support character (second character) T Input object

Claims

[Claim 1] an operation receiving unit that receives operations performed by each of a plurality of players who play the game together; a role setting unit that sets, for each of the plurality of players, a role to be played by the player during cooperative play of the game based on the operation, the operation receiving unit receives a selection operation for selecting one of a plurality of types of roles from each of the plurality of players before a cooperative play of the game is started; an information processing device, wherein, when a target player among the multiple players responds to a role change request during the period from when the operation receiving unit accepts the selection operation by the target player to when collaborative play of the game starts, the role setting unit sets the role of the target player to a role of a different type from the type selected by the target player in the selection operation.

Images