Information processing program, information processing method, and information processing device

Abstract

To provide an information processing program, information processing method, and information processing device that can suppress decrease in value as a game element, in a game having a time division every predetermined period.SOLUTION: An information processing program causes a computer to execute processing of converting a first game element, which is set to be able to carry over to a second period that is a predetermined period after a first period, into a second game element that can be used during the second period, when the first period in which a player has acquired the first game element ends, in a game in which the first period that has a time division for each predetermined period and is a predetermined period including a time point when the player has acquired the game element can be set as a usage time limit of the game element that the player has acquired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing program, an information processing method, and an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a video game processing program that stores game elements with a set expiration date among the game elements held by a player in a first storage destination and stores game elements without a set expiration date in a second storage destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a game having a time interval every predetermined period, it is conceivable to set the end point of the predetermined period including the time point when a game element is obtained as the expiration date of the obtained game element. In this case, as the end point of the predetermined period approaches, the time until the expiration date set for the obtained game element becomes shorter, so the value as a game element decreases.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing program, an information processing method, and an information processing apparatus that can suppress a decrease in the value of a game element in a game having a time interval every predetermined period.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In a game where the information processing program of the first aspect has a time division for each predetermined period and can set the expiration date of the game elements obtained by the player within the first period, which is the predetermined period including the time when the player obtains the game elements, when the first period in which the player obtains the first game element ends, the computer is made to execute a process of converting the first game element, which is set to be transferable to a second period, which is the predetermined period after the first period, into a second game element that can be used in the second period.

[0007] In the information processing program of the second aspect, in the information processing program of the first aspect, the second game element is a game element whose expiration date is set within the second period and cannot be carried over to a period after the second period.

[0008] In the information processing program of the third aspect, in the information processing program of the first or second aspect, the computer is made to execute a process of performing control to display in an identifiable manner whether the first game element can be carried over to the second period.

[0009] In the information processing program of the fourth aspect, in the information processing program of any one of the first to third aspects, when a specific operation by the player on the first game element is received, the computer is made to execute a process of converting the first game element on which the specific operation by the player has been received into a game element that can be used in the predetermined period including the time when the specific operation was received.

[0010] In the information processing program of the fifth aspect, in the information processing program of any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the player uses the first game element in the first period, when the first period ends, the computer is made to execute a process of further converting the first game element into the second game element.

[0011] The information processing program according to the sixth aspect is the information processing program according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the first game element and the second game element are game elements that can obtain the same type of effect when used.

[0012] The information processing program according to the seventh aspect is the information processing program according to the sixth aspect, and when a specific operation by the player on the first game element is received, the computer is made to execute a process of performing control to display information regarding the second game element corresponding to the first game element on which the specific operation by the player has been received.

[0013] The information processing program according to the eighth aspect is the information processing program according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and when the player obtains a game element and the time from the time of obtaining the game element to the end time of the first period is equal to or less than a threshold value, the computer is made to execute a process of setting the game element obtained by the player as a game element that can be carried over to the second period.

[0014] The information processing program according to the ninth aspect is the information processing program according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and whether the first game element can be carried over to the second period depends on the route or the timing at which the player obtained the first game element in the game.

[0015] The information processing program according to the tenth aspect is the information processing program according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and when the player uses it in the first period, the first game element that exhibits a constant effect within the used first period cannot be carried over to the second period.

[0016] The information processing method according to the 11th aspect is a game having a time division for each predetermined period and including the time point when the player obtains a game element, and within the first period which is the predetermined period including the time point when the player obtains the game element, in a game in which the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player can be set, when the first period in which the player obtains the first game element ends, the computer executes a process of converting the first game element, which is set to be transferable to a second period which is the predetermined period after the first period, into a second game element that can be used in the second period.

[0017] The information processing apparatus according to the 12th aspect includes a processor, and the processor is configured to, in a game having a time division for each predetermined period and including the time point when the player obtains a game element, and within the first period which is the predetermined period including the time point when the player obtains the game element, in a game in which the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player can be set, when the first period in which the player obtains the first game element ends, convert the first game element, which is set to be transferable to a second period which is the predetermined period after the first period, into a second game element that can be used in the second period.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, in a game having a time division for each predetermined period, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the value as a game element.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a mode example for implementing the technology of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0021] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the information processing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 10 includes a terminal device 12 and an information processing device 14 used by a player of a game. Examples of the terminal device 12 include computers such as smartphones, tablet-type terminals, and personal computers. Examples of the information processing device 14 include computers such as server computers and cloud servers.

[0022] Each of the terminal device 12 and the information processing device 14 is connected to a network and can transmit and receive data to and from each other. The game progresses by the terminal device 12 and the information processing device 14 transmitting and receiving data via the network. In FIG. 1, an example is shown where the game is provided as a so-called online game, but the disclosed technology is not limited to this mode. When the game can be played offline, the information processing system 10 may not include the information processing device 14. That is, in the present disclosure, the information processing device 14 is not an essential component.

[0023] The terminal device 12 provides a player with an environment for playing a game according to the application program by executing the application program for playing the game. The terminal device 12 includes an input device and a display device such as a touch panel display, and the player makes various inputs via the input device. Further, the display device displays various game screens based on the data transmitted from the information processing device 14. A game is a collection of activities and rules for playing and competing. For example, a game is played by a player making full use of strategies and techniques to achieve a specific goal. Games are played, for example, to achieve various goals such as competitive goals like winning, combat goals like defeating enemies, educational goals like learning, and narrative goals like completing the progression of a scenario. A game may be in a competitive format or a non-competitive format.

[0024] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the information processing system 10 provides a game in which a player defends their own base while dispatching characters, formulating strategies, and conducting internal affairs within the game, and attacks and captures the enemy base to secure territory. The game according to this embodiment has a time division for each predetermined period. Specifically, it is a game in which one year is divided into three-month intervals, and each three-month period is one season. Hereinafter, this one three-month period will be referred to as a "season". Note that the season is not limited to a period in which one year is divided. Also, the seasons may be periods of different lengths for each season rather than periods of the same length.

[0025] In such a game, if there is too much difference in the number of game elements held by players at the start of a season, the fun of the game may be reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, for some game elements, the period within the season including the time when the player obtains the game element is set as the expiration date of the game element. That is, the game provided by the information processing system 10 is a game in which the period within the season including the time when the player obtains the game element can be set as the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player. Note that the game element is, for example, an element constituting a game such as an item and a character.

[0026] For the game elements obtained by the player at the end of the season, the period from the time when the player obtains the game element to the end of the season is shorter than that of the game elements obtained at the beginning of the season. That is, for the game elements obtained by the player at the end of the season, the period during which the game elements can be used is shorter than that of the game elements obtained at the beginning of the season. For this reason, the value of the game elements whose expiration date is set as the period within the season including the time when the player obtains the game element decreases as the acquisition time approaches the end of the season.

[0027] Therefore, in the game according to this embodiment, it is possible to set whether the game element can be carried over to a season after the season including the time when the player obtains the game element. Hereinafter, the season including the time when the player obtains the game element is referred to as the "first season", and the season after the first season is referred to as the "second season". In this embodiment, the case where the second season is one season immediately after the first season will be described as an example, but the second season may be a plurality of seasons immediately after the first season. Also, the second season may be a season a predetermined number of seasons after the first season, such as a season one year after the first season.

[0028] Next, referring to FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 14 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a memory 21 as a temporary storage area, and a non-volatile storage unit 22. Further, the information processing apparatus 14 includes a display device 23 such as a liquid crystal display, an input device 24 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a network I / F (InterFace) 25 connected to a network. The CPU 20, the memory 21, the storage unit 22, the display device 23, the input device 24, and the network I / F 25 are connected to a bus 27. The CPU 20 is an example of a processor according to the disclosed technology.

[0029] The storage unit 22 is realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, or the like. An information processing program 30 is stored in the storage unit 22 as a storage medium. The CPU 20 reads the information processing program 30 from the storage unit 22, expands it in the memory 21, and executes the expanded information processing program 30.

[0030] In addition, a setting table 32 and a conversion table 34 are stored in the storage unit 22. FIG. 3 shows an example of the setting table 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the setting table 32 is a table in which, for each game element, a name for identifying the game element and a reset flag for determining the expiration date of the game element are stored in association with each other. In the present embodiment, any one of three values, "0", "1", and "2", is set as the reset flag. A game element with a reset flag of "0" represents a game element for which an expiration date is not set, that is, a game element that can be used indefinitely. A game element with a reset flag of "1" represents a game element for which the expiration date is within the first season. A game element with a reset flag of "2" represents a game element that can be carried over to the second season.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows an example of the conversion table 34. As shown in FIG. 4, in the conversion table 34, a game element before conversion and a game element after conversion are stored in association with each other. Further, the conversion table 34 stores the number of game elements after conversion obtained when one game element before conversion is converted into a game element after conversion. In the present embodiment, the game element before conversion is a game element that can be carried over to the second season. In the example of FIG. 4, the game element "Item 5" which is set to be carryable is converted into a game element "Item 5 (with season reset)" whose expiration date is within the season. In the present embodiment, since the game element whose expiration date is within the season is reset at the end of the season, that is, the number of items held by the player becomes zero, it is denoted as "with season reset" in the example of FIG. 4.

[0032] Further, the storage unit 22 stores data regarding the player (hereinafter referred to as "player data") including game elements held by the player.

[0033] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 14 includes an acquisition unit 40, a reception unit 42, a conversion unit 44, and a display control unit 46. When the CPU 20 executes the information processing program 30, it functions as the acquisition unit 40, the reception unit 42, the conversion unit 44, and the display control unit 46.

[0034] When the first season in which the player obtains a game element (hereinafter referred to as "first game element") ends, the acquisition unit 40 acquires a list of all the first game elements held by the player from the storage unit 22.

[0035] The reception unit 42 receives an operation by the player. When the player performs an operation via the input device of the terminal device 12, operation information representing the operation content is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 14 and received by the reception unit 42.

[0036] The conversion unit 44 converts, among all the first game elements acquired by the acquisition unit 40, the first game elements that are set to be carry-over possible to the second season into game elements that can be used in the second season (hereinafter referred to as "second game elements"). In the present embodiment, the second game elements are game elements for which the second season is set as the expiration date, and are game elements that cannot be carried over to seasons after the second season. That is, the second game elements obtained by the above conversion at the end of the first season become game elements with a reset flag of "1" in the next second season.

[0037] Also, the conversion unit 44 makes the first game elements, for which the first season is the expiration date, among all the first game elements acquired by the acquisition unit 40, unusable in the second season. In this case, the conversion unit 44 may make the first game elements unusable by leaving them as game elements held by the player while preventing the player from using them, or may make the first game elements unusable by deleting the first game elements from the group of game elements held by the player.

[0038] Specifically, the conversion unit 44 refers to the reset flag column of the setting table 32 for each of the first game elements. Then, for the first game elements with a reset flag of "1", the conversion unit 44 makes them unusable in the second season. Also, for the first game elements with a reset flag of "2", the conversion unit 44 refers to the conversion table 34 and converts them into the second game elements as the conversion destination.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first game element as the source of conversion and the second game element as the destination of conversion are game elements that, when used by a player, provide effects that are of the same type and have the same effect magnitude. The same-type effects referred to here mean that the effects obtained, such as stamina recovery and attack power increase, are of the same type. Also, the same effect magnitude means that the amount of stamina recovered and the increase range of attack power, etc., are the same. The first game element and the second game element may be game elements that, when used by a player, provide effects that are of the same type but have different effect magnitudes.

[0040] When the reception unit 42 receives, as a specific operation by the player on the first game element, an operation representing an instruction to make the first game element usable, the conversion unit 44 refers to the conversion table 34 and converts the first game element on which the player has received the specific operation into a game element that is usable in the season including the time point when the specific operation was received. As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the player inputs the instruction via a conversion instruction input screen for inputting an instruction to make the first game element usable. That is, even if the game element can be carried over to the second season, by inputting this instruction, the player can use the game element in the season when the instruction was input. As shown in FIG. 6, on the conversion instruction input screen, an icon image representing the first game element as the source of conversion, an icon image representing the game element as the destination of conversion, and buttons for specifying the number of game elements to be converted, etc., are displayed. Details of the mark M on the conversion instruction input screen will be described later.

[0041] The display control unit 46 performs control to display in an identifiable manner whether the first game element can be carried over to the second season. Specifically, the display control unit 46 generates different display data for each reset flag in the conversion table 34, and performs the above-described display control by transmitting the generated display data to the terminal device 12 via the network I / F 25. The CPU included in the terminal device 12 receives the display data transmitted from the display control unit 46, and controls the display of the display of the terminal device 12 based on the received data.

[0042] As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, by this control, whether the first game element can be carried over to the second season is displayed in an identifiable manner. As shown in FIG. 7, for the first game element with the reset flag "0", there is no mark M, and an icon image representing the first game element is displayed. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, for the game element with the reset flag "1" and the game element with the reset flag "2", different marks M are displayed respectively at the upper right of the icon image representing the first game element, making them identifiable. Therefore, the player can identify whether the first game element, which has the same effect, that is, the first game element with the same icon image, can be carried over to the second season by checking the presence or absence of the mark M and the image of the mark M. In the example of FIG. 7, the central game element indicates that it is the game element with the reset flag "2", that is, the game element that can be carried over to the second season. Also, in the example of FIG. 7, the right game element indicates that it is the game element with the reset flag "1", that is, the game element with an expiration date within the first season. Note that whether the first game element can be carried over to the second season may be identifiable by means other than the mark M, for example, by different colors of the outer frame of the icon image representing the first game element.

[0043] The display control unit 46 may perform control to display information regarding a second game element corresponding to a first game element when the reception unit 42 receives an operation indicating an instruction to display information regarding the second game element corresponding to the first game element as a specific operation by the player on the first game element. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 8 as an example, the display control unit 46 refers to the conversion table 34, generates display data regarding the second game element corresponding to the first game element on which the player has performed a specific operation, and performs the above-described display control by transmitting the generated display data to the terminal device 12 via the network I / F 25. The CPU included in the terminal device 12 receives the display data transmitted from the display control unit 46 and controls the display of the display of the terminal device 12 based on the received data. In the example of FIG. 8, an icon image representing the second game element, the name of the second game element, and the effects obtained when the second game element is used are displayed.

[0044] Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the operation of the information processing apparatus 14 will be described. When the CPU 20 executes the information processing program 30, the game element conversion process shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

[0045] In step S10 of FIG. 9, the CPU 20 executes a process defined as a process for starting the first season. In step S11, the player acquires the first game element. In step S12, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the time set as the end date and time of the first season has arrived, thereby determining whether or not it is the timing to end the first season. If this determination is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S14.

[0046] In step S14, the reception unit 42 determines whether it has received, as a specific operation by the player on the first game element, an operation indicating that the first game element can be used. If this determination is negative, the process returns to step S12. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the conversion unit 44 refers to the conversion table 34 and converts the first game element on which the player has received a specific operation into a game element that can be used in the season including the time point when the specific operation was received in step S14. Then, the conversion unit 44 performs control to store the game element obtained by the conversion in the storage unit 22 as player data and assigns it to the player. When the process of step S16 ends, the process returns to step S12.

[0047] On the other hand, if the determination in step S12 is positive, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the CPU 20 executes a process defined as a process for ending the first season. In step S20, the acquisition unit 40 acquires from the storage unit 22 a list of all the first game elements possessed by the player. The processes from step S22 to step S28 are executed for each of the first game elements acquired in step S20.

[0048] In step S22, the conversion unit 44 refers to the reset flag column of the setting table 32 for the first game element. If the reset flag of the first game element is "1", the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, as described above, the conversion unit 44 makes the first game element unusable in the second season. That is, the CPU 20 deletes the first game element from the player's possessions at the end of the first season. When the process of step S24 ends, the process proceeds to step S30.

[0049] When the reset flag of the first game element is "2", the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, as described above, the conversion unit 44 refers to the conversion table 34 and converts the first game element into the second game element. In step S28, the conversion unit 44 performs control to store the second game element obtained in step S26 in the storage unit 22 as player data. Thereby, the conversion unit 44 assigns the second game element to the player. When the process of step S28 ends, the process proceeds to step S30.

[0050] When the reset flag of the first game element is "0", the processes from step S24 to step S28 are not executed, and the process proceeds to step S30. That is, the game element with the reset flag of "0" continues to be in a usable state also in the second season, similar to the first season. In step S30, the CPU 20 executes the process defined as the process for starting the second season. When the process of step S30 ends, the game element conversion process ends.

[0051] As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a game having a temporal division every predetermined period, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the value as a game element.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the first game element that is set to be transferable to the second season may also be usable within the first season. In this case, when the player uses the first game element in the first season, the conversion unit 44 converts the first game element into the second game element when the first season ends.

[0053] Also, in the above embodiment, when the player obtains a game element and the time from the time of obtaining the game element to the end time of the first season is equal to or less than the threshold value, the CPU 20 may set the game element obtained by the player as a game element transferable to the second season.

[0054] Also, in the above embodiment, whether the first game element can be carried over to the second season may vary depending on the route by which the player obtains the first game element in the game. For example, when the acquisition route is acquisition by lottery called gacha, purchase from a game element sales place using real currency in the game, and acquisition of distributed game elements by participating in a live event, the CPU 20 may set the game element as a game element that can be carried over to the second season. Also, whether the first game element can be carried over to the second season may vary depending on the timing when the player obtains the first game element in the game. For example, the CPU 20 may set the first game element as a game element that can be carried over to the second season when the player obtains the first game element during a specific time such as during a campaign period.

[0055] Also, a first game element that has a constant effect within the first season when used by the player may not be carryable over to the second season. For example, the CPU 20 may set a first game element that has a constant effect such that the experience points obtained by the player increase by 10% during the season in which the player uses it as a game element that cannot be carried over to the second season.

[0056] In addition, the processes that the CPU 20 reads and executes the software (program) in the above embodiment may be executed by various processors other than the CPU. Examples of the processor in this case include a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacturing, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a dedicated electric circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) having a circuit configuration designed specifically for executing specific processes. Further, the processes that the CPU 20 reads and executes the software (program) may be executed by one of these various processors, or may be executed by a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a plurality of FPGAs, a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, etc.). More specifically, the hardware structure of these various processors is an electric circuit formed by combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the mode in which the information processing program 30 is pre-stored (installed) in the storage unit 22 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing program 30 may be provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Further, the information processing program 30 may be in a form downloaded from an external device via a network.

Explanation of Signs

[0058] 10 Information processing system 12 Terminal device 14 Information processing device 20 CPU 30 Information processing program 40 Acquisition unit 42 Reception unit 44 Conversion unit 46 Display control unit

Claims

1. In a game where a first period having a time division for each predetermined period and including the point in time when a player obtains a game element can be set as the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player, when the first period in which the player obtains the first game element ends, the first game element that is set to be carryable over to a second period, which is the predetermined period after the first period, is converted into a second game element that can be used in the second period An information processing program for causing a computer to execute the process.

2. The second game element is a game element whose expiration date is set within the second period and that cannot be carried over to a period after the second period The information processing program according to claim 1.

3. Perform control to visibly identify whether or not the first game element can be carried over to the second period The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2 for causing a computer to execute the process.

4. When a specific operation by the player on the first game element is received, convert the first game element on which the specific operation by the player has been received into a game element that can be used in the predetermined period including the point in time when the specific operation was received The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2 for causing a computer to execute the process.

5. When the player uses the first game element in the first period, when the first period ends, convert the first game element into the second game element The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2 for causing a computer to execute the process.

6. The first game element and the second game element are game elements that provide effects of the same system when used The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. When a specific operation by the player on the first game element is received, perform control to display information regarding the second game element corresponding to the first game element on which the specific operation by the player has been received The information processing program according to claim 6 for causing a computer to execute the process.

8. When the player obtains a game element and the time from the point of obtaining the game element to the end point of the first period is equal to or less than a threshold value, set the game element obtained by the player as a game element that can be carried over to the second period The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2 for causing a computer to execute a process

9. Whether the first game element can be carried over to the second period depends on the route by which the player obtained the first game element in the game or the timing of acquisition The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2

10. When the player uses it in the first period, the first game element that has a constant effect within the used first period cannot be carried over to the second period The information processing program according to claim 1 or claim 2

11. In a game that has a time interval for each predetermined period and in which the first period including the point in time when the player obtained a game element can be set as the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player, when the first period in which the player obtained the first game element ends, convert the first game element that is set to be transferable to a second period, which is a predetermined period after the first period, into a second game element that can be used in the second period An information processing method in which a computer executes a process

12. Comprising a processor, the processor In a game that has a time interval for each predetermined period and in which the first period including the point in time when the player obtained a game element can be set as the expiration date of the game element obtained by the player, when the first period in which the player obtained the first game element ends, convert the first game element that is set to be transferable to a second period, which is a predetermined period after the first period, into a second game element that can be used in the second period An information processing apparatus

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