Program and system

Abstract

SOLUTION: According to at least one embodiment of this disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to function as a content setting unit configured to set, based on selection by a first user among a plurality of users, a real position with which content in a virtual space in which the plurality of users can participate is associated, and a content progressing unit configured to allow the content to progress when at least one or more users among the plurality of users reach within a predetermined range from the real position. In the program, the content setting section may set the real position on the basis of selection by the first user from a limited settable range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and a system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 states that "the determining means 54 makes the generation point corresponding to one player different from the generation point corresponding to another player" (paragraph 0054). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-164891 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The purpose is to increase interest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, a program is provided that causes a computer to function as a content setting unit that sets a real-world location to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is associated based on the selection of a first user among the multiple users, and a content progression unit that enables the content to progress when at least one user among the multiple users arrives within a predetermined range from the real-world location.

[0005] In the above program, the content setting section may set the real position based on a selection by the first user from within a limited settable range.

[0006] Any of the above programs may cause the computer to function as a range determination unit that determines the settable range based on at least one of the location or attributes of at least one of the multiple users, location characteristics, or weather information.

[0007] In any of the above programs, the content progression unit may enable progression of the content when at least one or more users, including the first user, arrive within the predetermined range from the real-world location.

[0008] In any of the above programs, the content setting unit may set the content of the content based on information regarding the movement of at least one or more users, including the first user, from the actual location to reach within the predetermined range.

[0009] Any of the above programs may cause the computer to function as a display processing unit that displays a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the multiple users in a manner according to the distance between the position of the first user and the real position.

[0010] In any of the above programs, the display processing unit may display each of the multiple contents on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the multiple users in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the position of the content has been set based on a user selection.

[0011] In any of the above programs, the content setting unit may set at least one or more meeting users to meet, the actual location as the meeting place, and the meeting time based on instructions from the first user, and any of the above programs may cause the computer to function as a meeting notification unit that notifies the at least one or more meeting users of meeting information including the actual location and the meeting time.

[0012] Any of the above programs may cause the computer to function as a display processing unit that displays the positions of the at least one or more meeting users on a terminal device of the first user.

[0013] In any of the above programs, the content progression unit may allow the content to progress when at least one of the at least one meeting users arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location, and may allow other users who are not meeting to participate in the content.

[0014] Any of the above programs may cause a computer to function as a group management unit that manages groups that can be formed by the multiple users located within a predetermined distance range, and the content setting unit may set the real location to be associated with the content that the multiple users in the group can participate in based on the selection of the first user.

[0015] In any of the above programs, the content may be accessible only to the plurality of users in the group.

[0016] In any of the above programs, the content may enable the plurality of users to participate at a common timing and cooperate toward a common goal.

[0017] In a second aspect of the present invention, a system is provided that includes a content setting unit that sets a real-world location to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is associated based on a selection by a first user among the multiple users, and a content progression unit that enables progression of the content when at least one user among the multiple users arrives within a predetermined range from the real-world location.

[0018] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]1 shows the configuration of a system 10 according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 shows the configuration of a server device 20 according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] An example of a data structure related to each user stored in the database 200 is shown below. [Figure 4] The configuration of a terminal device 30 according to this embodiment is shown together with an input device 50 and a display device 60. [Figure 5] 10 shows a processing flow in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] The configuration of the content processing unit 230 according to this embodiment is shown together with the instruction input unit 210 and the display processing unit 240. [Figure 7] 10 shows an example of a group processing flow in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 shows an example of a content processing flow in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] An example of the data structure for each group stored in the database 200 is shown below. [Figure 10] 1 shows a first example of a data structure for each piece of content stored in the database 200. [Figure 11] 2 shows a second example of the data structure for each piece of content stored in the database 200. [Figure 12] 1 shows a first example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 shows a second example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 shows a third example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 shows a fourth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 shows a fifth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 shows a sixth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 18] 11 shows a seventh example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 19] 13 shows an eighth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 20] 13 shows a ninth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 21] 10 shows a tenth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 22] 11 shows an eleventh example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 23] 12 shows a twelfth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 24] 13 shows a thirteenth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 25] 14 shows a fourteenth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 26] 15 shows a fifteenth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 27] 22 illustrates an example computer 2200 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0021] 1 shows a system 10 according to this embodiment. The system 10 includes a server device 20, a plurality of terminal devices 30, and a network 40. The system 10 has a function of holding an event associated with a real-world location and allowing one or more users to participate using one or more terminal devices 30, respectively.

[0022] The server device 20 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 30 via a network 40. The server device 20 receives access from one or more terminal devices 30 and provides the terminal devices 30 with content associated with real locations. The server device 20 may have a function of providing in-game content, live streaming, merchandise sales, or other content as content associated with real locations. Such content may be content associated with real locations that can be used by playing, operating, interacting, or the like via the terminal devices 30. In the present embodiment, the server device 20 can, for example, provide a game environment to the terminal devices 30 and also provide in-game content associated with real locations.

[0023] The server device 20 may be a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a workstation, a server computer, a general-purpose computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone, or may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system is also a computer in the broad sense. The server device 20 may also be implemented as one or more virtual computer environments executable within a computer. Alternatively, the server device 20 may be a dedicated computer designed for the system 10, or may be dedicated hardware implemented using dedicated circuitry.

[0024] The terminal device 30 is connected to the server device 20 via a network 40. The terminal device 30 may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a game console, or any other terminal device capable of inputting and outputting data.

[0025] The network 40 connects the server device 20 and a plurality of terminal devices 30. The network 40 may be configured to include, for example, various wired or wireless networks such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network, or a mobile phone network, or a combination thereof.

[0026] 2 shows the server device 20 according to this embodiment. The server device 20 includes a database 200, an instruction input unit 210, a game processing unit 220, a content processing unit 230, and a display processing unit 240.

[0027] The database 200 stores user information about users and content information about events. In this embodiment, the user information is data recording the game progress and play history of each user who is a player of a game as an example of the content to be provided. In this embodiment, the content information is a programmed game scenario, images, sounds, or other data related to the game as an example of the content to be provided. The database 200 may be realized by at least a portion of the storage area of ​​an external storage device such as a hard disk drive connected to the server device 20, or may be realized by a storage device external to the server device 20 provided, for example, by a cloud storage service or the like.

[0028] The instruction input unit 210 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 30 via the network 40. The instruction input unit 210 receives various instructions from the terminal devices 30, including various operations performed by the user while playing the game and various operations related to events performed by the user. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the received game-related instructions to the game processing unit 220. The instruction input unit 210 may also function as a location information input unit that inputs location information indicating the location of the terminal device 30 from the terminal device 30.

[0029] The game processing unit 220 is connected to the database 200, the instruction input unit 210, and the display processing unit 240. In response to game-related instructions received from the instruction input unit 210, the game processing unit 220 performs processing for progressing the game based on user information and content information stored in the database 200. In the example of this embodiment, the server device 20 provides a role-playing game as the content to be provided. In response to user instructions within the game space, the game processing unit 220 performs various game processes, such as organizing a group (also referred to as a "party") including one or more characters (virtual people or creatures such as animals placed in the game space), equipping each character with items such as weapons or armor, purchasing or selling items, moving the party, having the party fight enemies encountered, and developing characters based on combat experience. The server device 20 may provide any type of game other than a role-playing game.

[0030] In this embodiment, the game processing unit 220 may provide a location-based game that uses location information of the terminal device 30. "Location information" may include at least one of real-world location information and virtual-space location information. The real-world location information may include at least one of real-world coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.), number of steps from a certain point, travel distance, travel time, travel speed, mode or direction of travel, atmospheric pressure, weather, region, topography, place name (city name, country name, etc.), building name, or installed object name. "Location information" may be obtained using at least one of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a step sensor, a collision sensor, an infrared sensor, a beacon, radio waves, a radio wave base station, or an imaging device.

[0031] The location information of the virtual space may include at least one of the following information: coordinates (x, y, and z coordinates) in the virtual space defined in the system 10, the type of virtual space, the name of a building in the virtual space, or the name of an object in the virtual space. The location information of the virtual space may be associated with real-world location information. Therefore, the coordinates in the virtual space may be determined based on real-world coordinates. The location information of the virtual space may be information indicating a location in a game space, a live space, or a metaverse provided by the system 10.

[0032] Content processing unit 230 is connected to database 200, instruction input unit 210, and display processing unit 240. Alternatively to the configuration shown in this figure, content processing unit 230 may be further connected to game processing unit 220. Content processing unit 230 performs processing for progressing through the content based on the user information and content information stored in database 200, in response to instructions regarding the content received from instruction input unit 210.

[0033] The display processing unit 240 is connected to the terminal device 30 via the network 40. The display processing unit 240 performs display processing for displaying various display screens relating to games and events on the terminal device 30 as the display target in accordance with instructions from the game processing unit 220 and the content processing unit 230.

[0034] 3 shows an example of the data structure for each user stored in database 200. Database 200 stores game state data for each of multiple users. The game state data includes information about each user, such as "user ID," "in-game currency," "in-game rank," "location information," "possessed character information," "possessed item information," and "friend ID."

[0035] "User ID" is information for identifying the corresponding user and may be a number uniquely determined within the system 10. "In-game currency" indicates the remaining amount of in-game currency possessed by the corresponding user. "In-game currency" may be stored separately into the remaining amount of paid in-game currency possessed by the corresponding user and the remaining amount of free in-game currency. "In-game rank" indicates the rank of the corresponding user in the game.

[0036] The "location information" indicates the location information of the corresponding user. The location information may be information on the location of the terminal device 30 used by the corresponding user or information on a location similar to the location. The location information may also be information on the location of a device (such as a wearable device) used by the corresponding user other than the terminal device 30 or information on a location similar to the location. The location information of the corresponding user may be estimated from information from an external device linked to the system 10 (such as footage captured by a surveillance camera installed in the real space, measurement information from various sensors installed in the real space, etc.). The "location information" may be only the current location information of the corresponding user, or may also include a location history including the corresponding user's location information at each past point in time. The instruction input unit 210 of the server device 20 may acquire the location information from the terminal device 30 via the network 40. The server device 20 may acquire the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the location of the terminal device 30 as the location information. Alternatively, the server device 20 may acquire, from the terminal device 30, for example, a place name, a location ID, or other information that can identify the location of the terminal device 30 with a certain degree of accuracy, as location information.

[0037] "Owned character information" indicates information about one or more characters possessed by the corresponding user. Character information may include the corresponding character's type, attributes, rarity (difficulty of obtaining in the game), HP (hit points), MP (magic points), etc. "Owned item information" indicates information about one or more items possessed by the corresponding user. The items may include the type and quantity of the corresponding item. "Friend ID" indicates the user ID of another user linked to the corresponding user.

[0038] The database 200 may store history information including a part or all of the game play history for each of a plurality of users. The history information may include the history of each user's participation in or application for an event.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment, together with the input device 50 and the display device 60. The input device 50 may be a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch sensor of a touch panel, or may be an imaging device such as a camera or a barcode reader, and inputs user instructions and the like for the server device 20 of the system 10 and supplies them to the terminal device 30. The display device 60 may be an image display unit such as a display or a touch panel, and displays a display screen output by the server device 20 of the system 10. The input device 50 and the display device 60 may be integrated with the terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 includes a terminal input processing unit 300, a terminal status acquisition unit 305, a terminal transmission unit 310, a terminal reception unit 320, and a terminal display processing unit 330.

[0040] The terminal input processing unit 300 is connected to the input device 50 and the terminal transmission unit 310. The terminal input processing unit 300 receives user instructions from the input device 50 and supplies the instructions to the terminal transmission unit 310.

[0041] The terminal status acquisition unit 305 is connected to the terminal transmission unit 310. The terminal status acquisition unit 305 receives location information of the terminal device 30 from a location sensor such as a GPS receiver provided in the terminal device 30, and supplies the location information to the terminal transmission unit 310.

[0042] The terminal transmitting unit 310 is connected to the network 40. The terminal transmitting unit 310 supplies the user's instructions received from the terminal input processing unit 300 to the server device 20 via the network 40. The terminal transmitting unit 310 supplies the location information of the terminal device 30 received from the terminal state acquiring unit 305 to the server device 20 via the network 40.

[0043] The terminal receiving unit 320 is connected to the network 40 and the terminal display processing unit 330. The terminal receiving unit 320 receives, via the network 40, various display screens that the server device 20 outputs to the terminal device 30.

[0044] The terminal display processing unit 330 is connected to the display device 60. The terminal display processing unit 330 performs processing for displaying the display screen received from the terminal receiving unit 320 on the display device 60.

[0045] In this embodiment, the terminal device 30 is configured to transmit user instructions input to the input device 50 to the server device 20, and to supply the display screen output by the server device 20 to the display device 60 for output, thereby reducing the processing load on the terminal device 30. Alternatively, the terminal device 30 may include a component corresponding to at least a portion of at least one of the instruction input unit 210, the game processing unit 220, the content processing unit 230, and the display processing unit 240 shown in relation to FIG. 2, and at least a portion of the processing performed by the component may be executed locally within the terminal device 30.

[0046] 5 shows a processing flow in the server device 20 according to this embodiment. In response to receiving an instruction to start a game from a certain terminal device 30, the server device 20 starts the processing flow shown in this figure to provide a game to the user of that terminal device 30.

[0047] In S502 (step 502), the game processing unit 220 and the content processing unit 230 refer to the game state stored in the database 200 for the target user, and instruct the display processing unit 240 to generate a display screen according to the game state. The display processing unit 240 performs processing to generate a game screen and display it on the terminal device 30 of the target user in accordance with the instructions from the game processing unit 220 and the content processing unit 230. For example, if the target user's party is moving within the game space, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen including an image of the party's surroundings; if the target user is selecting an item to be equipped by a character in the party, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen prompting the target user to select an item; and if the target user's party is in combat, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen prompting the target user to input a combat action for each of one or more characters.

[0048] In S504, the user of the terminal device 30, viewing the display screen displayed on the display device 60, inputs an instruction corresponding to the display screen via the input device 50 and transmits the instruction to the server device 20. The terminal device 30 transmits the location information acquired by the terminal state acquisition unit 305 to the server device 20. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the instruction from the terminal device 30 to the game processing unit 220 or the content processing unit 230 depending on the content of the instruction. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the location information of the terminal device 30 to the game processing unit 220 or the content processing unit 230.

[0049] In S506, the game processing unit 220 or the content processing unit 230 performs processing in accordance with the instruction input from the instruction input unit 210 in S504. For example, the game processing unit 220 performs processing such as moving the target user's party within the game space, determining items to be equipped to characters in the party, and having the characters attack a specified enemy using a specified means. The game processing unit 220 may perform processing such as moving the target user's party within the game space in response to a change in the target user's location information input from the instruction input unit 210. For example, the game processing unit 220 may perform processing such as moving the target user's party to a position within the game space corresponding to the target user's location information in response to a change in the target user's location information. Furthermore, the content processing unit 230 may perform processing related to the content based on the target user's location information input from the instruction input unit 210. For example, the content processing unit 230 performs processing related to the content if the target user's location information input from the instruction input unit 210 satisfies the requirements for executing the content. If the location information of the target user input from the instruction input unit 210 does not satisfy the requirements for executing the content, the content processing unit 230 does not need to perform processing related to the content.

[0050] In S508, the game processing unit 220 or the content processing unit 230 changes the game state stored in the database 200 in accordance with the processing in S506. For example, the game processing unit 220 updates the position in the game space of each character belonging to the party in the possessed character information shown in FIG. 3 as the party moves within the game space. When the game processing unit 220 equips a character with an item, the game processing unit 220 adds identification information of the equipped item to a data structure indicating a list of items equipped by the character, which is included in the possessed character information. When a character attacks a specified enemy, the game processing unit 220 performs processing such as decrementing an index value indicating the health of the enemy, such as HP, associated with the specified enemy. When the enemy attacks a character, the game processing unit 220 performs processing such as decrementing an index value indicating the health of the character, such as HP, associated with the character in the possessed character information. The game processing unit 220 may update the game state using various other methods in accordance with the instructions of the target user and the progress of the game. Furthermore, the content processing unit 230 changes the game state stored in the database 200 in accordance with the result of the content, thereby reflecting the result of the content in the game state.

[0051] In S502 after returning from S508, the display processing unit 240 performs processing to display a screen after the change in the game state on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30.

[0052] 6 shows the configuration of the content processing unit 230 according to this embodiment, together with the instruction input unit 210 and the display processing unit 240. In this embodiment, the system 10 allows the user to select a real-world location to which content in a virtual space is to be associated. This allows the system 10 to provide an environment in which the user can participate in content more efficiently than in a case in which the user cannot select a real-world location to which content in a virtual space is to be associated.

[0053] In this embodiment, "content" may refer to content that a user who meets the participation conditions can participate in using the terminal device 30. Alternatively, "content" may refer to content held in a virtual space. Therefore, "content" does not necessarily include content held in real space. "Content" may be content that a user can participate in using the terminal device 30 when the user is located at or near a real location associated with the content within a predetermined time, and as a result, the user's terminal device 30 is located at or near that real location. As an example, "content" may be content in which at least a portion of the user's interaction with the content (images, videos, sounds, vibrations, etc.) is provided via the terminal device 30. "Content" may grant the user rights, such as the ability to purchase a specific item via the terminal device 30.

[0054] In this embodiment, "content" may be something that allows multiple users to participate at a common time and cooperate toward a common goal. "Content" may be an event. "Event" may be an event in which a user (host) who organizes the event and invites participants and users (guests) who apply for the invitation and participate in the event participate cooperatively. Alternatively, "event" may be an event in which a user (host) who first issues an instruction to start event recruitment and a user (guest) who issues an instruction to start event recruitment second or later participate cooperatively. Alternatively, "event" may be an event hosted by a person or organization other than a user, such as an event organizer or an event management organization.

[0055] In this embodiment, the system 10 may provide users with a location-based game that uses location information from the terminal device 30. In this case, an "event" may be one in which participating users compete against each other for points in the event. For example, an "event" may be one in which multiple users cooperate to battle an enemy character (such as an enemy monster) in the game and achieve a common goal of defeating the enemy character, or one in which multiple users cooperate to compete or battle an opposing user (enemy user) and achieve a common goal of defeating the enemy user, or one in which multiple users cooperate to compete or battle a group of enemy users and achieve a common goal of defeating the group of enemy users. If the "event" is one in which a user battles an enemy user or a group of enemy users, the in-game character operated by the user may battle an in-game character operated by the enemy user.

[0056] 2 has a database connection unit 600, an acquisition unit 610, a range determination unit 620, a content setting unit 630, a meeting notification unit 640, a content progression unit 650, and a group management unit 660. The database connection unit 600 is connected to the database 200. The database connection unit 600 processes access to the database 200 from each unit in the content processing unit 230.

[0057] The acquisition unit 610 acquires various inputs by the user from the instruction input unit 210. In the example shown in the figure, the acquisition unit 610 includes a location information acquisition unit 612 and a setting acquisition unit 614. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 610 may include only either the location information acquisition unit 612 or the setting acquisition unit 614.

[0058] The position information acquisition unit 612 is connected to the instruction input unit 210. The position information acquisition unit 612 may acquire position information of the terminal device 30 from the terminal device 30 via the instruction input unit 210. The position information acquisition unit 612 may also acquire position information of a device (such as a wearable device) other than the terminal device 30 used by each user. The position information acquisition unit 612 may acquire information from an external device linked to the system 10 via the instruction input unit 210 (such as images captured by a surveillance camera installed in the real space and measurement information from various sensors installed in the real space), and estimate position information of each user based on the acquired information.

[0059] The setting acquisition unit 614 is connected to the instruction input unit 210. The setting acquisition unit 614 acquires various instructions relating to content settings input by the user of the terminal device 30 from the terminal device 30 via the instruction input unit 210.

[0060] The range determination unit 620 is connected to the database connection unit 600 and the location information acquisition unit 612. The range determination unit 620 determines a settable range in which a user can set content, based on location information of at least one user acquired from the location information acquisition unit 612. The range determination unit 620 may determine the settable range based on geographic information acquired from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600.

[0061] The content setting unit 630 is connected to the database connection unit 600, the setting acquisition unit 614, and the range determination unit 620. The content setting unit 630 sets a real location to which content is to be associated, based on various instructions related to content setting acquired from the setting acquisition unit 614 and the settable range determined by the range determination unit 620. The content setting unit 630 may set at least one or more meeting users to be reunited, a real location as the meeting place, and a meeting time, based on various instructions related to content setting acquired from the setting acquisition unit 614.

[0062] The meeting notification unit 640 is connected to the database connection unit 600, the content setting unit 630, and the display processing unit 240. The meeting notification unit 640 instructs the display processing unit 240 to notify the meeting user of meeting information including the meeting place and meeting time. The meeting notification unit 640 may acquire the meeting information and information about the meeting user from the content setting unit 630, or may acquire it from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600.

[0063] The content progression unit 650 is connected to the database connection unit 600 and the location information acquisition unit 612. The content progression unit 650 performs processing to progress the content based on the user information and content information stored in the database 200. The content progression unit 650 may perform processing to progress the content when predetermined conditions are satisfied. The content progression unit 650 may perform processing to progress the content when the location information of at least one user acquired from the location information acquisition unit 612 is within a predetermined range.

[0064] The group management unit 660 is connected to the database connection unit 600 and the acquisition unit 610. The group management unit 660 manages groups that can be formed by multiple users located within a predetermined distance range. In this embodiment, a "group" may refer to a group of users who can each receive content independently and gather at a real location to receive content together. The group may include users associated with the person actually operating the terminal device 30 as well as some non-player characters (NPCs). The group management unit 660 may manage groups of users who can each receive content independently and gather at a real location to receive content together, in accordance with at least one of various group-related instructions acquired from the acquisition unit 610 or the location information of each terminal device 30. The group management unit 660 may be included in the game processing unit 220 instead of the content processing unit 230.

[0065] 7 shows an example of a group processing flow in the server device 20 according to this embodiment. In response to receiving a group formation instruction from the terminal device 30 of at least one user (first user), the server device 20 starts the processing flow shown in this figure to provide a group formed by multiple users including the first user.

[0066] In S710, the instruction input unit 210 in the server device 20 receives a group formation instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive a group formation instruction not only from the terminal device 30 of the first user, but also from the terminal devices 30 of users other than the first user who intend to form a group together with the first user. Alternatively, the instruction input unit 210 may receive a group formation instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the group formation instruction including information (user IDs, etc.) for identifying all users who intend to form a group.

[0067] In S720, the instruction input unit 210 receives location information of multiple terminal devices 30 including the terminal device 30 of the first user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive location information of the terminal devices 30 of all users who wish to form a group, or may receive location information of the terminal devices 30 of all users who use the service provided by the server device 20. The location information acquisition unit 612 acquires the location information of each terminal device 30 from the instruction input unit 210.

[0068] In S730, the group management unit 660 determines whether multiple users satisfy predetermined group formation conditions. If the terminal devices 30 of multiple users satisfy predetermined location conditions, the group management unit 660 may determine that multiple users satisfy the predetermined group formation conditions. If the terminal devices 30 of multiple users do not satisfy the predetermined location conditions, the group management unit 660 may determine that multiple users do not satisfy the predetermined group formation conditions. For example, if the distance from the location of the terminal device 30 of a first user to the locations of the terminal devices 30 of all other users who wish to form a group is within a threshold value (e.g., 100 m), the group management unit 660 may determine that multiple users satisfy the predetermined location conditions. In this embodiment, the distance may be Euclidean distance (straight-line distance), Manhattan distance, travel distance via roads on a real map or a virtual map, etc. Alternatively, if the distances between the terminal devices 30 of multiple users who wish to form a group are all within a first threshold value (such as 100 m), the group management unit 660 may determine that the multiple users satisfy a predetermined location condition.

[0069] If the plurality of users satisfy the predetermined group formation condition (Yes in S730), the server device 20 proceeds to S740. In S740, the group management unit 660 performs processing to form a group. The group management unit 660 may perform processing to form a group including only the plurality of users, or may perform processing to form a group including the plurality of users and other users. The group management unit 660 may perform processing to form a group including the plurality of users and one or more NPCs. The group management unit 660 may add an NPC to the group to be formed depending on the status (number of users, proficiency level, etc.) of the users who are trying to form the group. If the total number of users who are trying to form a group is less than a predetermined number, the group management unit 660 may add an NPC to the group so that the total number of users in the group becomes the predetermined number. If a parameter indicating the proficiency level of the users who are trying to form the group is below a predetermined threshold, the group management unit 660 may add an NPC to the group. The group management unit 660 may change the group information stored in the database 200 via the database connection unit 600 in response to the formation of a group.

[0070] If multiple users do not satisfy the predetermined group formation conditions (No in S730), the group management unit 660 may not form a group. In this case, the server device 20 may end the processing flow of this figure. Also, even if multiple users' terminal devices 30 do not satisfy the predetermined group formation conditions, the group management unit 660 may determine that a group including only those multiple users has been formed. In this case, the server device 20 may proceed with the processing to S740.

[0071] In S750, group management unit 660 determines whether a predetermined group dissolution condition is met. If the predetermined group dissolution condition is not met (No in S750), group management unit 660 may not dissolve the group. In this case, server device 20 may return the process to S750. Group management unit 660 may dissolve the group even if the predetermined group dissolution condition is not met. In this case, server device 20 may proceed with the process to S760.

[0072] If the predetermined group dissolution condition is satisfied (Yes in S750), the server device 20 proceeds to S760. In S760, the group management unit 660 may dissolve the group in response to the predetermined group dissolution condition being satisfied. A server device 20 having such a function can prevent a group from being dissolved for a long period of time, thereby preventing the effect of allowing users to progress advantageously through the provided content from being excessively activated. The group management unit 660 may dissolve a group in response to the terminal devices 30 of multiple users no longer satisfying a predetermined location condition.

[0073] The group management unit 660 may dissolve a group when the terminal devices 30 of multiple users no longer satisfy the same location condition as the predetermined location condition in S730, or may dissolve a group when the terminal devices 30 of multiple users no longer satisfy a location condition different from the predetermined location condition in S730. For example, when the distance between all of the terminal devices 30 of multiple users included in the group exceeds a second threshold (e.g., 500 m) that is greater than the first threshold, or when a predetermined period of time has passed in which the distance between all of the terminal devices 30 of multiple users included in the group exceeds the second threshold, the group management unit 660 may determine that multiple users no longer satisfy the predetermined location condition. When the distance between the terminal devices 30 of any two users among the multiple users included in the group satisfies the predetermined location condition, the group management unit 660 may not dissolve the group even if the distance between the terminal devices 30 of multiple users included in the group exceeds the first threshold or the second threshold. With server device 20 having such a function, a hurdle of meeting a predetermined location condition is set in order to form a group, and once a group is formed, the conditions for dissolving the group are relaxed compared to the conditions for forming the group, allowing each user to act with a degree of freedom after forming the group. Furthermore, with server device 20 having such a function, even if the distance between users temporarily increases, the group can continue without being disbanded, thereby increasing the interest.

[0074] The group management unit 660 may dissolve a group when a predetermined time (e.g., two hours) has passed since the group was formed. The group management unit 660 may dissolve a group when a predetermined time (e.g., 6:00 AM) has arrived. The group management unit 660 may dissolve a group when a predetermined time period (e.g., late night hours such as after 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM) has arrived. The group management unit 660 may automatically dissolve a group when a predetermined group dissolution condition has been met. The group management unit 660 may change the group information stored in the database 200 via the database connection unit 600 when the group is disbanded.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows an example of a content processing flow in the server device 20 according to this embodiment. In response to receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of at least one user (first user), the server device 20 starts the processing flow of this figure to provide an environment in which the first user can set a real-world location to which content in a virtual space is associated. The server device 20 may start the processing flow of this figure in response to receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of the same user up to a predetermined number of times within a certain period of time (e.g., up to once a day). The server device 20 may also start the processing flow of this figure in response to receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user and the first user consuming a predetermined number of virtual-space items or virtual-space currency.

[0076] In S810, the instruction input unit 210 receives location information of multiple users including at least the first user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive location information of each user's terminal device 30 as the location information of each user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive location information of the first user and one or more users who have a specific relationship with the first user (friendship, belonging to the same group, etc.), or may receive location information of all users who use the service provided by the server device 20. The location information acquisition unit 612 acquires the location information of each user from the instruction input unit 210.

[0077] In S820, the range determination unit 620 determines the configurable range based on at least one of the location or attributes, location characteristics, or weather information of at least one user among the multiple users. This allows the server device 20 to install content in locations where users tend to gather and prohibit installation of content in locations that may be a nuisance to people other than the user, thereby providing an environment in which users can efficiently participate in the content. The range determination unit 620 may acquire at least one of the location or attributes, location characteristics, or weather information of each user from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600. The range determination unit 620 may determine a certain range as the configurable range or may determine multiple real-world location candidates. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on at least one of the location or attributes, location characteristics, or weather information of at least one user among the multiple users who will participate in the content set by the first user. The range determination unit 620 may limit the configurable range so that content cannot be set within a certain range that includes the current location of at least one user. The range determination unit 620 may limit the settable range so that content cannot be set within a certain range including a location where content set by an operator other than the user has been installed. The range determination unit 620 may limit the settable range so that content cannot be set within a certain range including a location where content set by a user other than the first user has been installed.

[0078] The range determination unit 620 may determine a wider settable range as the proficiency (level, rank, etc.) of at least one user is lower. Alternatively, the range determination unit 620 may determine a wider settable range as the proficiency of at least one user is higher. If the proficiency of at least one user is lower than a threshold, the range determination unit 620 may determine a wider settable range compared to when the proficiency is higher than the threshold. Alternatively, the range determination unit 620 may determine a wider settable range if the proficiency of at least one user is higher than a threshold compared to when the proficiency is lower than the threshold.

[0079] The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on location characteristics. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on at least one of terrain characteristics, accessibility, nearby facilities, the number of participating users in other content previously installed, and disasters. Here, "terrain characteristics" may refer to the type of terrain at a certain location and its surroundings. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be an area included in a flat plain with little undulations. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than mountainous areas or high ground. "Accessibility" may refer to the ease with which people can visit a certain location. For example, the range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be an area with good accessibility, such as a plain area with easy walking, an area with little traffic, near a road, or a train station. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than a mountain peak or an area a certain distance from a train station or bus stop, etc. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on accessibility within a certain period, such as within one month from the present. "Nearby facilities" may refer to facilities located in the vicinity of a certain location, for example, facilities located within a certain range from a certain location. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location around a facility where people tend to gather, such as a park, a large shopping mall, or other commercial facility. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than an area where people do not tend to gather, such as a field, and its surrounding areas. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than a facility where access is restricted, such as a factory or private property, and its surrounding areas. "Other content installed in the past" may refer to past content selected by the user or installed by a party other than the user (operation). The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location or its surrounding areas where a large number of users participated in other content installed in the past. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than a location or its surrounding areas where a small number of users participated in other content installed in the past. "Disaster" may refer to a disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon that occurs in a certain location. The range determination unit 620 may determine the settable range to be a location other than an area where a disaster occurred within a certain period of time.The range determination unit 620 may relax the restrictions on the settable range when a disaster occurs within a predetermined period of time within a predetermined range from the actual location of the first user.

[0080] The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on weather information for the actual location. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range based on the weather, temperature, humidity, precipitation, snowfall, wind speed, or the like for the actual location. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location in an area where the current weather is good (sunny, cloudy, etc.). The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range to be a location other than an area where the current weather is bad (rain, snow, thunder, strong wind, etc.). The range determination unit 620 may relax the restriction on the configurable range when the weather for the first user's actual location is bad. For example, when it is raining for the first user's actual location, the range determination unit 620 may relax the restriction on the configurable range so that content can be set even in the vicinity of the first user's current location or the vicinity of the location of content set by an operator, etc. The range determination unit 620 may relax the restriction on the configurable range when the temperature for the first user's actual location is outside a predetermined normal range.

[0081] In S830, the instruction input unit 210 acquires various instructions from the terminal device 30 of the first user regarding the location (real location or location in the virtual space) where the content is to be set. The setting acquisition unit 614 acquires various instructions from the first user regarding the location where the content is to be set from the instruction input unit 210. The content setting unit 630 sets a real location to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is to be associated, based on a selection by the first user among the multiple users. The content setting unit 630 may set the real location to which content in the virtual space is to be associated, based on a selection by the first user from within a limited settable range. This allows the server device 20 to prevent excessive relaxation of restrictions on the real location to which content in the virtual space is to be associated. The content setting unit 630 may set the real location to which content in the virtual space is to be associated, based on a selection by the first user, from within the settable range determined by the range determination unit 620 in S820. The content setting unit 630 may set a real position to which content in the virtual space is to be associated, based on various instructions from the first user regarding a position (real position or position in the virtual space) to which content is to be set, acquired by the setting acquisition unit 614, as the first user's selection. The content setting unit 630 may set a real position to which content is to be associated, based on various instructions from the first user regarding a real position to which content is to be set, acquired by the setting acquisition unit 614, as the first user's selection. The content setting unit 630 may set a real position corresponding to a position in the virtual space to which content is to be associated, based on various instructions from the first user regarding a position in the virtual space to which content is to be set, acquired by the setting acquisition unit 614, as the first user's selection. The content setting unit 630 may allow the first user to select only positions within a settable range as the real position to which content is to be associated. Alternatively, if the real position selected by the first user is outside the settable range, the content setting unit 630 may change the real position to which content is to be associated to within the settable range.

[0082] If the first user belongs to a group, the content setting unit 630 may set a real-world location associated with content in which multiple users in the group can participate, based on the selection of the first user. This allows the server device 20 to provide an environment in which multiple users belonging to the same group can efficiently participate in content. The content setting unit 630 may read group information from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600 and determine whether the first user belongs to a group. The content setting unit 630 may read group information from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600, and, if the first user belongs to a group, may obtain information about other users belonging to the same group. The content setting unit 630 may set the content so that only multiple users in the same group as the first user can participate in the content. This allows the server device 20 to prevent users not included in the group from participating in the content, thereby preventing content restrictions from being overly relaxed and impairing the game's appeal.

[0083] The content setting unit 630 may set the content of the content. The content setting unit 630 may set the content of the content in S830, or may not set the content of the content in S830. The content setting unit 630 may set, as the content of the content, a reward to be awarded to a user who participates in the content. If the content is an event in which multiple users cooperate to defeat an enemy character, the content setting unit 630 may set parameters indicating the rarity and strength of the enemy character, etc. The content setting unit 630 may randomly set the content of the content. Alternatively, the content setting unit 630 may set the content of the content based on information regarding the movement of at least one or more users, including the first user, from a real-world position associated with the content in the virtual space to within a predetermined range. The content setting unit 630 may set the rarity of the enemy character to be higher the longer the movement distance of at least one or more users, including the first user, from a real-world position associated with the content in the virtual space to within the predetermined range.

[0084] In S840, the content setting unit 630 determines whether the first user will meet up. The content setting unit 630 may determine that the first user will meet up when the setting acquisition unit 614 acquires an instruction to meet up from the terminal device 30 of the first user via the instruction input unit 210. The content setting unit 630 may determine that the first user will meet up even if the setting acquisition unit 614 has not acquired an instruction to meet up from the terminal device 30 of the first user via the instruction input unit 210. The content setting unit 630 may determine that the first user will not meet up when the setting acquisition unit 614 acquires an instruction not to meet up from the terminal device 30 of the first user via the instruction input unit 210. The content setting unit 630 may determine that the first user will not meet up even if the setting acquisition unit 614 has not acquired an instruction not to meet up from the terminal device 30 of the first user via the instruction input unit 210. If the content setting unit 630 determines that the first user will not make a rendezvous (No in S840), the server device 20 advances the process to S870.

[0085] If the content setting unit 630 determines that the first user will meet up (Yes in S840), the server device 20 proceeds to S850. In S850, the content setting unit 630 sets at least one or more meeting users with whom the first user will meet up, a real-world location as the meeting place, and a meeting time based on the first user's instructions. This allows the server device 20 to enable users to efficiently participate in content by having them meet up with each other. The content setting unit 630 may acquire the first user's instructions from the setting acquisition unit 614. The content setting unit 630 may acquire at least one of at least one or more meeting users, a real-world location as the meeting place, and a meeting time from the setting acquisition unit 614. When the content setting unit 630 acquires the real-world location as the meeting place from the setting acquisition unit 614, it may determine candidate meeting times based on the first user's current location information acquired from the location information acquisition unit 612. When the content setting unit 630 acquires the real-world location of the meeting place from the setting acquisition unit 614, the content setting unit 630 may determine candidate meeting users based on the current location information of each user acquired from the location information acquisition unit 612. The content setting unit 630 may determine, as candidate meeting users, users who are likely to be at the real-world location of the meeting place at the meeting time based on the real-world location of the meeting place and the meeting time. For example, the content setting unit 630 may determine, as candidate meeting users, users who have been located near the real-world location of the meeting place at a time period similar to the meeting time within a certain period of time. The content setting unit 630 may determine candidate meeting users from all users who use the service provided by the server device 20, or may determine candidate meeting users from users who have a predetermined relationship with the first user.

[0086] The content setting unit 630 may determine, as a candidate meeting place, a location different from the meeting place included in the instruction of the first user. The content setting unit 630 may acquire congestion information of the meeting place at the meeting time included in the instruction of the first user acquired from the setting acquisition unit 614 from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600. The content setting unit 630 may change the meeting place based on the congestion level of the meeting place at the meeting time included in the instruction of the first user. If the value indicating the congestion level of the meeting place at the meeting time included in the instruction of the first user is predicted to exceed a predetermined threshold, the content setting unit 630 may change the meeting place. The content setting unit 630 may determine, as a candidate meeting place, a location that is around the meeting place included in the instruction of the first user and whose value indicating the congestion level around the meeting time is predicted to be lower than a predetermined threshold. The content setting unit 630 may change the meeting place based on traffic information, weather information, and the like acquired from the database 200.

[0087] In S860, the meeting notification unit 640 notifies at least one or more meeting users of meeting information including a real-world location associated with the content and a meeting time. The meeting notification unit 640 may instruct the display processing unit 240 to notify at least one or more meeting users of meeting information including a real-world location and a meeting time. The display processing unit 240 may display a display screen on the terminal device 30 of the meeting users for accepting or rejecting the meeting, or changing at least one of the meeting time or the meeting place. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring an instruction regarding the meeting from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user, the content setting unit 630 may update the information about the meeting users stored in the database 200 via the database connection unit 600. For example, in response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring an instruction to reject the meeting from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user, the content setting unit 630 may delete information about the user from the information about the meeting users. The content processing unit 230 does not need to treat a user who has refused to meet up as a meeting user. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring an instruction to leave the meeting from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user who has accepted the meeting, the content setting unit 630 may update the information about the meeting user stored in the database 200 via the database connection unit 600. In this case, the content processing unit 230 does not need to treat the user who has left the meeting as a meeting user.

[0088] In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring an instruction to change at least one of the meeting time or the meeting place from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user, the display processing unit 240 may display a display screen on the terminal device 30 of the other meeting users for accepting or rejecting the meeting, or for changing at least one of the meeting time or the meeting place. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring instructions to accept the meeting from the terminal devices 30 of all the meeting users, the content setting unit 630 may temporarily install content at a position associated with the meeting place. When the content is temporarily installed, the display processing unit 240 may not display the position where the content is temporarily installed on the terminal device 30 of users other than the meeting user. When the content is temporarily installed, the display processing unit 240 may not display the position where the content is temporarily installed on the terminal device 30 of the meeting user, or may display the position in a manner different from that when at least one or more meeting users have arrived within a predetermined range from the meeting place.

[0089] The display processing unit 240 may display the locations of at least one or more meeting users on the terminal device 30 of the first user. This allows the server device 20 to provide the first user with an environment in which the status of the meeting can be confirmed. The display processing unit 240 may display at least one of the avatars of the meeting users, the distance from the location of the meeting users to the set meeting place, or the estimated time the meeting users will arrive at the meeting place on the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display processing unit 240 may display the locations of meeting users who have accepted the meeting on the terminal device 30 of the first user, but may not display the locations of meeting users who have rejected the meeting on the terminal device 30 of the first user. As a method of displaying the locations of the meeting users, the display processing unit 240 may display pictorial information such as an icon or avatar corresponding to the meeting users on the terminal device 30 of the first user, and may move the displayed pictorial information according to the movement of the meeting users.

[0090] In S870, the instruction input unit 210 receives current location information of multiple users including at least the first user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive location information of each user's terminal device 30 as the location information of each user. The instruction input unit 210 may receive location information of the first user and one or more users who have a specific relationship with the first user (friendship, belonging to the same group, etc.), or may receive location information of all users who use the service provided by the server device 20. The location information acquisition unit 612 acquires the location information of each user from the instruction input unit 210.

[0091] In S880, the content progression unit 650 determines whether the conditions for progressing the content are met. The content progression unit 650 may enable progress of the content when at least one user among the multiple users has arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. As an example, the content progression unit 650 may enable start of the content when at least one user among the multiple users has arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may not enable progress of the content when all of the multiple users have not arrived within the predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may enable progress of the content when at least one user, including the first user, has arrived within the predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may not enable progress of the content when the first user has not arrived within the predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. This allows the server device 20 to prevent the requirements for enabling progress of the content from being excessively relaxed.

[0092] When a first user arranges a rendezvous, the content progression unit 650 may enable the content to progress when at least one of the at least one rendezvous users arrive within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may not enable the content to progress when all of the rendezvous users have not arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may enable the content to progress when at least one of the at least one rendezvous users arrive within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content within a certain period before and after the rendezvous time. The content progression unit 650 may acquire information regarding the rendezvous users and the rendezvous time from the database 200 via the database connection unit 600. The content progression unit 650 may enable the content to progress when all of the rendezvous users (excluding users who have refused or left the rendezvous) have arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may enable the content to progress if at least one of the at least one meeting user arrives within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content within a certain period before or after the meeting time.

[0093] The display processing unit 240 may display each of the plurality of contents on the terminal device 30 of each user, including the first user, in a manner that allows the user to distinguish whether the position of the content has been set based on the user's selection. For example, the display processing unit 240 may display each of the plurality of contents on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user among the plurality of users in a manner that allows the user to distinguish whether the position of the content has been set based on the user's selection. This allows the server device 20 to provide an environment in which each user can participate in the content after distinguishing whether the content has been set based on the user's selection. The display processing unit 240 may display the content on the terminal device 30 of each user in a different color depending on whether the position of the content has been set based on the user's selection and whether the position of the content has not been set based on the user's selection (for example, when the position has been set in advance by an operator). When the position of the content has been set based on the user's selection, the display processing unit 240 may notify the terminal device 30 of each user of this fact. The display processing unit 240 may display on each user's terminal device 30, even if the content is set based on the user's selection, in the same manner as content that is not set based on the user's selection (for example, content that is set in advance by the management) if the content meets the requirements for progress.

[0094] The display processing unit 240 may display, on the terminal device 30 of each user, including the first user, a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content, in a manner corresponding to the distance between the first user's position and the real position associated with the content. As an example, the display processing unit 240 may display, on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user among the multiple users, a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content, in a manner corresponding to the distance between the first user's position and the real position associated with the content. This allows the server device 20 to enable the user to identify content that is unlikely to be progressed because the first user is located far from the real position associated with the content. When the distance between the first user's position and the real position associated with the content is greater than a predetermined threshold, the display processing unit 240 may display, on the terminal device 30 of the first user, a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position associated with the content, but may not display, on the terminal device 30 of users other than the first user, a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position associated with the content. Alternatively, the display processing unit 240 may display a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position associated with the content on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user in different manners depending on whether the distance between the first user's position and the real position associated with the content is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold.

[0095] The display processing unit 240 may display a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user in a different manner depending on whether the content progression unit 650 determines that the conditions for progressing the content are met or not. As an example, if the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are not met, the display processing unit 240 may not display a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are not met, the display processing unit 240 may display a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user in a fainter manner than when the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are met. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are not met, the display processing unit 240 may display, on the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user, a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position associated with the content in a manner that increases the density as the distance between the first user's position and the real position associated with the content decreases. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are met, the display processing unit 240 may notify the terminal device 30 of a user other than the first user that the content is executable. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the requirements for progressing the content are met, the display processing unit 240 may display, on the terminal device 30 of the user, a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position associated with the content in a manner similar to a position in the virtual space corresponding to a real position associated with the content that is set based on something other than the user's selection.

[0096] When a first user arranges a rendezvous, the content progression unit 650 may allow the content to progress and allow other users who are not rendezvous to participate in the content when at least one of the at least one rendezvous users arrive within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. This allows the server device 20 to prevent other users who are not rendezvous from participating in content that is not progressing because the rendezvous did not take place as scheduled. The content progression unit 650 may allow other users who are not rendezvous to participate in the content when all of the rendezvous users have arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content. The content progression unit 650 may allow other users who are not rendezvous to participate in the content when at least one of the at least one rendezvous users has arrived within a predetermined range from a real-world location associated with the content within a certain period before or after the rendezvous time.

[0097] If the server device 20 determines that the content cannot be progressed (No in S880), the server device 20 returns the process to S870. At S870, upon returning from S880, the instruction input unit 210 receives current location information of multiple users including at least the first user. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the content can be progressed (Yes in S880), the server device 20 proceeds to S890. The server device 20 may proceed to S890 if the content progression unit 650 determines that the content can be progressed and if predetermined requirements are satisfied. As an example, the server device 20 may proceed to S890 if the content progression unit 650 determines that the content can be progressed and if an instruction to progress the content is obtained from the terminal device 30 of the first user. If the content progression unit 650 determines that the content can be progressed and the number of users participating in the content exceeds a predetermined threshold, the server device 20 may proceed to S890.

[0098] If the content progression unit 650 determines that the content can be progressed (Yes in S880), the content setting unit 630 may set the content details before the server device 20 advances the process to S890. If the content setting unit 630 has already set the content details in S830, the content setting unit 630 may not set the content details, or may set the already set content details again before the server device 20 advances the process to S890. The content setting unit 630 may randomly set the content details. The content setting unit 630 may set the content details based on whether or not a rendezvous has taken place. If a rendezvous has taken place, the content setting unit 630 may set a different content reward or cause a different monster to appear than if a rendezvous has not taken place. The content setting unit 630 may set the content details based on information regarding the movement of at least one or more users, including the first user, from a real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space to within a predetermined range. This allows the server device 20 to motivate users to move. The content setting unit 630 may set the details of the content based on at least one of the distance or number of steps traveled, the time taken, or the difference between the set meeting time and the actual arrival time by at least one or more users including the first user to reach the content in the virtual space within a predetermined range from the associated real-world position. The content setting unit 630 may set the details of the content so that the greater the distance or number of steps traveled, or the longer the time taken, by at least one or more users including the first user to reach the content in the virtual space within a predetermined range from the associated real-world position, the greater the reward or the rarer the reward to be given to the users who participated in the content, and may set the details so that rarer enemy characters will appear.

[0099] When a first user makes a rendezvous, the content setting unit 630 may set the rendezvous so that the smaller the difference between the set rendezvous time and the time when at least one or more users, including the first user, actually arrive within a predetermined range from the real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space, the larger or rarer the rewards will be given to the users who participated in the content, and may also set the rendezvous so that a rarer enemy character will appear. The content setting unit 630 may set the rendezvous so that if the time when all users who participate in the content actually arrive within a predetermined range from the real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space is earlier than the set rendezvous time, the larger or rarer the rewards will be given to the users who participated in the content, and may also set the rendezvous so that a rarer enemy character will appear, compared to when the time when all users who participate in the content actually arrive within a predetermined range from the real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space is later than the set rendezvous time. The content setting unit 630 may set the content of the content based on the number of rendezvous users or the number of rendezvous users who arrive within a predetermined range from the real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space. The content setting unit 630 may set the content so that the greater the number of meeting users or the greater the number of meeting users who arrive within a predetermined range from the real-world location associated with the content in the virtual space, the greater the reward or the rarer the reward will be given to the users who have participated in the content, and may also set the content so that rarer enemy characters will appear.

[0100] In S890, the content progression unit 650 performs processing to progress the content. For example, if the content is an event in which multiple users cooperate to defeat an enemy character, the content progression unit 650 performs processing such as decrementing an indicator value indicating the health of the enemy character, such as HP, associated with the specified enemy character, as characters controlled by the participating users attack the specified enemy character. Furthermore, when the enemy character attacks a character, the content progression unit 650 performs processing such as decrementing an indicator value indicating the character's health, such as HP, associated with the character in the possessed character information. When the indicator value indicating the enemy character's health falls below a predetermined threshold, the content progression unit 650 changes the game state stored in the database 200 to grant rewards, such as in-game items, in-game currency, and character parameter experience points, to each user who participated in the content. When the indicator value indicating the character health of one or all of the characters controlled by a certain user falls below a predetermined threshold, the content progression unit 650 performs processing to end the content.

[0101] According to the server device 20 described above, the user can set content according to his / her convenience, and therefore, the user can participate in the content more efficiently than when the user cannot set the content.

[0102] 9 shows an example of the data structure for each group stored in database 200. Database 200 stores group status data for each of one or more groups. The group status data includes information on the "group ID," "group user ID," "group formation time," "group dissolution time," and "group status."

[0103] The "group ID" is information for identifying the corresponding group, and may be a number uniquely determined within the system 10. The "group user ID" indicates the user IDs of multiple users belonging to the corresponding group. If the corresponding group includes an NPC, the "group user ID" may include information such as an ID that identifies the NPC included in the corresponding group.

[0104] "Group formation time" indicates the time when the corresponding group was formed. In the example shown in this figure, "group formation time" indicates the date, hour, and minute when the corresponding group was formed, but it may be any time that is uniquely determined within system 10. In response to the formation of the corresponding group (S740 in FIG. 7), group management unit 660 may write that time in database 200 as "group formation time."

[0105] "Group dissolution time" indicates the time when the corresponding group was dissolved. In the example of this figure, "group dissolution time" indicates the date, hour, and minute when the corresponding group was dissolved, but it may be any time that is uniquely determined within the system 10. In response to dissolving the corresponding group (S760 in FIG. 7), the group management unit 660 may write that time in the database 200 as "group dissolution time."

[0106] FIG. 10 shows a first example of the data structure for each piece of content stored in database 200. Database 200 stores basic content information data for each of multiple types of content. The basic content information data may be information when the corresponding content is installed by someone other than the user. The basic content information data includes information regarding "content ID," "content details," "rarity," "reward," and "recruitment range."

[0107] The "content ID" is information for identifying the type of corresponding content, and may be a number uniquely determined within the system 10. The "content details" indicates information related to the content details of the corresponding type of content. For example, if the corresponding type of content is an event in which multiple users cooperate to defeat an enemy character, the "content details" may include the name of the enemy character, an image of the enemy character, an index value indicating the health of the enemy character, such as HP, a time limit, etc.

[0108] "Rarity" indicates information regarding the rarity of the corresponding content. "Rarity" may be a rank indicating the rarity of the corresponding content, with a higher rank indicating that the corresponding content is rarer. "Reward" indicates information regarding the reward to be granted to a user who participates in the corresponding content. "Reward" may be information regarding the reward to be granted to a user who participates in the corresponding content and meets certain conditions (such as reducing the HP of an enemy character by a threshold value). "Reward" indicates potential rewards to be granted to a user who participates in the corresponding content, and a user who participates in the corresponding content may be granted one or more rewards determined by lottery from the potential rewards.

[0109] The "recruitment range" indicates a location range in which users can participate in the corresponding type of content. Here, the "recruitment range" may be determined according to the distance from a reference point of the content. As an example, the recruitment range may be a set of locations within a determined distance from a reference point of the content. The reference point of the content may be a real location associated with the content. The "recruitment range" may indicate a threshold value of the location range, and may indicate that users located in a set of locations whose distance from a reference point in the corresponding type of content is within the threshold value can participate in the content.

[0110] 11 shows a second example of the data structure for each piece of content stored in database 200. Database 200 stores content status information data for each piece of content. The content status information data includes information on the "content instance ID," "content ID," "installation user ID," "participating user ID," "meeting user ID," "setting location information," "recruitment range," "installation time," "meeting time," "reward," and "content status."

[0111] The "content instance ID" is information for identifying the corresponding content, and may be a number uniquely determined within the system 10. The "content ID" is information for identifying the type of the corresponding content, and may be the same as the "content ID" in FIG. 10. When the corresponding content is installed by a user, the "content ID" of the corresponding content may be determined in response to the installation by the user, or the "content ID" may be determined in response to the corresponding content becoming available for progress.

[0112] The "Installation User ID" is information for identifying the user who installed the corresponding content. The "Installation User ID" may indicate the user ID of the first user in FIG. 8. If the corresponding content was installed by someone other than the user, the "Installation User ID" may be blank, indicating that it was installed by someone other than the user. The "Participating User ID" indicates the user ID of the user who will participate in the corresponding content. The "Participating User ID" may or may not include the "Installation User ID."

[0113] The "meeting user ID" is information for identifying the meeting user who will be meeting for the corresponding content. The "meeting user ID" may indicate the user ID of the meeting user in the corresponding content. In S850 of FIG. 8, the content setting unit 630 may write the user ID of the meeting user acquired from the setting acquisition unit 614 as the "meeting user ID" in the database 200 via the database connection unit 600.

[0114] The "set location information" is information for identifying a real location associated with the corresponding content, or a virtual space location associated with that real location. In the example of this figure, the "set location information" indicates the coordinates of the real location or the like associated with the corresponding content. In S830 of FIG. 8, the content setting unit 630 may write information such as the real location associated with the content acquired from the setting acquisition unit 614 into the database 200 via the database connection unit 600 as the "set location information."

[0115] The "recruitment range" indicates the location range in which participation in the corresponding content is possible. The "recruitment range" may be the same as the "recruitment range" in FIG. 10. When the corresponding content is set based on a user selection, the content setting unit 630 may set the "recruitment range" wider than when the corresponding content is set without a user selection. As an example, the content setting unit 630 may read from the database 200 the "recruitment range" of the content basic information data (FIG. 10) that includes the same content ID as the content ID of the corresponding content, change the read "recruitment range" (S830 in FIG. 8), and write the changed "recruitment range" to the database 200 as the "recruitment range" of the content status information data of the corresponding content.

[0116] The "installation time" indicates the time when the corresponding content was installed. In response to the setting of the corresponding content (S830 in FIG. 8), the content setting unit 630 may write the time in the database 200 as the "installation time." The "meeting time" indicates the time when a user will meet up with the corresponding content. In response to acquiring information about the meeting from the setting acquisition unit 614 (S850 in FIG. 8), the content setting unit 630 may write the time when the meeting will be held in the database 200 as the "meeting time."

[0117] "Reward" indicates information regarding the reward given to a user who participates in the corresponding content. "Reward" may be the same as "Reward" in FIG. 10. As an example, the content setting unit 630 may read the "Reward" of the content basic information data (FIG. 10) that includes the same content ID as the content ID of the corresponding content from the database 200, change the read "Reward" (S830 or S880 in FIG. 8), and write the changed "Reward" to the database 200 as the "Reward" of the content situation information data of the corresponding content.

[0118] "Content status" indicates the status of the corresponding content. If the corresponding content has been installed by the user and does not meet the conditions for progression, the "content status" may be stored as "temporarily installed." If the corresponding content has already ended, the "content status" may be stored as "ended." If the waiting time for the corresponding content has ended and the corresponding content is in progress, the "content status" may be stored as "in progress." If the corresponding content is "in progress," detailed status of the content (remaining time for the content, remaining HP of enemy characters, etc.) may also be stored.

[0119] 12 shows a first example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. When the first user does not belong to any group, the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 1100 and transmits it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1100 includes a game window 1110, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130.

[0120] The game window 1110 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 1110 is an area where the field screen of the game is displayed, and includes a first character 1112, a selectable area 1113, a background object 1114, a first enemy character object 1116, a group button 1118, and a content setting button 1119. The first character 1112 indicates the appearance of the first character operated by the first user. The display processing unit 240 may display the first character 1112 at a position corresponding to the first user's current real-world position.

[0121] The selectable area 1113 is an area that the first user can select by clicking or the like. An in-game object included in the selectable area 1113 may be selectable by the first user. Also, an in-game object not included in the selectable area 1113 may be selectable by the first user. The selectable area 1113 may be a certain area that includes the first character 1112. In the example shown in this figure, the selectable area 1113 indicates a set of positions whose straight-line distance from the position in the virtual space where the first character 1112 exists is within a threshold. Therefore, the selectable area 1113 may correspond to a set of real positions whose straight-line distance from the real position where the first user's terminal device 30 exists is within a threshold.

[0122] The background object 1114 is an object placed in the background of the game. In the example shown in the figure, the background object 1114 is an object representing a mountain. The first enemy character object 1116 is an object representing an enemy monster, which is a type of enemy character. The instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to start content, such as a battle with an enemy monster, in response to the first user clicking the first enemy character object 1116. The battle with the enemy monster may be one in which only the first user can participate via the terminal device 30, or may be one in which the first user can participate cooperatively with users other than the first user. The content associated with the first enemy character object 1116 does not have to be set based on an instruction from the first user.

[0123] The group button 1118 is a button for switching the game window 1110 to a group formation screen. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display a group formation screen in response to the first user clicking the group button 1118. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the instruction to display a group formation screen, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the group formation screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate a group formation screen. The display processing unit 240 may generate the group formation screen and transmit it to the terminal device 30.

[0124] The content setting button 1119 is a button for the first user to set content. The instruction input unit 210 receives a content setting instruction in response to the first user clicking the content setting button 1119. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the content setting instruction, the server device 20 may start the flow of FIG. 8.

[0125] The menu button 1120 is a button for switching the game window 1110 to a menu screen. The instruction input unit 210 receives a menu screen display instruction in response to the first user clicking the menu button 1120. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the menu screen display instruction, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the menu screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate a menu screen. The display processing unit 240 may generate the menu screen and transmit it to the terminal device 30.

[0126] The formation button 1130 is a button for switching the game window 1110 to a formation screen. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display a formation screen in response to the first user clicking the formation button 1130. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the instruction to display a formation screen, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the formation screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate a formation screen. The display processing unit 240 may generate the formation screen and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user.

[0127] 13 shows a second example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving an instruction to display a group formation screen from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1200 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1200 has a group formation window 1210, a menu button 1120, and an organize button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organize button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0128] The group formation window 1210 is an area for forming a group. The display processing unit 240 may display information necessary for forming a group in the group formation window 1210. For example, the display processing unit 240 may display a list of users who will belong to the group to be formed in the group formation window 1210. In the example of this figure, the display processing unit 240 displays "User A," "User B (yourself)," and "User C" in the group formation window 1210 as users who will belong to the group to be formed. Note that "User B (yourself)" indicates that the first user is "User B." In the example of this figure, the group formation window 1210 includes a Yes button 1212 and a No button 1214.

[0129] The Yes button 1212 is a button for forming a group. In response to the first user clicking the Yes button 1212, the instruction input unit 210 may receive a group formation instruction. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the group formation instruction, the server device 20 may start the processing flow shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, when the instruction input unit 210 receives the group formation instruction and predetermined group formation conditions are met (Yes in S730 in Fig. 7), the group management unit 660 may form a group including the first user and write group status data to the database 200 (S740 in Fig. 7).

[0130] The No button 1214 is a button for ending the process without forming a group. In response to the first user clicking the No button 1214, the instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to suspend group formation. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the instruction to suspend group formation, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen other than the display screen 1200 (a screen that was displayed before the display screen 1200 was displayed, a home screen, etc.) and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. In this case, the group management unit 660 does not need to write group status data to the database 200.

[0131] 14 shows a third example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. When the first user belongs to a group, the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 1300 and transmits it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1300 has a game window 1310, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0132] The game window 1310 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 1310 is an area where the field screen of the game is displayed, and includes a first character 1112, a selectable area 1113, a background object 1114, a first enemy character object 1116, a content setting button 1119, a second character 1312, a third character 1314, and a group display area 1316. The first character 1112, the selectable area 1113, the background object 1114, the first enemy character object 1116, and the content setting button 1119 are the same as those in FIG. 12. In addition, in the example of this figure, the display processing unit 240 displays the name of the user operating the first character 1112 ("User B") above the head of the first character 1112.

[0133] The second character 1312 indicates the appearance of the second character operated by the second user. The third character 1314 indicates the appearance of the third character operated by the third user. Here, the second user and the third user are other users who belong to the same group as the first user. In the example shown in the figure, the display processing unit 240 displays the names of the users operating the second character 1312 and the third character 1314 ("User A" and "User C") above the heads of the second character 1312 and the third character 1314, respectively. If the game provided by the server device 20 is a location-based game, the positional relationship between the first character 1112, the second character 1312, and the third character 1314 on the game window 1310 may reflect the real-world positional relationship between the terminal device 30 of the first user, the terminal device 30 of the second user, and the terminal device 30 of the third user.

[0134] The group display area 1316 is an area where information about the group to which the first user belongs is displayed. The display processing unit 240 may display a list of users who belong to the same group as the first user in the group display area 1316. In the example shown in the figure, the display processing unit 240 displays "User A," "User B," and "User C" in the group display area 1316 as users who belong to the same group as the first user.

[0135] The group display area 1316 may function as a button that the first user can click. In response to the first user clicking the group display area 1316, the instruction input unit 210 may receive a group leave screen display instruction. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the group leave screen display instruction, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the group leave screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate a group leave screen. The display processing unit 240 may generate the group leave screen and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user.

[0136] 15 shows a fourth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving an instruction to display a group leave screen from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1400 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1400 includes a group leave window 1410, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0137] The group withdrawal window 1410 is an area for withdrawing from a group. The display processing unit 240 may display information necessary for withdrawing from a group in the group formation window 1210. For example, the display processing unit 240 may display a list of users belonging to the group to be withdrawn in the group formation window 1210. In the example of this figure, the display processing unit 240 displays "User A," "User B (yourself)," and "User C" in the group formation window 1210 as users belonging to the group to be withdrawn. Note that "User B (yourself)" indicates that the first user is "User B." In the example of this figure, the group withdrawal window 1410 includes a Yes button 1412 and a No button 1414.

[0138] Yes button 1412 is a button for leaving the group. In response to the first user clicking Yes button 1212, instruction input unit 210 may receive a group leave instruction. In response to instruction input unit 210 receiving the group leave instruction, group management unit 660 may cause the first user to leave the group and write group status data to database 200. Alternatively, group management unit 660 may dissolve the group to which the first user belongs (S760 in FIG. 7).

[0139] The No button 1414 is a button for ending the process without leaving the group. In response to the first user clicking the No button 1414, the instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to suspend leaving the group. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the instruction to suspend leaving the group, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen other than the display screen 1400 (a screen that was displayed before the display screen 1400 was displayed, a home screen, etc.) and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. In this case, the group management unit 660 does not need to write group status data to the database 200.

[0140] 16 shows a fifth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1600 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1600 has a content setting window 1610, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0141] The content placement window 1610 is an area for setting a real-world position to which content is to be associated. In the example shown in this figure, the content placement window 1610 includes a map window 1620, a first character 1622, and a content placement candidate position 1624. The map window 1620 is an area displaying a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real-world map in the map window 1620, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with the real space in the map window 1620. In response to the first user selecting a position in the map window 1620 by clicking or the like, the setting acquisition unit 614 may acquire an instruction to set content at the selected position from the terminal device 30 of the first user. As an alternative to the example shown in this figure, the display processing unit 240 may display the settable range set by the range determination unit 620 in S820 of FIG. 8 on the map window 1620. The first character 1622 indicates a position on the map corresponding to the first user's current position. In the example shown in this figure, the first character 1622 shows the appearance of the character operated by the first user, but it may be in any other form as long as it shows the location on the map that corresponds to the first user's current location.

[0142] The content setting candidate position 1624 is an object indicating a candidate position for setting content. In S820 of FIG. 8 , the display processing unit 240 may display the position determined by the range determination unit 620 as the content setting position candidate on the map window 1620 as the content setting candidate position 1624. In the example of the present drawing, the display processing unit 240 displays one content setting candidate position 1624 on the map window 1620, but instead, two or more content setting candidate positions 1624 may be displayed on the map window 1620. In response to the first user clicking the content setting candidate position 1624, the setting acquisition unit 614 may acquire an instruction to set content at the content setting candidate position 1624 from the terminal device 30 of the first user. Any position on the map window 1620 may be clickable by the first user, or only any position within a certain area on the map window 1620 (the settable range in S820 of FIG. 8) may be clickable by the first user, or only content setting candidate positions 1624 on the map window 1620 may be clickable by the first user.

[0143] 17 shows a sixth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. If the first user does not belong to a group, in response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving an instruction to set content at a certain position from the terminal device 30 of the first user (S830 in FIG. 8), the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1700 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1700 includes a game window 1710, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0144] The game window 1710 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 1710 is an area where the field screen of the game is displayed, and includes a first character 1112, a selectable area 1113, a background object 1114, a first enemy character object 1116, a group button 1118, a content setting button 1119, and a second enemy character object 1720. The first character 1112, the selectable area 1113, the background object 1114, the first enemy character object 1116, the group button 1118, and the content setting button 1119 are the same as those in FIG. 12 . The second enemy character object 1720 is an object representing an enemy monster. The instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to start content such as a battle with an enemy monster in response to the first user clicking the second enemy character object 1720. The display processing unit 240 may display the second enemy character object 1720 at a position associated with the content set based on an instruction from the first user. The display processing unit 240 may display the first enemy character object 1116 and the second enemy character object 1720 in different modes.

[0145] 18 shows a seventh example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In S840 of FIG. 8, in response to the content setting unit 630 determining that the first user will make a rendezvous, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1800 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 1800 has a rendezvous window 1810, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0146] The rendezvous window 1810 is an area for setting information about the rendezvous. The rendezvous window 1810 includes a map window 1820, a rendezvous user setting window 1830, and an estimated arrival time 1840. The map window 1820 is an area for displaying a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real map in the map window 1820, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with a real space in the map window 1820. The map window 1820 includes a rendezvous place 1822. The rendezvous place 1822 is an object indicating the rendezvous place. The display processing unit 240 may display the rendezvous place 1822 on the map window 1820. The display processing unit 240 may display the rendezvous place 1822 at a position corresponding to the position set by the first user as the real position to which the content is to be associated in S830 of FIG. 8 . The display processing unit 240 may display the meeting place 1822 at a position corresponding to the location set by the first user in the map window 1620 of FIG.

[0147] The estimated arrival time 1840 is an area for setting the meeting time. The display processing unit 240 may display the meeting time set by the content setting unit 630 in S850 of FIG.

[0148] The rendezvous user setting window 1830 is an area for setting a rendezvous user. The rendezvous user setting window 1830 includes a rendezvous user candidate list 1832 and a confirm button 1834. The rendezvous user candidate list 1832 is a list showing rendezvous user candidates. The display processing unit 240 may display users who have a specific relationship (friend relationship, follow relationship, etc.) with the first user in the rendezvous user candidate list 1832. The display processing unit 240 may display the rendezvous user candidate list 1832 in a manner that allows at least one or more users displayed in the list to be selected. In the example of this figure, the rendezvous user candidate list 1832 indicates that, of "User D," "User E," and "User F," "User D" and "User E" have been selected as rendezvous users.

[0149] The OK button 1834 is a button for selecting a meeting user and notifying the selected meeting user of meeting information. In response to the first user clicking the OK button 1834, the acquisition unit 610 may acquire information about the meeting, including the meeting user information, from the terminal device 30 of the first user. The meeting notification unit 640 acquires information about the meeting, including the meeting user information acquired by the acquisition unit 610, via the content setting unit 630, and instructs the display processing unit 240 to notify the meeting user of the meeting information. Based on the instruction of the meeting notification unit 640, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1850 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the meeting user.

[0150] The display screen 1850 has a meeting notification window 1860, a menu button 1120, and a schedule button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the schedule button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12 . The meeting notification window 1860 is an area for displaying meeting information. The display processing unit 240 may display meeting information including the meeting place and meeting time set by the content setting unit 630 in S850 of FIG. 8 in the meeting notification window 1860. The display processing unit 240 may display a certain time period including the meeting time set by the content setting unit 630 in the meeting notification window 1860. The meeting notification window 1860 includes a Yes button 1862, a No button 1864, a Change Meeting Time button 1866, and a Change Meeting Place button 1868.

[0151] The Yes button 1862 is a button for accepting the rendezvous. In response to the Yes button 1862 being clicked by the rendezvous user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire an instruction to accept the rendezvous from the terminal device 30 of the rendezvous user. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring the instruction to accept the rendezvous, the content processing unit 230 may write the user who accepted the rendezvous in the database 200 as the rendezvous user in the content.

[0152] The No button 1864 is a button for refusing the meeting. In response to the No button 1864 being clicked by the meeting user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire an instruction to refuse the meeting from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving the instruction to refuse the meeting, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen other than the display screen 1850 (a screen that was displayed before the display screen 1850 was displayed, a home screen, etc.) and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the meeting user.

[0153] The change meeting time button 1866 is a button for suggesting to the first user and the other meeting users that they change the meeting time. In response to the change meeting time button 1866 being clicked by the meeting user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire an instruction to change the meeting time from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. As an example, in response to the change meeting time button 1866 being clicked by the meeting user, the display processing unit 240 may display an area for the meeting user to input the changed meeting time on the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. In this case, in response to the input of the changed meeting time by the meeting user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire the changed meeting time from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring the changed meeting time, the display processing unit 240 may display meeting information including the changed meeting time on the terminal devices 30 of the first user and the other meeting users.

[0154] The change meeting place button 1868 is a button for suggesting to the first user and the other meeting users that they change the meeting place. In response to the change meeting place button 1868 being clicked by the meeting user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire an instruction to change the meeting place from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. As an example, in response to the change meeting place button 1868 being clicked by the meeting user, the display processing unit 240 may display an area for the meeting user to input the changed meeting place on the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. In this case, in response to the input of the changed meeting place by the meeting user, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire the changed meeting place from the terminal device 30 of the meeting user. In response to the instruction input unit 210 acquiring the changed meeting place, the display processing unit 240 may display meeting information including the changed meeting place on the terminal devices 30 of the first user and the other meeting users.

[0155] 19 shows an eighth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to, for example, the Yes button 1862 being clicked by all meeting users who have been notified of the meeting information, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1900 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display processing unit 240 may transmit the display screen 1900 to the terminal device 30 of the meeting users. The display screen 1900 has a content installation window 1910, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0156] The content setting window 1910 is an area showing that content has been set. The content setting window 1910 includes a map window 1920 and a meeting time notification window 1930. The map window 1920 is an area showing a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real map in the map window 1920, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with the real space in the map window 1920. The map window 1920 includes a meeting place 1822. The meeting place 1822 may be the same as in FIG. 18. The meeting time notification window 1930 is an area showing accepted meeting information. In the example of this figure, the display processing unit 240 displays the meeting time in the meeting time notification window 1930.

[0157] 20 shows a ninth example of a display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. If the first user belongs to a group, in response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving an instruction to set content at a certain position from the terminal device 30 of the first user (S830 in FIG. 8), the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 2000 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 2000 has a game window 2010, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0158] The game window 2010 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 2010 is an area where the field screen of the game is displayed, and includes a first character 1112, a selectable area 1113, a background object 1114, a first enemy character object 1116, a content setting button 1119, a second character 1312, a third character 1314, a group display area 1316, and a second enemy character object 2020. The first character 1112, the selectable area 1113, the background object 1114, the first enemy character object 1116, the group button 1118, and the content setting button 1119 are the same as those in FIG. 12. The second character 1312, the third character 1314, and the group display area 1316 are the same as those in FIG. 14. The second enemy character object 2020 is an object representing an enemy monster. The instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to start content, such as a battle with an enemy monster, in response to the first user clicking on the second enemy character object 2020. The display processing unit 240 may display the second enemy character object 2020 at a position associated with the content set based on the instruction of the first user. The display processing unit 240 may display the first enemy character object 1116 and the second enemy character object 2020 in different modes. The display processing unit 240 may display the second enemy character object 2020 on the terminal devices 30 of users who belong to the same group as the first user, but may not display the second enemy character object 2020 on the terminal devices 30 of users who do not belong to the same group as the first user.

[0159] 21 shows a tenth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. When the content setting unit 630 determines candidates for meeting users in S850 of FIG. 8, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 2100 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 2100 has a game window 2110, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0160] The game window 2110 is an area for setting information about the meeting. The game window 2110 includes a map window 2120, a meeting user setting window 2130, and an estimated arrival time 1840. The estimated arrival time 1840 is the same as in FIG. 18. The map window 2120 is an area for displaying a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real map in the map window 2120, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with the real space in the map window 2120. The map window 2120 includes a meeting place 1822. The meeting place 1822 is the same as in FIG. 18.

[0161] The rendezvous user setting window 2130 is an area for setting a rendezvous user. The rendezvous user setting window 2130 includes a rendezvous user candidate list 2132, a Yes button 2134, a No button 2136, and a Change Display Settings button 2138. The rendezvous user candidate list 2132 is a list showing rendezvous user candidates. The display processing unit 240 may display the rendezvous user candidates determined by the content setting unit 630 in S850 of FIG. 8 in the rendezvous user candidate list 2132. The display processing unit 240 may display the rendezvous user candidate list 2132 in a manner that allows at least one or more users displayed in the list to be selected. In the example of this figure, the rendezvous user candidate list 2132 indicates that "User D" and "User E" have been selected as rendezvous users.

[0162] The Yes button 2134 is a button for selecting a meeting user and notifying the selected meeting user of meeting information. In response to the Yes button 2134 being clicked by the first user, the acquisition unit 610 may acquire information about the meeting, including the meeting user information, from the terminal device 30 of the first user. The meeting notification unit 640 acquires information about the meeting, including the meeting user information acquired by the acquisition unit 610, via the content setting unit 630, and instructs the display processing unit 240 to notify the meeting user of the meeting information. Based on the instruction of the meeting notification unit 640, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 1850 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the meeting user.

[0163] The No button 2136 is a button for setting not to select a meeting user. In response to the first user clicking the No button 2136, the meeting notification unit 640 may instruct the display processing unit 240 not to notify information related to the meeting. The change display settings button 2138 is a button for setting not to display the meeting user setting window 2130 in the future. In response to the first user clicking the change display settings button 2138, the content processing unit 230 may write to the user information data of the first user stored in the database 200 a message to the effect that the meeting user setting window 2130 will not be displayed in the terminal device 30 of the first user in the future.

[0164] 22 shows an eleventh example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In S850 of FIG. 8, in response to the content setting unit 630 setting a location different from the meeting place included in the instruction of the first user as a candidate meeting place, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 2300 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 2300 has a game window 2310, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12.

[0165] The game window 2310 is an area for setting information about a meeting. The game window 2310 includes a map window 2320, a recommendation window 2330, and an estimated arrival time 1840. The estimated arrival time 1840 is the same as in FIG. 18. The map window 2320 is an area for displaying a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real map in the map window 2320, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with real space in the map window 2320. The map window 2320 includes a meeting place 1822 and a recommended location 2332. The meeting place 1822 is the same as in FIG. 18. The recommended location 2332 indicates a candidate meeting place determined by the content setting unit 630 in S850 of FIG. 8. In response to the first user clicking on the recommended location 2332, the instruction input unit 210 may acquire an instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user to set the meeting place as the recommended location 2332.

[0166] The recommendation window 2330 is an area for proposing to change the meeting place. In the example shown in the figure, the display processing unit 240 displays in the recommendation window 2330 that the meeting place set by the content setting unit 630 based on the instruction of the first user is inappropriate.

[0167] 23 shows a twelfth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 2350 instead of the display screen 1600 and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 2350 has a content installation window 2360, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12 .

[0168] The content installation window 2360 is an area for setting a real-world location to which content is to be associated. In the example of this diagram, the content installation window 2360 has a map window 2370. The map window 2370 is an area showing a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real-world map in the map window 2370, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with a real space in the map window 2370. The map window 2370 includes at least one content installable location 2372. The content installable location 2372 is an object indicating a location where content can be set. The display processing unit 240 may display a settable location set by the range determination unit 620 in S820 of FIG. 8 as the content installable location 2372 on the map window 2370. The display processing unit 240 may display a point included in the settable range set by the range determination unit 620 in S820 of FIG. 8 as the content installable location 2372 on the map window 2370. In response to the first user clicking on the content installable location 2372, the setting acquisition section 614 may acquire, from the terminal device 30 of the first user, an instruction to install content in the clicked content installable location 2372.

[0169] 24 shows a thirteenth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving a content setting instruction from the terminal device 30 of the first user, the display processing unit 240 may generate a display screen 2400 instead of the display screen 1600 and the display screen 2350 and transmit the display screen 2400 to the terminal device 30 of the first user. The display screen 2400 has a content setting window 2410, a menu button 1120, and an organization button 1130. The menu button 1120 and the organization button 1130 are the same as those in FIG. 12 .

[0170] The content setting window 2410 is an area for setting a real-world position to which content is to be associated. In the example of this figure, the content setting window 2410 includes a map window 2420. The map window 2420 is an area showing a map. The display processing unit 240 may display a real-world map in the map window 2420, or may display a map of a virtual space associated with real space in the map window 2420. The map window 2420 includes a first character 2422, an enemy character object 2424, a selectable area 2430, a first spot 2440, a second spot 2442, and a third spot 2444.

[0171] The first character 2422 indicates a position on the map corresponding to the first user's current location. In the example shown in the figure, the first character 2422 indicates the appearance of the character operated by the first user, but may be in any other form as long as it indicates a position on the map corresponding to the first user's current location. The enemy character object 2424 is an object indicating content set by a user other than the first user, or content set by someone other than the user. The display processing unit 240 may display each enemy character object 2424 at a position on the map window 2420 that corresponds to the associated real-world position.

[0172] In the figure, a selectable area 2430 shaded with a dot pattern indicates the vicinity of the first user's current location. The selectable area 2430 may correspond to a set of real locations whose straight-line distance from the real location where the first user's terminal device 30 is located is within a threshold. The selectable area 2430 may or may not correspond to the selectable area 1113 in FIG. 12 . A first spot 2440, a second spot 2442, and a third spot 2444 indicate locations on the map window 2420, respectively.

[0173] In S820 of FIG. 8 , the range determination unit 620 may determine a range that is not included in the selectable area 2430 as the configurable range. In this case, the content setting unit 630 may not be able to associate content with the first spot 2440 and the second spot 2442, but may be able to associate content with the third spot 2444. The range determination unit 620 may determine the configurable range by determining a threshold for the selectable area 2430. The range determination unit 620 may determine the threshold for the selectable area 2430 based on at least one of the attributes of at least one user participating in the content, the characteristics of the location, or weather information. The range determination unit 620 may set the threshold for the selectable area 2430 to be smaller when the proficiency level of at least one user is lower than the threshold, compared to when the proficiency level is higher than the threshold. Alternatively, the range determination unit 620 may set the threshold for the selectable area 2430 to be smaller when the proficiency level of at least one user is higher than the threshold, compared to when the proficiency level is lower than the threshold. When the weather at the first user's actual location is bad, the range determination section 620 may set the threshold of the selectable area 2430 to be smaller than when the weather is good.

[0174] The range determination unit 620 may determine a directional range within the selectable region 2430 as a settable range as long as the directional range does not include an enemy character object 2424. The range determination unit 620 may determine a directional range within which the enemy character object 2424 does not exist. For example, the range determination unit 620 may determine a directional range with a minimum angle that includes all enemy character objects 2424 that exist within a certain range including the first character 2422. In this case, the range determination unit 620 may include a range of a predetermined reference angle (e.g., 10 degrees) from each enemy character object 2424 in the directional range within which the enemy character object 2424 exists. Alternatively, the range determination unit 620 may determine a set of ranges within a reference angle (e.g., 30 degrees) from the direction from the first character 2422 toward each enemy character object 2424 as the directional range within which the enemy character object 2424 exists. The range determination section 620 may determine directions other than the direction range in which the enemy character object 2424 exists as the direction range in which the enemy character object 2424 does not exist.

[0175] In the example shown in the figure, within the selectable region 2430, an enemy character object 2424 is present in a sector-shaped region located on the right side of the page, but no enemy character object 2424 is present in a sector-shaped region located on the left side of the page. Therefore, the range determination unit 620 may determine, as the settable range, the outside of the selectable region 2430 and the sector-shaped region located on the left side of the page within the selectable region 2430 (the region including the second spot 2442). In this case, the content setting unit 630 may not be able to associate content with the first spot 2440, but may be able to associate content with the second spot 2442 and the third spot 2444. Alternatively, the range determination unit 620 may determine, as the settable range, a pentagonal region located on the left side of the page within the map window 2420 (the region including the second spot 2442), but may not determine, as the settable range, a pentagonal region located on the right side of the page within the map window 2420 (the region including the first spot 2440 and the third spot 2444). In this case, content setting unit 630 may not be able to associate content with first spot 2440 and third spot 2444, but may be able to associate content with second spot 2442. According to server device 20 having these functions, when content is not set in the direction in which the first user plans to travel, content can be set in the direction in which the first user plans to travel, allowing the user to efficiently participate in the content.

[0176] 25 shows a fourteenth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving from the terminal device 30 a content participation instruction for content in which the player battles an enemy monster, the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 1200 and transmits the generated display screen 1200 to the terminal device 30.

[0177] The display screen 2500 has a recruiting window 2510 and a participation button 2530. The recruiting window 2510 is an area that displays information related to the recruitment of participants for the content. In the example of the figure, the recruiting window 2510 includes a participant list 2520 and a group button 2525. The participant list 2520 may be a list of users who have applied to participate in the content. The participant list 2520 may be configured to display the maximum number of users that can be recruited for the content. In the example of the figure, the maximum number of users that can be recruited for the content is six, and the users who have applied to participate in the content are "User A" and "User D." Therefore, the participant list 2520 in the example of the figure displays "Now recruiting," indicating that other users are being recruited, for the remaining four users until the maximum number of users is reached.

[0178] The group button 2525 is a button indicating users who belong to the same group as the user of the terminal device 30. In the example of the present drawing, "User A" for whom the group button 2525 is displayed is a user who belongs to the same group as the user of the terminal device 30. The participation button 2530 is a button for applying for content solicitation. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 clicking the participation button 2530, the instruction input unit 210 may receive a content participation instruction from the terminal device 30.

[0179] In response to the instruction input unit 210 receiving a content participation instruction from the terminal device 30 , the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 2550 and transmits the generated display screen 2550 to the terminal device 30 .

[0180] Display screen 2550 has a recruiting window 2560 and an exit button 2580. In the example of this figure, recruiting window 2560 includes a participant list 2570 and a group button 2525. The group button 2525 is the same as the group button 2525 on display screen 2500. Participant list 2570 may be a list of users who have applied to participate in the content. In the example of this figure, the maximum number of people allowed to participate in the content is six, and the users who have applied to participate in the content are "User A," "User D," and the user of terminal device 30 ("User B"). Therefore, participant list 2570 in the example of this figure displays "User A," "User D," and "User B (myself)," which indicates the user of terminal device 30, and further displays "Now recruiting," indicating that other users are being recruited, for the remaining three users until the maximum number of people is reached.

[0181] The withdraw button 2580 is a button for withdrawing participation in the content and withdrawing from the solicitation. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 clicking the withdraw button 2580, the instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to withdraw from the content from the terminal device 30. The display processing unit 240 may perform processing for displaying a display screen different from the display screen 2550 (such as the display screen 2500, the display screen that was displayed on the terminal device 30 before the display screen 2500 was displayed, or a home screen) on the terminal device 30 of the user who has withdrawn from the content, and may perform processing for displaying a display screen including a participant list excluding the withdrawn user on the terminal devices 30 of "User A" and "User D."

[0182] 26 shows a fifteenth example of a display on the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment. When the conditions for starting the content are met, the content progression unit 650 performs content start processing (S890 in FIG. 8). The display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 2500 in accordance with the content status changed by the content progression unit 650, and transmits the generated display screen 2600 to the terminal device 30.

[0183] The display screen 2600 includes a game window 2610 and a participant window 2680. The game window 2610 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 2610 is an area where the battle status with an enemy monster is displayed. In the example of this figure, the game window 2610 includes an enemy monster image 2620, a status bar 2630, a remaining time indicator 2640, one or more characters 2650, one or more status bars 2655, a command button 2660, an item button 2665, and an escape button 2670.

[0184] The enemy monster image 2620 is an image showing the appearance of the enemy monster. The status bar 2630 shows the status of the enemy monster. The enemy monster image 2620 may show the status of the enemy monster in the content (remaining HP, abnormal status, etc.). In the example shown in this figure, the enemy monster image 2620 shows the remaining HP percentage of the enemy monster. The remaining time display 2640 shows the remaining time of the content. The remaining time display 2640 may start from a predetermined remaining time and decrease as time passes.

[0185] The character 2650 indicates the appearance of the character operated by the user of the terminal device 30. When the user of the terminal device 30 operates multiple characters, the game window 2610 may include multiple characters 2650. In the example of this figure, the game window 2610 includes three characters 2650. The status bar 2655 indicates the status (remaining HP, remaining MP, abnormal status, etc.) within the content of one or more characters operated by the user of the terminal device 30. In the example of this figure, the status bar 2655 indicates the remaining HP percentage of each of the three characters operated by the user of the terminal device 30 within the content.

[0186] The command button 2660 is a button for using a command. As an example, the command button 2660 may be a button for displaying a command window. The command window may display a list of candidate commands to be used. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 clicking the command button 2660, the instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display a command window. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the content progression unit 650 of this. The content progression unit 650 reads data regarding the types and number of commands that can be used from the database 200, and sends an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate a command window. The display processing unit 240 sends the generated command window to the terminal device 30. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 selecting a command via the command window displayed on the terminal device 30, the instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to use the command. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the content progression unit 650 of this. The content progression unit 650 performs processing to use the command and writes the data to the database 200. For example, if the command is a command to attack an enemy monster, the content progression unit 650 may perform processing such as changing an index value indicating the health of the enemy monster, such as HP, associated with the enemy monster, and processing to reduce the remaining number of times the command can be used, and write the results to the database 200. The display processing unit 240 performs processing to display a screen on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30 after the content status has changed.

[0187] The item button 2665 is a button for using an item. As an example, the item button 2665 may be a button for displaying an item window. The item window may display a list of candidate items to be used. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 clicking the item button 2665, the instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display an item window. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the content progression unit 650 of this via the acquisition unit 610. The content progression unit 650 reads data regarding the types and number of times that items can be used from the database 200, and sends an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to generate an item window. The display processing unit 240 sends the generated item window to the terminal device 30. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 selecting an item via the item window displayed on the terminal device 30, the instruction input unit 210 receives a command to use the item. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the content progression unit 650 of this via the acquisition unit 610. The content progression unit 650 performs processing to use the item and writes the results to the database 200. For example, if the item is a recovery item, the content progression unit 650 may perform processing such as changing an index value indicating the health of the character, such as HP, associated with the character in the possessed character information, and processing to reduce the number of possessed items, and write the results to the database 200. The display processing unit 240 performs processing to display a screen on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30 after the content status change.

[0188] The escape button 2670 is a button for exiting the content. In response to the user of the terminal device 30 clicking the escape button 2670, the instruction input unit 210 may receive an instruction to exit the content from the terminal device 30. The display processing unit 240 may perform processing to display a display screen different from the display screen 2600 (such as a result screen indicating that the user has exited the content, a display screen that was displayed on the terminal device 30 before the display screen 2600 was displayed, or a home screen) on the terminal device 30 of the user who has exited the content. The content progression unit 650 may write to the database 200 that the user of the terminal device 30 has exited the content.

[0189] The participant window 2680 may be a list of users participating in the content. In the example shown in the figure, the participant window 2680 indicates that "User A," "User B," and "User C" are participating in the content in addition to the user of the terminal device 30. The display processing unit 240 may display the users in the participant window 2680 in descending order of who joined the content, or may display the users in descending order of who contributed most to the content. The display processing unit 240 may display all users participating in the event in the participant window 2680, or may display only a predetermined number of users participating in the event (such as the top three users in terms of their contribution to the event) in the participant window 2680.

[0190] Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowcharts and block diagrams, where the blocks (e.g., blocks in flowcharts, blocks designated as "means" or "unit") may represent (1) stages of a process in which operations are performed or (2) sections of an apparatus responsible for performing the operations. Particular stages and sections may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. Dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuitry and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuitry including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logic operations, flip-flops, registers, memory elements such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), etc.

[0191] A computer-readable medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by an appropriate device, such that the computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon comprises an article of manufacture containing instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, and semiconductor storage media. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, and the like.

[0192] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0193] The computer-readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a programmable data processing apparatus, such as a computer, locally or over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc., which executes the computer-readable instructions to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams.

[0194] Here, the computer may be a computer such as a PC (personal computer), tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, or general-purpose computer, or may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system, and is a computer in the broad sense. In a distributed computing system, the multiple computers collectively execute a program by each executing a part of the program and passing data between the computers as needed during program execution.

[0195] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units (CPUs), processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc. A computer may have one or more processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a portion of a program and passes data between processors as needed during program execution, allowing the multiple processors to collectively execute the program. For example, in multitasking, each of the multiple processors may execute a portion of each task in small chunks by switching tasks at time slice intervals. In this case, which portion of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Alternatively, which portion of a program each of the multiple processors executes may be statically determined by multiprocessor-aware programming.

[0196] 27 illustrates an example of a computer 2200 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. Programs installed on the computer 2200 may cause the computer 2200 to function as or perform operations associated with an apparatus or one or more sections of the apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, and / or to perform a process or steps of a process according to embodiments of the present invention. Such programs may be executed by the CPU 2212 to cause the computer 2200 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0197] A computer 2200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2212, a RAM 2214, a graphics controller 2216, and a display device 2218, which are interconnected by a host controller 2210. The computer 2200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 2222, a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 2210 via an input / output controller 2220. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 2230 and a keyboard 2242, which are connected to the input / output controller 2220 via an input / output chip 2240.

[0198] The CPU 2212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2230 and RAM 2214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 2216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 2212 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 2214 or into the graphics controller 2216 itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 2218.

[0199] The communications interface 2222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 2224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2212 in the computer 2200. The DVD-ROM drive 2226 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 2201 and provides the programs or data to the hard disk drive 2224 via the RAM 2214. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0200] The ROM 2230 stores therein a boot program or the like that is executed by the computer 2200 upon activation, and / or programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 2200. The input / output chip 2240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 2220 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0201] The programs are provided by a computer-readable medium such as a DVD-ROM 2201 or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable medium, installed in the hard disk drive 2224, RAM 2214, or ROM 2230, which are also examples of computer-readable media, and executed by the CPU 2212. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 2200, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured by realizing information manipulation or processing in accordance with the use of the computer 2200.

[0202] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 2200 and an external device, the CPU 2212 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM 2214 and instruct the communication interface 2222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 2212, the communication interface 2222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in the RAM 2214, the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM 2201, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0203] The CPU 2212 may also cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on an external recording medium such as the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM drive 2226 (DVD-ROM 2201), an IC card, etc. to be read into the RAM 2214, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 then writes back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0204] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and may undergo information processing. The CPU 2212 may perform various types of processing on data read from the RAM 2214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequences of the programs, and write the results back to the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 2212 may search for an entry that matches a condition specified by the attribute value of the first attribute from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0205] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the above embodiments. Although the embodiments relate to games, the present invention is not limited to games and can be widely applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to health support apps, map apps, traffic guidance apps, advertising apps, educational apps, fitness and training apps, etc. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. Note that technical configurations known as of the filing date but not described herein may also be adopted as appropriate.

[0206] It should be noted that the execution order of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that the processes can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that the processes must be performed in this order.

[0207] "Addendum" According to the specification and drawings of the present application, the following features are also disclosed as appendices. "assignment" The purpose is to increase interest. "Solution" (Appendix 1) Computer, a content setting unit that sets a real-world position to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is associated based on a selection by a first user among the multiple users; a content progression unit that enables progression of the content when at least one user among the plurality of users arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location; A program that makes it work. (Appendix 2) The program according to claim 1, wherein the content setting unit sets the real position based on a selection by the first user from within a limited settable range. (Appendix 3) The program described in Appendix 2 causes the computer to function as a range determination unit that determines the configurable range based on at least one of the location or attributes of at least one of the multiple users, location characteristics, or weather information. (Appendix 4) The program described in Appendix 1, wherein the content progression unit enables the content to progress when at least one or more users, including the first user, arrive within the predetermined range from the real-world location. (Appendix 5) The program described in Appendix 4, wherein the content setting unit sets the content of the content based on information regarding the movement of at least one or more users, including the first user, from the actual location to within the predetermined range. (Appendix 6) The computer a display processing unit that displays a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the plurality of users in a manner according to the distance between the position of the first user and the real position; 10. The program of claim 1, (Appendix 7) The program described in Appendix 6, wherein the display processing unit displays each of the multiple contents on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the multiple users in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the position of the content has been set based on the user's selection. (Appendix 8) the content setting unit sets at least one or more meeting users to meet, the real location as a meeting place, and a meeting time based on an instruction from the first user; The computer a meeting notification unit that notifies the at least one meeting user of meeting information including the actual location and the meeting time; 10. The program of claim 1, (Appendix 9) The computer a display processing unit that displays the positions of the at least one meeting user on the terminal device of the first user; 9. The program according to claim 8, which causes the program to function as (Appendix 10) The program described in Appendix 8, wherein the content progression unit allows the content to progress when at least one of the at least one meeting users arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location, and allows other users who are not meeting to participate in the content. (Appendix 11) causing the computer to function as a group management unit that manages groups that can be formed by the plurality of users located within a predetermined distance range; The content setting unit sets the real location associated with the content in which the plurality of users in the group can participate, based on a selection by the first user. The program described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 12) 12. The program according to claim 11, wherein the content is accessible only to the plurality of users in the group. (Appendix 13) The program described in Appendix 1, wherein the content enables the multiple users to participate at a common time and cooperate toward a common goal.

[0208] The solution constituted by the above program may be appropriately applied to the fields of devices, systems, methods, and media. [Explanation of symbols]

[0209] 10 system, 20 server device, 30 terminal device, 40 network, 50 input device, 60 display device, 200 database, 210 instruction input unit, 220 game processing unit, 230 content processing unit, 240 display processing unit, 300 terminal input processing unit, 305 terminal state acquisition unit, 310 terminal transmission unit, 320 terminal reception unit, 330 terminal display processing unit, 600 database connection unit, 610 acquisition unit, 612 position information acquisition unit, 614 setting acquisition unit, 620 range determination unit, 630 content setting unit, 640 meeting notification unit, 650 content progression unit, 660 group management unit, 1100 display screen, 1110 game window, 1112 first character, 1113 selectable area, 1114 background object, 1116 first enemy character object, 1118 group button, 1119 content setting button, 1120 Menu button, 1130 Organization button, 1200 Display screen, 1210 Group formation window, 1212 Yes button, 1214 No button, 1300 Display screen, 1310 Game window, 1312 Second character, 1314 Third character, 1316 Group display area, 1400 Display screen, 1410 Group withdrawal window, 1412 Yes button, 1414 No button, 1600 Display screen, 1610 Content installation window, 1620 Map window, 1622 First character, 1624 Content setting candidate position, 1700 Display screen, 1710 Game window, 1720 Second enemy character object, 1800 Display screen, 1810 Meeting window, 1820 Map window, 1822 Meeting place, 1830 Meeting user setting window, 1832 Meeting user candidate list, 1834 Decision button, 1840 estimated arrival time, 1850 display screen, 1860 meeting notification window, 1862 Yes button, 1864 No button, 1866 change meeting time button, 1868 change meeting location button, 1900 display screen, 1910 content installation window, 1920 map window, 1930 meeting time notification window, 2000 display screen, 2010 game window, 2020 second enemy character object, 2100Display screen, 2110 game window, 2120 map window, 2130 meeting user setting window, 2132 meeting user candidate list, 2134 Yes button, 2136 No button, 2138 display setting change button, 2200 computer, 2201 DVD-ROM, 2210 host controller, 2212 CPU, 2214 RAM, 2216 graphics controller, 2218 display device, 2220 input / output controller, 2222 communication interface, 2224 hard disk drive, 2226 DVD-ROM drive, 2230 ROM, 2240 input / output chip, 2242 keyboard, 2300 display screen, 2310 game window, 2320 map window, 2330 recommendation window, 2332 recommendation position, 2350 display screen, 2360 content installation window, 2370 Map window, 2372 content placement location, 2400 display screen, 2410 content placement window, 2420 map window, 2422 first character, 2424 enemy character object, 2430 selectable area, 2440 first spot, 2442 second spot, 2444 third spot, 2500 display screen, 2510 recruitment window, 2520 participant list, 2525 group button, 2530 join button, 2550 display screen, 2560 recruitment window, 2570 participant list, 2580 leave button, 2600 display screen, 2610 game window, 2620 enemy monster image, 2630 status bar, 2640 remaining time display, 2650 character, 2655 status bar, 2660 command button, 2665 item button, 2670 escape button, 2680 Participants Window

Claims

1. Computer, a content setting unit that sets a real-world position to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is associated based on a selection by a first user among the multiple users; a content progression unit that enables progression of the content when at least one user among the plurality of users arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location; A program that makes it work.

2. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the content setting unit sets the real location based on a selection by the first user from within a limited settable range.

3. The program according to claim 2, which causes the computer to function as a range determination unit that determines the settable range based on at least one of the location or attributes of at least one of the plurality of users, location characteristics, or weather information.

4. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the content progression unit enables the content to be progressed when at least one or more users including the first user arrive within the predetermined range from the real-world location.

5. The program of claim 4 , wherein the content setting unit sets the content based on information regarding the movement of at least one or more users, including the first user, from the actual location to within the predetermined range.

6. The computer a display processing unit that displays a position in the virtual space corresponding to the real position on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the plurality of users in a manner according to the distance between the position of the first user and the real position; The program according to claim 1, wherein the program functions as follows:

7. The program described in claim 6, wherein the display processing unit displays each of the plurality of contents on a terminal device of a user other than the first user among the plurality of users in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the position of the content has been set based on a user's selection.

8. the content setting unit sets at least one or more meeting users to meet, the real location as a meeting place, and a meeting time based on an instruction from the first user; The computer a meeting notification unit that notifies the at least one meeting user of meeting information including the actual location and the meeting time; The program according to claim 1, wherein the program functions as follows:

9. The computer a display processing unit that displays the positions of the at least one meeting user on the terminal device of the first user; The program according to claim 8, which causes the program to function as follows:

10. The program of claim 8, wherein the content progression unit allows the content to progress when at least one of the at least one meeting user arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location, and allows other users who are not meeting to participate in the content.

11. causing the computer to function as a group management unit that manages groups that can be formed by the plurality of users located within a predetermined distance range; The content setting unit sets the real location associated with the content in which the plurality of users in the group can participate, based on a selection by the first user. The program according to claim 1.

12. The program according to claim 11 , wherein the content is accessible only to the plurality of users in the group.

13. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the content enables the plurality of users to participate at a common timing and cooperate toward a common goal.

14. a content setting unit that sets a real-world position to which content in a virtual space in which multiple users can participate is associated based on a selection by a first user among the multiple users; a content progression unit that enables progression of the content when at least one user among the plurality of users arrives within a predetermined range from the actual location; A system comprising:

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