Programs and systems

Abstract

To prevent a decline in user interest. [Solution] The program causes a computer to function as a control means that, when a first user performs a predetermined operation on an object, restricts a predetermined operation by a second user, different from the first user, performed within a predetermined range including the object.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In recent years, services that users can use have been used to trade objects that the users have acquired.

[0003] However, if the object to be traded cannot be appropriately acquired, the user's interest in using the service will decrease. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7506816 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a program and a system that can prevent a decline in the user's interest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a program is provided that causes a computer to function as a control means that, when a first user performs a predetermined operation on an object, restricts a predetermined operation by a second user, different from the first user, that is performed within a predetermined range including the object. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention makes it possible to suppress a decline in the user's interest. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a user terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a user terminal. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a server device. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a game system. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mining screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mining screen when excavation operations are not restricted. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mining screen when excavation operations are restricted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a game system according to this embodiment. The game system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is configured to enable users to play games online, for example, and includes a user terminal (terminal device) 10 and a server device 20.

[0010] The user terminal 10 is, for example, an electronic device used by a user. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user terminal 10 is, for example, a personal computer (PC), but the user terminal 10 may also be other electronic devices such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a video game console.

[0011] The server device 20 is provided to enable users to play games using the user terminals 10, and is communicably connected to the user terminals 10 via a network 30 such as the Internet.

[0012] Although only one user terminal 10 is shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 is assumed to include a plurality of user terminals 10 used by a plurality of users who can play the game.

[0013] Furthermore, in the game system 1 according to this embodiment, the user terminal 10 and the server device 20 are connected to a blockchain system 40 via a network 30 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0014] The blockchain system 40 includes multiple node devices (not shown), each of which has a distributed ledger. Each node device is configured to store the same data in the distributed ledger. Details will be described later, but in this embodiment, assets held by users are managed on a blockchain realized by the distributed ledger held by each node device of the blockchain system 40.

[0015] Fig. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 10 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the user terminal 10 includes a non-volatile memory 11, a CPU 12, a main memory 13, a communication device 14, an input device 15, a display device 16, and the like.

[0016] The nonvolatile memory 11 stores various programs. The various programs stored in the nonvolatile memory 11 include, for example, an operating system (OS) and various application programs that run on the user terminal 10.

[0017] The CPU 12 is a processor for controlling the operations of various components within the user terminal 10, and executes various programs stored in, for example, the non-volatile memory 11. The CPU 12 may be a single processor or may be configured with multiple processors.

[0018] The various programs stored in the non-volatile memory 11 are loaded from the non-volatile memory 11 into the main memory 13 and executed by the CPU 12, and the programs executed by the CPU 12 include a game program for operating as a user terminal in the game system 1.

[0019] The communication device 14 is a device for communicating with external devices such as the server device 20 and multiple node devices that make up the blockchain system 40.

[0020] The input device 15 is a device for inputting operations performed by the user to play the game, and includes, for example, a mouse and a keyboard.

[0021] The display device 16 is a device for displaying various screens for playing the game, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 20 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the server device 20 includes a nonvolatile memory 21, a CPU 22, a main memory 23, a communication device 24, and the like.

[0023] The nonvolatile memory 21 stores various programs, including, for example, an operating system (OS) and various application programs that run on the server device 20.

[0024] The CPU 22 is a processor for controlling the operations of various components in the server device 20, and executes various programs stored in the nonvolatile memory 21, for example. The CPU 22 may be a single processor or may be configured with multiple processors.

[0025] The various programs stored in the non-volatile memory 21 are executed by the CPU 22 loaded from the non-volatile memory 21 to the main memory 23, and the programs executed by the CPU 22 include a game program for operating as a server device in the game system 1.

[0026] The communication device 24 is a device for communicating with external devices such as the user terminal 10 and multiple node devices that make up the blockchain system 40.

[0027] Although the hardware configuration of the user terminal 10 and the server device 20 has been described here, each node device constituting the above-mentioned blockchain system 40 also has a similar hardware configuration. Specifically, each node device may be provided with, for example, a non-volatile memory, a CPU, a main memory, a communication device, etc.

[0028] The following describes the functional configuration of the game system 1 according to this embodiment. The game system 1 according to this embodiment has a function that enables users to play games by, for example, the user terminal 10, the server device 20, and the blockchain system 40 operating in cooperation with each other.

[0029] 4 shows an example of the functional configuration of the user terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 10 includes an operation receiving unit 101, a transmitting / receiving unit 102, a control unit 103, a display processing unit 104, and a storage unit 105.

[0030] 4 are functional units realized by software, that is, by the CPU 12 of the user terminal 10 executing the game program described above. This game program may be downloaded to the user terminal 10 via the network 30, or may be distributed by being stored in advance on a computer-readable storage medium. The CPU 12 is an example of a computer of the user terminal 10 that executes the game program.

[0031] 4 is realized by the nonvolatile memory 11 shown in FIG. 2 or another storage device (not shown).

[0032] The operation reception unit 101 receives operations input by the user using the input device 15 when playing a game. Hereinafter, for convenience, the operations received by the operation reception unit 101 will be referred to as user operations. User operations include, for example, clicking a mouse or pressing a key on a keyboard.

[0033] The transmitting / receiving unit 102 transmits or receives various types of information related to the game via the above-mentioned communication device 14. The various types of information include play information, game information, user information, etc. The play information includes the above-mentioned information indicating the user's operations, etc.

[0034] The control unit 103 executes various processes related to the progress of the game based on, for example, user operations.

[0035] The display processing unit 104 executes processing to display various screens for playing the game in accordance with the control of the control unit 103.

[0036] The storage unit 105 stores, for example, game information and user information. The game information and user information are information that is referenced when a game program is executed on the user terminal 10.

[0037] In the game system 1, an account is issued for each user who plays the game, and the game information is information common to all of the accounts. The game information includes, for example, information for defining a virtual space corresponding to the game space. The game information also includes, for example, information regarding the positions and setting values ​​of various objects, such as characters, buildings, trees, stones, and items, that are placed in the virtual space (hereinafter referred to as object setting information). Note that the characters can be controlled by the user, and will be referred to as player characters in the following description.

[0038] User information is information managed for each user account, and the storage unit 105 stores user information about users who use the user terminal 10. The user information includes, for example, information about the player character, information about owned assets, and information indicating the progress of the game. Owned assets correspond to assets acquired by the user by playing the game. Examples of assets include electronic currency, tokens, items, and characters. Electronic currency includes, for example, virtual currency (in other words, crypto assets) and currency that can be used in the game.

[0039] 5 shows an example of the functional configuration of the server device 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the server device 20 includes a storage unit 201, a transmission / reception unit 202, a control unit 203, and a management unit 204.

[0040] The storage unit 201 shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the nonvolatile memory 21 shown in FIG. 3 or another storage device (not shown).

[0041] 5 are functional units realized by software, that is, by the CPU 22 of the server device 20 executing the game program. This game program may be downloaded to the server device 20 via the network 30, or may be distributed by being stored in advance in a computer-readable storage medium. The CPU 22 is an example of a computer of the server device 20 that executes the game program.

[0042] The storage unit 201 stores game information similar to the game information stored in the storage unit 105 included in the above-described user terminal 10. The storage unit 201 also stores user information of all users who have been issued accounts by registering with the game system 1.

[0043] The transmitting / receiving unit 202 transmits or receives various types of information related to the game via the above-mentioned communication device 24. The various types of information include the above-mentioned play information, game information, and user information.

[0044] The control unit 203 executes various processes for providing a game play environment for playing a game (for example, enabling a user to play a game). Specifically, the control unit 203 provides a virtual space to the user playing the game based on information for defining the virtual space included in the game information. The control unit 203 places objects in the virtual space based on object setting information included in the game information. The control unit 203 controls the objects placed in the virtual space.

[0045] The management unit 204 manages the game information and user information stored in the storage unit 201. Specifically, the management unit 204 executes processes such as adding, updating, and deleting game information and user information. In addition, the management unit 204 manages assets held by users on the blockchain by linking with the blockchain system 40.

[0046] It should be noted that "provision of a game play environment" in this embodiment is realized by a game program that runs on the game system 1. The game programs that run on the game system 1 include, for example, a game program that runs on the user terminal 10 and a game program that runs on the server device 20, and the game program according to this embodiment may be a part of these game programs.

[0047] Here, we have explained the functional configurations of the user terminal 10 and the server device 20. Below, we will briefly explain the functional configurations of the node devices that make up the blockchain system 40. Note that the server device 20 may operate as part of multiple node devices that make up the blockchain system 40.

[0048] The node device registers the assets held by the user in the distributed ledger based on information about the assets held by the user transmitted from the user terminal 10 or the server device 20. In addition, the node device registers the transaction history of the assets held by the user in the distributed ledger based on information about the transactions of the assets held by the user transmitted from the user terminal 10 or the server device 20.

[0049] In addition, a distributed ledger manages multiple blocks containing hash values ​​and transactions. A hash value is calculated from information contained in the previous block, and the distributed ledger registers assets held and transaction histories, etc., with each block linked like a chain by the hash value. A transaction is, for example, information indicating the details of a transaction of assets held, and includes input information indicating the transfer source and output information indicating the transfer destination in the transaction.

[0050] The blockchain system 40 stores information in units called blocks in a distributed ledger and manages these blocks in this way, thereby realizing a blockchain with high tamper resistance and making it possible to manage the above-mentioned assets held and the transaction history of those assets on the blockchain. In this case, the user terminal 10 or the server device 20 will hold their own asset information based on the contents of the distributed ledger of the blockchain system 40.

[0051] In the game system 1 according to this embodiment, for example, at least some of the functions of the user terminal 10 may be provided by the server device 20 or the blockchain system 40, or at least some of the functions of the server device 20 may be provided by the user terminal 10 or the blockchain system 40. Furthermore, the game system 1 may include devices other than the user terminal 10, the server device 20, and the blockchain system 40. That is, the game program according to this embodiment may be executed by the user terminal 10, the server device 20, the blockchain system 40, or other devices.

[0052] Here, an overview of a game that can be played by a user in this embodiment will be described. Note that the game in this embodiment is, for example, a game that uses a blockchain system 40 (hereinafter referred to as a blockchain game).

[0053] In this embodiment, the virtual space includes, for example, a space such as a mine, and the blockchain game is a game in which a user's player character mines in the mine. In such a blockchain game, for example, items acquired by a user by mining in the mine (in other words, items mined by the user in the mine) are managed on the blockchain as the user's assets, and the assets can be traded with other users.

[0054] In the above-mentioned blockchain game, a map is prepared that is common to multiple users (specifically, all users) who play the blockchain game. Multiple mines are arranged on the map.

[0055] When a map is displayed on the user terminal 10 based on a user's operation, the user acquires or selects a mine on the displayed map where the user will mine. In this embodiment, "acquiring a mine" can be rephrased as "acquiring the right to mine in a specific mine." However, a user may be able to mine in a mine acquired by another user without acquiring the mine.

[0056] Incidentally, in a blockchain game, item A used for mining in a mine is provided as an item necessary to play the game. In other words, in order to perform mining, a user needs to use item A. Item A is, for example, a pickaxe used for mining. A pickaxe may also be called an ice axe. Note that a user who does not own a pickaxe may not be able to acquire a mine.

[0057] Here, in a blockchain game, multiple types of pickaxes with different characteristics are available. Furthermore, pickaxes are items that can be converted into NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). "Pickaxes converted into NFTs" refers to a state in which information proving that the pickaxe is unique is managed on a blockchain. In other words, "pickaxes converted into NFTs" refers to a state in which an NFT corresponding to the pickaxe is issued and the issued NFT is managed on a blockchain. In the following explanation, digital assets such as items for which a corresponding NFT has been issued may be simply referred to as NFTs.

[0058] In this embodiment, the pickaxe is converted into an NFT by, for example, the operator of the blockchain game, and cannot be converted by the user. However, the pickaxe may also be converted into an NFT by the user.

[0059] Furthermore, in the blockchain game of this embodiment, users can obtain items B and C through mining. Details will be described later, but for example, item B is an item that can be converted into an NFT, and item C is an item that can be exchanged for a specific token. In the following description, the token exchanged for item C is referred to as a specific token.

[0060] There are multiple types of Item B, which are collectible items. Specifically, Item B is a gemstone that users collect. On the other hand, Item C is a mineral (hereafter referred to as pyroxene) that is different from gemstones. In other words, the blockchain game has the gameplay of mining in a mine using a pickaxe to obtain gemstones and pyroxene.

[0061] Additionally, specific tokens that can be acquired by exchanging gemstones are equivalent to crypto assets (e.g., virtual currency). In the blockchain game, specific tokens are used to restore the durability of pickaxes, strengthen pickaxes, and turn gemstones into NFTs, as described below.

[0062] Regardless of whether they have been converted into NFTs or not, assets such as pickaxes, gems, and gemstones owned by each user may be managed on the blockchain.

[0063] Below, we will briefly explain the flow of asset acquisition and consumption in the blockchain game in this embodiment.

[0064] As described above, in order to mine in a blockchain game, a user needs to use a pickaxe. In this embodiment, a user can purchase a pickaxe by consuming specific tokens in a marketplace inside or outside the blockchain game.

[0065] A user who has purchased a pickaxe as described above can use the pickaxe to mine in a mine. Through mining, a user can obtain a variety of items, including gems and pyroxene.

[0066] Gems acquired by a user can be converted into NFTs by satisfying certain conditions. That is, in this embodiment, an NFT corresponding to the gem is issued, and the issued NFT is managed on the blockchain. The conversion of gems into NFTs may be performed automatically or based on instructions from the user. Note that the conversion of gems into NFTs requires, for example, the consumption of a predetermined amount of specific tokens.

[0067] Furthermore, by converting gems into NFTs, they can be taken outside of the blockchain game and traded (e.g., bought and sold) in a marketplace outside of the blockchain game. In other words, converting an item such as a gem into an NFT makes it possible to take the item outside of the blockchain game. Note that gems may be traded in a designated marketplace regardless of whether they are converted into an NFT.

[0068] Pyroxene acquired by a user can be exchanged for a specific token as described above. The exchange between the pyroxene and the specific token is assumed to be performed automatically. Specifically, all pyroxene held by a user may be exchanged for a specific token at a predetermined time, or may be exchanged for a specific token when mining is completed, etc. Furthermore, the exchange between the pyroxene and the specific token may be performed based on a user's instruction.

[0069] In this embodiment, it is assumed that pyroxene obtained by mining in a mine is exchanged for a specific token, but the specific token may also be obtained directly by the mining.

[0070] Also, although the description here assumes that pyroxene can be exchanged for a specific token, gems may also be exchangeable for a specific token. In other words, gems may be items that can be converted into NFTs and can be exchanged for a specific token. The exchange between gems and specific tokens may be performed either before or after conversion into NFTs, or may be performed both before and after conversion into NFTs.

[0071] The specific token in this embodiment corresponds to a virtual currency managed on a blockchain. The specific token may be a token that can be exchanged for other crypto assets at a predetermined exchange. The specific token may also be a unique token related to a blockchain game with an issuance limit set, or may be a virtual currency that can be used outside the blockchain game.

[0072] An example of a processing procedure of the game system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0073] In this embodiment, it has been described that a user needs to use a pickaxe to perform mining, but the pickaxe used by the user may be a pickaxe owned by the user or a pickaxe owned by another user. In other words, for example, a user who owns a pickaxe can use the pickaxe to perform mining, or can lend the pickaxe to another user and request that the other user perform mining. On the other hand, for example, a user who does not own a pickaxe can temporarily borrow a pickaxe from another user to perform mining without purchasing the pickaxe.

[0074] In this embodiment, a user who owns a pickaxe and can lend the pickaxe to other users is called an owner. On the other hand, a user who borrows a pickaxe from an owner to mine is called a scalar. When a scalar borrows a pickaxe from an owner to mine, the scalar will mine in the mine that the owner has acquired.

[0075] First, for example, when a game program is launched on the user terminal 10 to start a blockchain game, a home screen is displayed on the user terminal 10 (step S1).

[0076] Here, an example of a home screen is shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 7, a home screen 110 has a plurality of buttons 110a to 110i arranged thereon.

[0077] The button 110a is a button that can display a screen (for example, the map described above) for acquiring and managing a mine.

[0078] Button 110b is a button that can display a screen for checking the gems that the user has acquired by mining (in other words, the gems that the user has acquired in the blockchain game).

[0079] In this embodiment, a pickaxe used for mining has a durability value assigned to it, and this durability value decreases as the pickaxe is used for mining. When the durability value reaches a predetermined value (e.g., 0), the pickaxe becomes unusable. Furthermore, a level or rank is assigned to the pickaxe. When the level or rank of such a pickaxe is increased and the pickaxe is strengthened, parameters that affect the ease of mining gems and pyroxene, for example, change, and the efficiency of the mining increases. Button 110c is a button that can display a screen for restoring the durability value of the pickaxe or strengthening the pickaxe. Note that the durability value of the pickaxe can be restored or strengthened by consuming a predetermined amount of specific tokens, for example.

[0080] The button 110d is a button that can display a screen for recruiting scalars to request mining, for example, when the user is the owner.

[0081] Button 110e is a button that can display a screen for buying and selling gems in a predetermined marketplace.

[0082] Button 110f is a button that can display a screen for buying and selling pickaxes in a predetermined marketplace.

[0083] Button 110g is a button that can display a screen for searching information about gems mined within the blockchain game.

[0084] Button 110h is a button that can display a screen for managing assets such as specific tokens and NFTs.

[0085] When any of the above-mentioned buttons 110a to 110h is pressed, the home screen 110 transitions to a screen corresponding to the button, but the button 110i is provided for returning to the home screen 110 from the screen corresponding to the button.

[0086] Incidentally, the home screen 110 further includes a first mining start button 111 and a second mining start button 112 for instructing the start of mining.

[0087] The first mining start button 111 is a button for the user to perform mining as an owner. When the operation of pressing the first mining start button 111 is performed, the user starts mining using a pickaxe that the user owns. Note that since the first mining start button 111 is a button for performing mining as an owner, it may be configured so that it cannot be pressed if the user does not own a pickaxe, for example.

[0088] The second mining start button 112 is a button for the user to perform mining as a scalar. When the operation of pressing the second mining start button 112 is performed, the user borrows a pickaxe owned by another user, who is the owner, and starts mining.

[0089] Note that, although the home screen has been described here with reference to Fig. 7, the home screen 110 shown in Fig. 7 is an example, and the home screen in this embodiment may be different from Fig. 7. Specifically, the home screen in this embodiment may be one in which at least some of the buttons 110a to 110i, 111, and 112 are omitted, or may be one in which buttons other than the buttons 110a to 110i, 111, and 112 are further arranged.

[0090] Returning to Figure 6 again, when the first mining start button 111 or the second mining start button 112 located on the above-mentioned home screen 110 is pressed, the mining screen is displayed on the user terminal 10 (step S2).

[0091] FIG. 8 shows an example of a mining screen. As shown in FIG. 8, a mine 121 corresponding to a virtual space is displayed on the mining screen 120. A user's player character 122 is placed in the mine 121 displayed on the mining screen 120. The user can operate the player character 122 while referring to the mining screen 120, and the player character 122 moves through the mine 121 based on the user's operation, and operates to excavate the surface of the mine 121 using a pickaxe. The processing of step S2 described above includes processing to control the behavior of the player character 122 so as to perform mining in the mine 121 displayed on the mining screen 120.

[0092] In this embodiment, a user can mine using a pickaxe owned by that user or borrow a pickaxe owned by another user. However, if the owner of a mine to be mined owns multiple pickaxes, multiple users using each of the multiple pickaxes may mine in the same mine. This type of mining by multiple users in the same mine is referred to as multiplay. The multiple users mining in the same mine may be a user who mines as the owner and a user who mines as a scalar, or may be only a user who mines as a scalar.

[0093] Although a detailed explanation will be omitted, the above-mentioned multiplay is realized by, for example, multiple user terminals 10 used by multiple users and the server device 20 transmitting and receiving a request for synchronization processing to realize the multiplay and information to be the target of synchronization processing. Note that the synchronization processing includes, for example, transmitting information indicating user operations performed on each of the multiple user terminals 10 to the other user terminals 10 via the server device 20, and reflecting the operations on the mining screen displayed on the other user terminals 10.

[0094] By executing such synchronization processing, for example, a mining screen is displayed on the user terminal 10 used by the user, in which not only the player character operated by the user but also player characters operated by other users who are playing multiplayer games with the user are mining.

[0095] In other words, the user terminals 10 and server device 20 used by multiple users playing multiplayer games are assumed to be aware of the play status of the blockchain game of the multiple users (specifically, the operations performed by each of the multiple users and the positions of the multiple users' player characters in the virtual space, etc.) by executing the above-mentioned synchronization process.

[0096] Incidentally, mining in a blockchain game is performed, for example, by excavating the surface of a mine to extract ore containing gems or pyroxene, and then further excavating the ore to extract the gems or pyroxene from the ore. When a user mines gems or pyroxene by operating a player character, the user can obtain the gems or pyroxene as a reward. In the above-mentioned multiplayer mode, the reward is shared among multiple users playing the multiplayer mode. In the following description, for convenience, the mining of gems or pyroxene by a user's player character may be referred to as the user mining gems or pyroxene.

[0097] An example of the reward distribution method described above will be described below. Here, the case of distributing pyroxene will be described. When a pyroxene is mined by a predetermined user among multiple users playing multiplayer, an amount of pyroxene (hereinafter referred to as the first pyroxene) corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the total mined pyroxene is distributed to the owner. Furthermore, a predetermined amount of pyroxene (hereinafter referred to as the third pyroxene) among the remaining pyroxene (hereinafter referred to as the second pyroxene) after excluding the first pyroxene from the total mined pyroxene is distributed to the user who mined the pyroxene, and the remaining pyroxene (hereinafter referred to as the fourth pyroxene) after excluding the third pyroxene from the second pyroxene is distributed among the multiple users playing multiplayer. The fourth pyroxene may be distributed equally among the multiple users, or may be distributed according to each user's contribution from the last time pyroxene was mined to the current time. Each user's contribution may be determined according to the amount of ground surface excavated by the user's player character. The above distribution method is merely an example, and other methods may also be used.

[0098] Here, we have explained the case where pyroxene is mined, but if gems are mined during multiplayer, the gems will not be distributed among multiple users but will be acquired by the owner. However, gems may also be acquired by the user who mined them.

[0099] Here, as in the distribution method described above, a case is assumed in which, among multiple users playing multiplayer, a larger amount of pyroxene is distributed to the user who mined the pyroxene. In other words, a case is assumed in which an incentive is given to a user who mined pyroxene during multiplayer in a blockchain game. Here, it is assumed that the incentive is pyroxene, but the incentive may also be the recovery of the durability value of a pickaxe, etc.

[0100] In this case, for example, after a user has been able to identify the location of a pyroxene to some extent through digging, other users in the vicinity of the user may mine the pyroxene for the purpose of receiving an incentive. In other words, a situation may arise in which a user who is digging into the surface or ore to mine a pyroxene has the pyroxene taken by another user just before mining the pyroxene. If such a situation occurs, there is a concern that the user whose pyroxene has been taken by another user will lose interest and motivation in playing the blockchain game.

[0101] Therefore, in this embodiment, a mechanism for avoiding the occurrence of the above-mentioned situation is provided in order to prevent the user's interest from decreasing.

[0102] 6, it is determined whether or not the operation of the user using the user terminal 10 on which the mining screen is displayed in step S2 satisfies a predetermined condition (step S3). Note that the user operation assumed here is an operation for controlling the player character to excavate the ground surface using, for example, a pickaxe (hereinafter referred to as an excavation operation).

[0103] An example of the above-mentioned predetermined condition will be described below. Here, we will assume that a first user and a second user are playing a multiplayer game. In this case, the player characters of the first and second users are mining in the same mine, and there is a possibility that the player characters will be mining within close proximity to each other.

[0104] The above-mentioned specified conditions include, for example, a first user performing a drilling operation on the surface or ore at a specified location, and then a second user performing a drilling operation within a specified range that includes the surface or ore at the specified location.

[0105] In this case, in step S3, for example, when a first user performs a digging operation, a predetermined range is set based on the location where the first user performed the digging operation based on information indicating the digging operation of the first user, and when a second user performs a digging operation after the predetermined range has been set, a process is executed to determine whether the location where the second user performed the digging operation is included in the set range based on information indicating the digging operation of the second user.

[0106] The predetermined range may be a range that is set based on the position of the player character of the first user, for example.

[0107] If it is determined that the above-mentioned predetermined condition is satisfied (YES in step S3), the excavation operation of the second user is invalidated (step S4). The invalidation of the excavation operation of the second user corresponds to the restriction of the movement of the player character of the second user (hereinafter referred to as the excavation movement) controlled based on the excavation operation.

[0108] This prevents the second user from mining the pyroxene before the first user, for example, by performing an excavation operation just before the first user is able to mine the pyroxene.

[0109] In this embodiment, when a player character of a first user performing an excavation action is present in the vicinity, the excavation action of the player character of the second user is restricted, but the second user may not be able to recognize the presence of the player character of the first user on, for example, the mining screen (hereinafter referred to as the mining screen of the second user) displayed on the user terminal 10 used by the second user. In such a case, the second user may not be able to understand the reason why the excavation action of the player character of the second user is restricted.

[0110] Therefore, when the digging action of the player character of the second user is restricted as described above, the second user may be notified that the digging action has been restricted. Specifically, FIG. 9 shows an example of a mining screen of the second user when the digging action of the player character 123 of the second user is not restricted. On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows an example of a mining screen of the second user when the digging action of the player character 123 of the second user is restricted. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, a message such as "You cannot dig because there is someone nearby!" is displayed near the player character 123 of the second user on the mining screen. According to such a message, the second user can understand that the digging action of the player character of the second user is restricted due to the presence of a player character of another user (specifically, the first user) near the player character of the second user. In the example shown in FIG. 10, a pickaxe 122a used by the player character of the first user is displayed, and it can be seen that the player character of the first user is present in the vicinity of the player character 123 of the second user.

[0111] Here, we have explained that a digging operation by a second user performed after a digging operation by a first user is invalidated, but for example, if a digging operation by a first user is performed after a digging operation by a second user, the digging operation by the first user will be invalidated.

[0112] If it is determined in step S3 that the predetermined condition is not met (NO in step S3), the digging operation of the second user is not invalidated, and the processing of step S5 described below is executed. In other words, unless the predetermined condition is met, the player characters of the first and second users can perform digging actions based on the digging operations of the first and second users.

[0113] Next, it is determined whether or not to end mining (step S5). Note that the mining screen displayed in the above step S2 can be transitioned to a menu screen, and in step S5, it is determined that mining is to end when the user instructs on the menu screen to return to the home screen, for example.

[0114] If it is determined that mining is to be ended (YES in step S5), the player character leaves the mine, and the process returns to, for example, step S1 and is repeated.

[0115] In addition, when mining is terminated, the progress status of mining at the mine may be managed, for example, by the server device 20, and mining at the mine may be resumed by referring to the progress status.

[0116] On the other hand, if it is determined that mining should not be ended (NO in step S5), the display of the mining screen continues, and the process returns to step S3 to repeat. That is, while mining is being performed in this embodiment, the processes of steps S3 and S4 are executed every time a mining operation is performed, and an excavation operation that satisfies a predetermined condition is invalidated, while an excavation operation that does not satisfy the predetermined condition is treated as a valid operation.

[0117] 6 may be executed in the game system 1, and the processes of steps S1 to S5 shown in FIG. 6 may be executed in, for example, the user terminal 10 or in the server device 20. Specifically, for example, the processes of steps S1, S2, and S5 are assumed to be executed in the user terminal 10, but some or all of the processes may be executed in the server device 20. Similarly, for example, the processes of steps S3 and S4 are assumed to be executed in the server device 20, but some or all of the processes may be executed in the user terminal 10.

[0118] As described above, in this embodiment, when a first user performs an excavation operation on the surface of the earth or ore, the second user's excavation operation performed within a predetermined range (hereinafter referred to as the excavation limit range) that includes the surface of the earth or ore is invalidated. Note that the first and second users correspond to multiple users playing multiplayer games. Furthermore, an excavation operation is an example of a predetermined operation performed by a user, and the surface of the earth or ore is an example of an object placed in a mine, which corresponds to virtual space. Furthermore, invalidation is an example of a restriction, and in this embodiment, rather than invalidating the second user's excavation operation, the excavation operation may be restricted, for example, so that the amount of surface area excavated in the excavation operation is reduced.

[0119] In this embodiment, with this configuration, for example, when a player character of a first user is digging on the surface or ore, a player character of a second user other than the first user can be prevented from digging in the vicinity, so it is possible to avoid a situation where the first user discovers ore first, but the second user mines pyroxene or the like from the ore first. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the first user's interest in the blockchain game.

[0120] Furthermore, if incentives are awarded to users who mine pyroxene during multiplayer play as described above, it may be necessary to determine the user who mined the pyroxene at a critical timing when, for example, the player characters of the first and second users are each performing digging operations around the pyroxene. Specifically, when the player characters of the first and second users are digging a single ore containing pyroxene as described above, it becomes difficult to identify the user who mined the pyroxene. In such a case, if an attempt is made to precisely identify the user who mined the pyroxene, it would be necessary to transmit and receive information indicating the digging operation between the user terminals 10 used by the first and second users and the server device 20 each time an digging operation is performed, and to execute a process to determine the user who mined the pyroxene. This may hinder smooth multiplayer play in the blockchain game. However, in this embodiment, for example, the player character of the second user cannot perform digging operations around the player character of the first user (in other words, the digging operation of the second user is disabled), so it is not difficult to identify the player character who mined the pyroxene as described above.

[0121] The above-mentioned digging limit range is set, for example, as a range with a radius of 1 m from the position where the digging operation of the first user was performed (in other words, the point where the player character of the first user performed the digging action). The digging limit range may be, for example, the range where the player character of the first user can dig (i.e., the range that the pickaxe can reach) or a range such as that range plus α, but may also vary depending on parameters related to the first and second users, the pickaxes used by the first and second users, or the mine where the first and second users perform the excavation. Furthermore, the digging limit range is, for example, a range defined in three-dimensional space, and is a range defined in the horizontal and vertical directions of the player character.

[0122] Furthermore, as described above, in this embodiment, the digging operation of the second user is invalidated, but the digging operation of the second user is invalidated if it is performed within a predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as the digging restriction period) after the digging operation of the first user. This digging restriction period may vary depending on, for example, parameters related to the first and second users, the pickaxes used by the first and second users, or the mine in which the first and second users perform mining.

[0123] Furthermore, for example, when a first user performs an excavation operation on the ground or ore, the first user's player character located in the mine is controlled to perform an excavation operation on the ground or ore, but the second user's excavation operation may be disabled if the first user's player character is located within a predetermined range from the point where the first user's player character performed the excavation operation. In this case, for example, as long as the first user performs an excavation operation at the same location, the second user's excavation operation performed within the excavation limit range will continue to be disabled.

[0124] On the other hand, if the player character of the first user moves outside a predetermined range from the point where the player character of the first user performed the excavation operation, the excavation operation of the second user performed within the excavation limited range may not be invalidated. In other words, if the player character of the first user moves outside a predetermined range from the point where the excavation operation was performed, the excavation limit including the excavation limited range and excavation limited period may be released.

[0125] If a first user performs an excavation operation after the player character of the first user has moved, the second user's excavation operation performed within the excavation limit range including the surface or ore where the excavation operation was performed is invalidated. That is, in this embodiment, for example, when the first user performs a new excavation operation, control is implemented to move the excavation limit range.

[0126] In addition, although it has been described here that the excavation restriction is released when the player character of the first user moves, in order to omit the processing required to release the excavation restriction (for example, communication, etc.), the excavation restriction range may be continued until the excavation restriction period has elapsed even if the player character of the first user moves. In this case, for example, when the first user performs an excavation operation sequentially at multiple positions, multiple excavation restriction ranges in which the second user's excavation operation is invalid will exist simultaneously, and control is performed such that the multiple excavation restriction ranges disappear sequentially as the excavation restriction period elapses.

[0127] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a notification (specifically, a message such as "You cannot dig because there are people nearby!") may be output when the excavation operation of the second user is invalidated. This allows the second user to understand that the excavation operation of the second user has been invalidated because the player character of the first user is present in the vicinity of the player character of the second user. Note that, for a blockchain game involving mining, it is preferable to present the situation as one in which mining cannot be performed due to the danger posed by the presence of other player characters nearby.

[0128] Furthermore, if the excavation operation of the second user is disabled, the player character of the second user will not perform the excavation action, but the player character of the second user may perform the excavation action as a performance on the excavation screen. However, in the blockchain game, excavation is treated as not being performed, and for example, the durability value of the pickaxe described above will not decrease.

[0129] Although it has been described herein that an excavation operation by a second user performed within the excavation limit range after an excavation operation by a first user is performed is invalidated, an excavation operation by a second user performed in the vicinity of the position where the player character of the first user is located may be invalidated even before the excavation operation by the first user is performed. In other words, even if an excavation operation by the first user is not performed, an excavation operation by a second user performed in the vicinity of a point where the player character of the first user arrives before the player character of the second user arrives may be invalidated.

[0130] Furthermore, although detailed explanation will be omitted, in the configuration of this embodiment, which disables the excavation operation of a second user within the excavation limit range when an excavation operation is performed by a first user as described above, a configuration may be adopted in which the excavation limit range is clearly indicated on the mining screen.

[0131] Furthermore, the configuration of this embodiment is not limited to the case of mining pyroxene, for example, but can be easily applied to any situation in which a first and second user compete for a common resource (specifically, an object).

[0132] Here, in this embodiment, a configuration has been described for avoiding a situation in which, for example, a first user who is digging on the ground or ore to mine pyroxene has the pyroxene taken away by a second user just before mining the pyroxene. Below, another configuration for avoiding such a situation (hereinafter referred to as a first variant of this embodiment) will be described.

[0133] As described above, mining is carried out by excavating the surface of the mine to extract ore containing pyroxene, and then further digging into the ore to extract the pyroxene. In the first variant of this embodiment, the user who first discovered the ore can continue to dig into the ore.

[0134] The user who first discovers the ore is the user who first exposes the ore by excavating the surface of the mine. In the first modification of this embodiment, the right to mine, for example, pyroxene from the ore (hereinafter referred to as the mining right) is granted to the user, and the excavation operations of other users who do not have the mining right are invalidated. In other words, if a first user discovers the ore before a second user, the first user's excavation operations on the ore are valid, and the second user's excavation operations on the ore are invalidated. In this case, the second user cannot mine pyroxene from the ore.

[0135] However, for example, even if a first user first discovers an ore (hereinafter referred to as the target ore), if the player character of the first user moves away from the target ore by a predetermined distance or more, the mining right of the first user may be extinguished. Even if the player character of the first user is not away from the target ore by a predetermined distance or more, the mining right of the first user may be extinguished if the first user does not perform an excavation operation on the target ore for a certain period of time. Furthermore, for example, if mining in the mine can be resumed after the first user leaves the mine, the mining right of the first user may be extinguished when a certain period of time has elapsed since the first user left the mine. Furthermore, the mining right of the first user may be extinguished at the time the first user leaves the mine.

[0136] When the mining right of the first user is extinguished as described above, the mining right is transferred to another user whose player character was closest to the target ore at the time the mining right was extinguished. The extinguished mining right may be transferred to another user whose player character was closest to the target ore at the time the first user discovered the target ore. Alternatively, the extinguished mining right may not be transferred to another user, but may be set to the user who first approached within a predetermined distance of the target ore after the mining right was extinguished.

[0137] In addition, in order to easily identify the user to whom the mining right has been set, the user name of the user may be displayed near the target ore. The user name is an example of user information indicating the user. In addition, the target ore may be displayed on the mining screen of the user to whom the mining right has been set, but not on the mining screens of other users.

[0138] In the first variant of this embodiment described above, in order to determine the user who first discovered the target ore, it is necessary to send and receive information indicating excavation operations between the user terminals 10 used by each of the first and second users and the server device 20. However, compared to the case where it is necessary to determine the user who mined the pyroxene described above, the timing for determining the user who discovered the target ore is not strict (i.e., there is no need to execute the process of determining the user who discovered the target ore frequently), and therefore it is considered that the impact on smooth multiplayer play is small.

[0139] Furthermore, in the first modification of this embodiment, for example, a first user who first discovered the target ore was described as being able to mine pyroxene from the target ore. However, a second user other than the first user may also be able to mine pyroxene from the target ore. However, even if a second user mines pyroxene from the target ore, the incentive for mining the pyroxene (i.e., the reward generated in response to the second user's excavation operation) is granted to the first user who first discovered the target ore, and not to the second user. Furthermore, when managing the users who mined the pyroxene as a history, the user who mined the pyroxene managed as a history is the first user who first discovered the target ore. Note that the username of the user to whom the incentive is granted may be displayed near the target ore.

[0140] With this configuration, for example, if a blockchain game is implemented so that mining in a mine is completed by mining pyroxene or the like from all the ores placed in the mine, and a first user does not promptly perform excavation operations on the target ore, it becomes possible for a second user to perform excavation operations on the target ore in order to complete the mining early.

[0141] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which no incentive is given to a user who mines a pyroxene (hereinafter referred to as a second modified example of this embodiment). According to this second modified example of this embodiment, as described above, even if another user takes the pyroxene just before the user mines it, there is no impact on the reward, so there is little possibility that the user's interest will decrease. Furthermore, in the second modified example of this embodiment, there is no need to identify the user who mined the pyroxene. Here, it has been described that no incentive is given to a user who mined a pyroxene, but in the second modified example of this embodiment, the same incentive may be given to all users participating in multiplayer games, regardless of the user who mined the pyroxene.

[0142] Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a blockchain game, the game realized by the game system 1 according to the present embodiment may be a game other than a blockchain game. Furthermore, the present embodiment may be applied to a system that realizes a service that provides a virtual space as described above to users.

[0143] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components can be modified and embodied in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be created by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0144] "Addendum" Some of the features of the present invention are summarized below. "assignment" For example, the purpose is to prevent a decline in the user's interest. "Solution" (1) Computer, a control means for restricting a predetermined operation by a second user, different from the first user, performed within a predetermined range including the object when the first user performs a predetermined operation on the object; A program that functions as a (2) The program according to (1), wherein the predetermined operation of the second user is restricted if it is performed within a predetermined period after the predetermined operation of the first user is performed. (3) The object is placed in a virtual space, The control means When a predetermined operation is performed by a first user on the object, controlling a character of the first user that is placed in the virtual space so as to perform a predetermined action on the object; When the second user performs the predetermined operation while the character of the first user is present within a predetermined range from the object, restricting the second user's predetermined operation; When the second user performs the predetermined operation after the first user's character has moved out of a predetermined range from the object, the second user's character, which is placed in the virtual space, is controlled to perform the predetermined action on the object. (1) The program described above. (4) The program according to (1), wherein the control means outputs a notification when the predetermined operation of the second user is restricted. (5) The program according to (1), wherein the first user is a user who discovered the object before the second user. (6) The program according to (5), wherein the object is not displayed to the second user. (7) The program according to (5), wherein the control means does not grant the second user a reward corresponding to the second user's specified operation in exchange for restricting the second user's specified operation. (8) The program according to (5), wherein the control means displays user information indicating the first user around the object. The solution constituted by the above program may be appropriately applied to the fields of devices, systems, methods, and media. "effect" The configurations (1) to (3) have the effect of preventing a situation in which, for example, an object on which a first user is performing a predetermined operation is acquired by a second user's predetermined operation, thereby suppressing a decline in user interest. The configuration (4) has the effect of making it possible to easily know that a predetermined operation by the second user has been invalidated, for example. According to the configurations (5) to (8), the predetermined operation of the first user who first discovered the object is validated, and the predetermined operation of the second user who is different from the first user is invalidated, thereby preventing a decline in user interest. [Explanation of symbols]

[0145] 1...game system, 10...user terminal, 11...non-volatile memory, 12...CPU, 13...main memory, 14...communication device, 15...input device, 16...display device, 20...server device, 21...non-volatile memory, 22...CPU, 23...main memory, 24...communication device, 30...network, 40...blockchain system, 101...operation reception unit, 102...transmission / reception unit, 103...control unit, 104...display processing unit, 105...storage unit, 201...storage unit, 202...transmission / reception unit, 203...control unit, 204...management unit.

Claims

1. Computer, a control means for restricting a predetermined operation by a second user, different from the first user, performed within a predetermined range including the object when the first user performs a predetermined operation on the object; A program that functions as a

2. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation by the second user is restricted if it is performed within a predetermined period after the predetermined operation by the first user.

3. The object is placed in a virtual space, The control means When a predetermined operation is performed by a first user on the object, controlling a character of the first user that is disposed in the virtual space so as to perform a predetermined action on the object; When the second user performs the predetermined operation while the character of the first user is present within a predetermined range from the object, the second user is restricted from performing the predetermined operation; When the second user performs the predetermined operation after the first user's character has moved out of a predetermined range from the object, the second user's character, which is placed in the virtual space, is controlled to perform the predetermined action on the object. The program according to claim 1.

4. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the control means outputs a notification when the predetermined operation of the second user is restricted.

5. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the first user is a user who discovered the object before the second user.

6. The program of claim 5 , wherein the object is not displayed to the second user.

7. The program according to claim 5 , wherein the control means, instead of restricting the predetermined operation of the second user, does not give the second user a reward corresponding to the predetermined operation of the second user.

8. The program according to claim 5 , wherein the control means displays user information indicating the first user around the object.

9. a control means for restricting a predetermined operation by a second user, different from the first user, performed within a predetermined range including the object when the first user performs a predetermined operation on the object; A system comprising:

Images