Entertainment Information Management System and Program

Abstract

To provide an entertainment information management system and the like capable of performing a novel performance of increasing an interest of a participant on entertainment and an effective performance when providing entertainment information for a plurality of participants.SOLUTION: A server device 10 is configured to, when providing second game information for a specific second player having a predetermined relationship with a first player or second game information for a specific second player in a specific game state to the first player, when performing output from a terminal device 20 of the first player, or when performing both the providing and output, perform control processing of differentiation from entertainment information for another second participant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an entertainment information management system, a program, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the development of network technologies such as the WWW (World Wide Web) and the progress of information communication terminal devices represented by personal computers and smartphones (hereinafter referred to as "communication terminal devices"), it has become common to share entertainment-related information such as games among a plurality of terminal devices using a network.

[0003] In particular, recently, when a game is executed by a single player, a game image is displayed on a single display screen, and when a game is executed during a multiplayer battle, the display screen is divided into a plurality of parts, and each player's respective game image is displayed on each divided screen. There is also known a system for managing the display of entertainment information such as games (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the game described in Patent Document 1 above, when a battle is executed by a plurality of participants participating in the game, only a fixed game image is always displayed on the divided screen, and the display method of each participant's game image is not controlled independently. It cannot be said that new effects or effective effects such as emphasizing the display of the game images of participants having a friendship or a cooperative relationship in the game, or participants ranked at the top of the game ranking are provided.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a new production that enhances the interest of participants in entertainment when providing entertainment information of a plurality of participants, and an entertainment information management system capable of executing an effective production.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) To solve the above problems, the present invention is an entertainment information management system for managing to provide information regarding the entertainment of a plurality of second participants different from the first participant to the first participant as entertainment information, acquisition means for acquiring the entertainment information of each of the second participants, detection processing means for executing a detection process of detecting at least one of the relationship between the first participant and each second participant and the situation of the entertainment of each second participant as relationship information etc., when it is determined that the detected relationship information etc. satisfies a given condition, a reproduction degree indicating the degree of reproduction of the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant is different from the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of other second participants. Reproduction degree determination means for determining the reproduction degree, control means for executing a given control process when providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant based on the determined reproduction degree, and has a configuration including.

[0008] With this configuration, the present invention can differentiate the entertainment information of a specific second participant, such as a second participant having a given relationship (friendship or in-game adversarial relationship) with the first participant, or a second participant in a specific entertainment situation, from the entertainment information of other second participants when providing the entertainment information of the specific second participant to the first participant.

[0009] For example, the present invention can indirectly control the degree of reproduction by increasing (decreasing) the amount of information provided to the first player, such as performing arithmetic processing on the entertainment information of a specific second participant quickly (slowly), or increasing (decreasing) the transmission speed.

[0010] Also, for example, the present invention can directly control the degree of reproduction by increasing (decreasing) the amount of information provided to the first player, such as widening (narrowing) the playback frequency band or playback rate, expanding (narrowing) the display area, or increasing (decreasing) the resolution for the entertainment information of a specific second participant.

[0011] Therefore, when the present invention interests the first participant in the entertainment, it can make the first participant aware of a specific second participant. Thus, when providing the entertainment information of multiple participants, new and effective effects can be executed to enhance the interestingness of the participants' entertainment.

[0012] Note that the "entertainment information" includes information related to various contents such as games, various images such as moving images and still images, and various sounds such as music and voices.

[0013] Also, the "relationship between the first participant and each second participant" includes, for example, (A1) The first participant and the second participant have a friendship relationship (a follow relationship that enables easy access to information of other participants, a follower relationship that enables easy access to information of one's own participant, and a friend relationship indicating both the follow and follower relationships). (A2) The first participant and the second participant have a cooperative or adversarial relationship in content (specifically, a game) that serves as the basis for entertainment. (A3) Based on a given category (for example, the affiliation or attribute of a participant determined in advance), the first participant and the second participant belong to the same group or different groups, and (A4) The second participant is a specific target person such as a chat partner of the first participant, etc. are included.

[0014] And, in the "entertainment situation", for example, in the case of a game (B1) The presence or absence of winning in a given lottery for the second participant, (B2) The in-game parameters of the second participant, such as in-game score, points, level, experience points, physical strength value, or ability value. (B3) The progress of the game (a value indicating the achievement status until the game is cleared, or the clear status such as the type of game stage already cleared, the type of enemy characters in the middle of or after a battle, the number and type of enemy characters already defeated), (B4) The acquisition status of items or the achievement status of missions in the game, (B5) The attributes and characteristics of the second participant, and (B6) The attributes, characteristics, parameters, acquired item types, or the number of acquired items of the player character operated by the second participant. etc. are included.

[0015] Furthermore, the "detection process" may be executed, for example, at the timing of providing entertainment information of a plurality of second participants to the first participant, or may be executed at a timing before the timing of providing the same.

[0016] In addition to the above, the "given conditions" include, for example, the conditions defined regarding the above relationships or the conditions defined regarding the above entertainment situation.

[0017] And the "entertainment information of at least one second participant" may include not only the entertainment information of the second participant related to the relationship information and the like that satisfy the given conditions, but also the entertainment information of the second participant other than the second participant related to the relationship information and the like that satisfy one or more of the said conditions, and the entertainment information of both parties.

[0018] Also, the "reproducibility with respect to the acquired entertainment information" indicates the ratio of the amount of information when the entertainment information of the corresponding second participant is reproduced from the terminal device of the first participant along the original information or the original information.

[0019] For example, the "reproducibility" indicates values such as the reproduction frequency band, reproduction rate, resolution / color information (information amount including chroma and brightness), display area (size), or additional data amount (metadata amount) when outputting entertainment information.

[0020] Furthermore, the "given control process" includes a control process for controlling the terminal device of the first player based on the determined reproducibility, which directly controls the second game information output from the terminal device (hereinafter referred to as the "direct control process"), and a control process regarding the control of the terminal device of the first player or the control when transferring to the terminal device, as a result of which the second game information output from the terminal device is controlled (hereinafter referred to as the "indirect control process").

[0021] For example, as the direct control process, it indicates an output control process when entertainment information is output, such as a process for controlling the reproduction frequency band and reproduction rate, or a display control process (control process for display area and resolution).

[0022] Also, for example, as indirect control processing, there is processing for controlling the transfer speed of the entertainment information of the second participant when the entertainment information of the second participant is transmitted and received, or arithmetic processing when providing the entertainment information of the second participant to the first participant (processing for controlling the usage rate (core allocation) of the CPU or GPU operating in the terminal device or the usage rate of memory), etc., including processing for controlling the physical resources used when providing the entertainment information of the second participant.

[0023] (2) Further, the present invention In the entertainment information management system according to claim 1, The reproduction degree determination means Among the information on relationships and the like detected by the detection processing, when there is the information on relationships and the like that satisfies the given conditions, it has a configuration for controlling the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of the second participant that has become the object of the determination processing that satisfies the conditions.

[0024] With this configuration, the present invention can appropriately control the reproduction degree of the information of the second participant to be provided to the first participant. Therefore, when providing the entertainment information of a plurality of participants, it is possible to execute new effects and effective effects that enhance the interest of the participants in the entertainment.

[0025] (3) Further, the present invention The reproduction degree determination means Based on the total reproduction degree that is a numerical value set according to the total number of the second participants and serves as a reference when determining the reproduction degree, including the reproduction degree in the entertainment information of other second participants different from the specific second participant, it has a configuration for determining the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of the specific second participant.

[0026] With this configuration, the present invention can distribute resources with an upper limit, such as traffic and arithmetic processing, or the amount of information with an upper limit, such as a display area and resolution, based on the degree of reproduction, with reference to the entertainment information of a specific second participant.

[0027] Therefore, since the present invention can make the most of the resources in the system, it can provide a new and effective production that enhances the participants' interest in the entertainment.

[0028] Note that "determining the degree of reproduction in the entertainment information of a specific second participant, including the degree of reproduction in the entertainment information of other second participants different from the specific second participant, based on the total degree of reproduction" means, for example, determining the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of a specific second participant so that the total of the degrees of reproduction of the entertainment information of the specific second participant and the entertainment information of other second participants is equal to or less than the total degree of reproduction, or changing the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of a non-specific second participant to a lower value when the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of a specific second participant is changed to a higher value.

[0029] (4) Further, the present invention has a configuration in which the degree of reproduction includes a numerical value for defining at least one of the physical resources of a given process executed when the entertainment information of the second participant is provided and the amount of information in the entertainment information of the second participant.

[0030] With this configuration, the present invention can directly control the amount of information when the entertainment information of the second participant is provided, or indirectly control the amount of information using physical resources, so that the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of a specific second participant can be controlled according to various systems and environments.

[0031] Note that the "physical resource" refers to, for example, the transfer rate of the entertainment information of the second participant when the information is transmitted and received, or the arithmetic processing (processing for controlling the usage rate of the CPU or GPU (core allocation) or the usage rate of the memory) when providing the entertainment information of the second participant to the first participant, etc., which indicates the resources in the hardware.

[0032] In addition, the "information amount" includes the reproduction frequency band and reproduction rate of the entertainment information when providing the entertainment information of the second participant to the first participant (when the entertainment information is sound), or the display area, resolution, and color information (when the entertainment information is an image).

[0033] (5) Further, the present invention The physical resource includes at least one of the transfer rate of the entertainment information of the second participant when the information is transmitted and received, and the elements related to the arithmetic processing when providing the entertainment information of the second participant to the first participant. It has a configuration including at least one of them.

[0034] With this configuration, the present invention can indirectly control the reproduction degree when the entertainment information of the second participant is provided, so that the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of a specific second participant can be controlled according to various systems and environments.

[0035] Note that the "elements related to the arithmetic processing" include, for example, the allocation of the CPU or GPU (core allocation), or the allocation of the memory.

[0036] (6) Further, the present invention The information amount in the entertainment information of the second participant has a configuration including at least one value that defines at least one of the resolution, color information, display area, and number of drawing objects when displaying the entertainment information of the second participant.

[0037] With this configuration, the present invention can indirectly control the reproduction degree when the entertainment information of the second participant is provided, so that the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of a specific second participant can be controlled according to various systems and environments.

[0038] (7) Further, the present invention when the reproduction degree is a value that defines the display area as the amount of information in the entertainment information of the second participant, the control means executes, as the given control process, a first display control process for a first display area formed on a display means for displaying the entertainment information of the first participant, and executes, as the given control process, a second display control process for a plurality of second display areas that are different from the first display area formed on the display means and that display the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants respectively, according to the determined reproduction degree.

[0039] With this configuration, the present invention can, for example, display the entertainment information of a specific second participant in a way that is differentiated from the entertainment information of other second participants and is easily recognizable by the first participant, so that when the first participant is interested in the entertainment, the specific second participant can be made conscious.

[0040] Therefore, the present invention can execute a new effect and an effective effect that enhance the interest in the entertainment of the participants when providing the entertainment information of a plurality of participants.

[0041] Note that the "display means" refers to a display externally connected to a terminal device for displaying an image for the first participant to view the entertainment information, or a display unit integrally formed on a terminal device such as a portable terminal device.

[0042] (8) Further, the present invention wherein the control means as the second display control process, based on the detected relationship information or the like, controls the arrangement of the entertainment information of the other second participant on the display means.

[0043] With this configuration, the present invention can, for example, display the entertainment information of the first participant mainly at the center of the display area or in a display that is distinguishable from the entertainment information of the second participant and is easy for the first participant to recognize. entertainment information of the first participant in a manner that is distinguishable from the entertainment information of the second participant and is easy for the first participant to recognize.

[0044] (9) Further, the present invention In the amount of information in the entertainment information of the second participant as the degree of reproduction, the amount of information of the image information that can be displayed when displaying the entertainment information of the second participant is included. wherein the control means When providing the entertainment information of the specific second participant to the first participant, based on the determined degree of reproduction, controls the amount of information of the image information of the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to be displayed on the display means.

[0045] With this configuration, the present invention can control the display of additional information included in the game information regarding the second player assumed to be important for the first player.

[0046] Therefore, the present invention can make the first participant aware of a specific second participant when interesting the first participant in entertainment, so that when providing the entertainment information of a plurality of participants, a new effect and an effective effect that enhance the interest of the participants in the entertainment can be executed.

[0047] Note that "control of the amount of information of the image information to the display means" includes (C1) Display control processing including whether to display information about the second participant, such as the score of the second participant, the participant ID, the participant's nickname, relationship information, etc. (C2) When the entertainment information is image information of a virtual space from the perspective of a virtual camera, control processing (viewpoint control processing) for switching the virtual camera or changing the viewpoint of the virtual camera (switching to a wide-angle image), and (C3) Display control processing for special effect images (images that require high-resolution display). etc. are included.

[0048] (10) Also, the present invention In the storage means, table data in which the reproducibility is defined in advance for each of the relationship information etc. is stored, The reproducibility determination means has a configuration of determining the reproducibility stored in association with the detected relationship information etc. as the reproducibility in at least the entertainment information of the specific second participant.

[0049] With this configuration, the present invention can determine the reproducibility quickly by eliminating the need for arithmetic processing by using table data.

[0050] For example, when the reproducibility is defined for each entertainment situation as table data, the present invention can increase the amount of information in the entertainment information of a specific second participant in the climax or highlight of the entertainment, or increase the amount of information in the entertainment information of a second participant who has a cooperative relationship with the first participant in the game, and reduce the amount of information in the entertainment information of other second participants.

[0051] Therefore, the present invention can easily and quickly change new effects and effective effects that enhance the participants' interest in the entertainment by changing the table data. and can do so.

[0052] (11) Further, the present invention wherein the control means When providing the entertainment information of the specific second participant to the first participant, the entertainment information of the second participant specified as the specific second participant is displayed on the display means in a display format different from that of the entertainment information of other second participants, and the display control process as the given control process is executed.

[0053] With this configuration, the present invention can differentiate the entertainment information of a specific second participant, such as a second participant having a given relationship with the first participant, such as being in a friend relationship with the first participant, or a second participant in a specific entertainment situation, from the entertainment information of other second participants when providing it to the first participant.

[0054] Note that the "display control process" includes not only the display control process before displaying the entertainment information according to the determined different reproduction degrees, but also the display process that can be differentiated when displaying the entertainment information according to the determined different reproduction degrees.

[0055] (12) Further, the present invention further includes providing means for providing the entertainment information to the terminal devices of each participant, wherein the acquisition means acquires the entertainment information by generating the entertainment information in conjunction with the terminal devices of each participant, wherein the control means has a configuration for executing, as the given control process, a process for providing the entertainment information when transferring it to the terminal device or a process for controlling the internal process of the terminal device.

[0056] With this configuration, the present invention can control the entertainment information provided to each terminal device or the entertainment information output from each terminal device, and thus has a server-like function, and can provide the second game information of a specific second player with a different degree of reproducibility from the second game information of non-specific second players.

[0057] (13) Further, the present invention further includes generation means for generating entertainment information of the first participant, wherein the acquisition means acquires the entertainment information transmitted from the terminal devices of each second participant, and the control means has a configuration for executing, as the given control process, an output control process for outputting the entertainment information of the first participant and each second participant to an output means.

[0058] With this configuration, the present invention can execute a network battle game and sharing of images and sounds using a network by a plurality of communication terminal devices that are respectively connected by a communication line and can individually execute entertainment, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal device, a personal computer, etc.

[0059] Therefore, even when the present invention executes a network battle game and sharing of images and sounds using a network, it can provide the second game information of a specific second player with a different degree of reproducibility from the second game information of non-specific second players together with the first player. game information with a different degree of reproducibility from the second game information of non-specific second players.

[0060] (14) Further, to solve the above problems, the present invention is a program for managing to provide, to a first participant, information regarding the entertainment of a plurality of second participants different from the first participant as entertainment information, An acquisition means for acquiring each of the entertainment information of the second participants; A detection processing means for executing a detection process of detecting at least one of the relationship between the first participant and each second participant and the entertainment status of each second participant as relationship information; When it is determined that the detected relationship information satisfies a given condition, a reproducibility determination means for determining a reproducibility indicating the degree of reproduction of the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant to be different from the reproducibility of the entertainment information of other second participants, and A control means for executing a given control process when providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant based on the determined reproducibility; It has a configuration that causes a computer to function as such.

[0061] With this configuration, the present invention can make a specific second participant conscious when interesting the first participant in entertainment, so when providing entertainment information of a plurality of participants, a new effect and an effective effect for enhancing the interest in the entertainment of the participants can be executed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0062]

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[0063] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described.

[0064] Note that the embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims, and not all of the configurations described in this embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

[0065] In addition, in this embodiment, a game will be used as an example of entertainment for explanation, and a game system or a partial configuration thereof that provides game information as information on the entertainment to a player as a participant who participates in the entertainment will be used as an example to explain the entertainment information management system of the present invention. However, the entertainment information management system of the present invention can also be applied to a system that manages information related to other entertainments such as contents such as music and images (including photos), or a conference system (for example, a video conference or a web conference) instead of the following embodiments.

[0066] [1] Game system First, the outline and outline configuration of the game system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Note that FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration showing the configuration of the game system 1 of this embodiment.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 of this embodiment is configured such that a server device 10 that provides a game service and terminal devices 20 (for example, terminal devices 20A, 20B, 20C) can be connected to the Internet (an example of a network).

[0068] A player can access the server device 10 from the terminal device 20 to obtain a game from the server device 10 via the Internet and play the game. Furthermore, the player can access the server device 10 from the terminal device 20 to communicate with other players and execute the game.

[0069] In particular, the server device 10 is an information processing device capable of providing a service that allows a player to play a game using a terminal device 20 communicatively connected via the Internet.

[0070] Note that the server device 10 can also function as an SNS server that provides a communication-type service. An SNS server refers to, for example, an information processing device that provides a service capable of providing communication among a plurality of players.

[0071] Also, when the server device 10 functions as an SNS server, for example, it can provide a game called a social game that is executed using the operating environment of the SNS to be provided (API (Application Programming Interface), platform, etc.).

[0072] Specifically, the server device 10 may provide a game in a server-client type via the terminal device 20, or may provide a game provided on the Web browser of the terminal device 20, for example, a browser game made in various languages such as HTML, FLASH, CGI, PHP, shockwave, Java (registered trademark) applet, and JavaScript (registered trademark) (a game that starts just by opening the installation site on the Web browser).

[0073] Note that social games, unlike existing online games, do not require dedicated client software and include games that can be used only with a Web browser and an SNS account. Also, the server device 10 has a configuration capable of connecting to the terminals of other players (smartphones, personal computers, game machines, etc.) via a network and providing an online game in which the same game progress can be shared online.

[0074] On the other hand, the server device 10 may be composed of one (device, processor) or may be composed of a plurality of (devices, processors).

[0075] ​Further, information such as game information stored in the storage area (storage unit 140 described later) of the server device 10 may be stored in a database (broadly, a storage device, a memory) connected via a network (intranet or Internet). When functioning as an SNS server, information such as the player information storage unit 146 stored in the storage area may be stored in a database (broadly, a storage device, a memory) connected via a network (intranet or Internet).

[0076] Specifically, the server device 10 of the present embodiment receives input information based on the operations of players of the terminal device 20 (that is, players who execute the game), and performs game processing based on the received input information.

[0077] Then, the server device 10 transmits the game processing result to the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 has a configuration that performs various processes for providing the game processing result received from the server device 10 to the player in a browsable manner on the terminal device 20.

[0078] The terminal device 20 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PHS, a computer, a game device, a PDA, a portable game machine, or an image generation device, and is a device that can be connected to the server device 10 via a network such as the Internet (WAN) or a LAN. Note that the communication line between the terminal device 20 and the server device 10 may be wired or wireless.

[0079] Further, the terminal device 20 is provided with a web browser capable of browsing a web page (data in HTML format). That is, the terminal device 20 has a communication control function for communicating with the server device 10, a display control function using data received from the server device 10 (web data, data created in HTML format, etc.), and a web browser function for transmitting player operation data to the server device 10.

[0080] For example, while acquiring necessary information such as game information about other players during a battle with other players from the server device 10, the terminal device 20 executes game processing based on a game application stored in a storage area (a storage unit 270 described later), and also executes various processes for providing a game screen to the player, and may cause the player to execute the game.

[0081] Also, for example, while transmitting data of player operations to the server device 10, the terminal device 20 acquires game control information provided from the server device 10 and executes predetermined game processing, and may execute a game based on the game processing.

[0082] In particular, when the terminal device 20 executes game processing based on game control information provided from the server device 10, if the terminal device 20 makes a request to the server device 10 to perform a predetermined game, it connects to the game site of the server device 10 and the game starts.

[0083] And the terminal device 20 has a configuration in which, if necessary, by using an API, it causes the server device 10 functioning as an SNS server to perform predetermined processing, or acquires a player information storage unit 146 managed by the server device 10 functioning as an SNS server and executes a game.

[0084] [2] Server Device Next, the server device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Note that FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional blocks of the server device 10 of the present embodiment. Also, the server device 10 of the present embodiment may have a configuration in which some of the components (each part) in FIG. 2 are omitted.

[0085] The server device 10 includes an input unit 120 for use by an administrator or other inputs, a display unit 130 for performing a predetermined display, an information storage medium 180 in which predetermined information is stored, a communication unit 196 for communicating with the terminal device 20 and others, a processing unit 100 for executing processing related to the game mainly provided, and a storage unit 140 for storing various data mainly used for the game.

[0086] The input unit 120 is used by a system administrator or the like for game-related settings, other necessary settings, and data input. For example, the input unit 120 of this embodiment is composed of a mouse, a keyboard, or the like.

[0087] The display unit 130 displays an operation screen for the system administrator. For example, the display unit 130 of this embodiment is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like.

[0088] The information storage medium 180 (a computer-readable medium) stores programs, data, etc., and its function is composed of an optical disk (CD, DVD), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a magnetic disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or a memory (ROM), etc.

[0089] The communication unit 196 performs various controls for communication with the outside (for example, a terminal, another server, or another network system), and its function is composed of hardware such as various processors or communication ASICs, programs, etc.

[0090] The storage unit 140 serves as a work area for the processing unit 100, the communication unit 196, etc., and its function is composed of a RAM (VRAM), etc. Note that the information stored in the storage unit 140 may be managed by a database.

[0091] In addition, the storage unit 140 of this embodiment, in addition to the main storage unit 142, (A1) a game data storage unit 144 that stores game data related to the execution of a game, such as various table data (table data for determining the degree of reproducibility described later), (A2) a player information storage unit 146 that stores player information indicating information about each player, and (A3) an item information storage unit 148 that stores, as item information, player characters and other game items owned by each player in association with each player as a game medium, has.

[0092] Note that the player information includes relationship information that defines the relationship with other players and game situation information that indicates the game situation.

[0093] In addition, the relationship information includes information about friends, followers, and players being followed with each player (hereinafter also referred to as "friendship information"), and information about adversarial and cooperative relationships during the game (hereinafter also referred to as "in-game relationship information").

[0094] Furthermore, the game situation information includes the score, experience value, number of lives, cleared tasks or stages, number of enemies defeated, number of items obtained (including in-game currency and the number for each item type), degree of game progress, game execution time, and game login status, etc.

[0095] The processing unit 100 performs various processes using the main memory unit 142 in the storage unit 140 as a work area. The functions of the processing unit 100 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), ASIC (gate array, etc.), or a program.

[0096] The processing unit 100 performs various processes of this embodiment based on the program (data) stored in the information storage medium 180. That is, the information storage medium 180 stores a program for causing a computer to function as each part of this embodiment (a program for causing a computer to execute the processing of each part).

[0097] For example, the processing unit 100 (processor) controls the entire server device 10 based on the program stored in the information storage medium 180, and performs various processes such as control of data transfer between each part. Furthermore, it performs processes for providing various services in response to requests from the terminal.

[0098] Specifically, the processing unit 100 of the present embodiment includes at least a communication control unit 101, a Web processing unit 102, a game management unit 103, a relationship detection unit 104, a game situation detection unit 105, a game information control unit 106, a timer management unit 110, and an information providing unit 111.

[0099] For example, the communication control unit 101 and the game management unit 103 of the present embodiment constitute the acquisition means of the present invention, and the relationship detection unit 104 and the game situation detection unit 105 constitute the detection processing means. Also, for example, the game information control unit 106 of the present embodiment constitutes the reproduction degree determination means and the information control processing means of the present invention, and the information providing unit 111 constitutes the providing means of the present invention.

[0100] The communication control unit 101 performs processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal device 20 via a network. That is, the server device 10 performs various processes based on the information received from the terminal device 20 and the like by the communication control unit 101.

[0101] In particular, the communication control unit 101 of the present embodiment performs processing for transmitting a game screen to the player's terminal device 20 based on a request from the player's terminal device 20.

[0102] Also, the communication control unit 101 executes various processes for receiving the operation instructions of the player input to the terminal device 20.

[0103] The Web processing unit 102 functions as a Web server. For example, the Web processing unit 102 performs processing for transmitting data in response to a request from the Web browser 211 installed in the terminal device 20, and processing for receiving the data transmitted by the Web browser 211 of the terminal device 20, through a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

[0104] In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the server device 10 also has a function as an SNS server will be described as an example. However, the server device 10 may be formed separately into a game server and an SNS server. Further, for the game processing of this embodiment, the server device 10 may perform part or all of it, or the terminal device 20 may perform part of it.

[0105] The game management unit 103 is linked with each terminal device 20 and is a game (which may be the same game space or individual game spaces) in which a plurality of players can play simultaneously. That is, the game management unit 103 executes game processing related to various games such as role-playing games (RPGs), shooting games, battle games, or location games.

[0106] For example, when the game management unit 103 controls the games of each player by the server device 10, in conjunction with each terminal device 20, when the game start condition is satisfied, the game (when each game is executed individually, each game. The same applies hereinafter.) is started, the game is advanced, when the game end condition is satisfied, the game is ended, and various game arithmetic processes such as the management of each player or each player character related to the game progress are executed.

[0107] In particular, during the progress of the game, the game management unit 103 executes various game arithmetic processes based on the operations of the players input via each terminal device 20 or the game information output from each terminal device 20.

[0108] The relationship detection unit 104 detects, before the start of the execution of the game or during the execution of the game, relationships such as friends among the players, in-game relationships (such as adversarial relationships and cooperative relationships), or both as relationship information.

[0109] The game situation detection unit 105 detects, during the execution of the game, the game situation of each player, the relative situation based on the game situations of other players, or both as relationship information.

[0110] Based on the detected relationship information and the like, the game information control unit 106 performs a process for performing given control regarding the game information of other players in each terminal device 20, including providing the game information of other players to each terminal device 20 (hereinafter referred to as "game information control process").

[0111] In particular, the game information control unit 106 determines a reproduction degree indicating the degree of reproduction of the game information of other players provided to each player via each terminal device 20 with respect to the original information of each game information (hereinafter referred to as "game information (original)").

[0112] Then, the game information control unit 106 executes a control process regarding the game information of other players provided to each terminal device 20, a control process regarding the game information of other players in each terminal device 20, or both of these control processes based on the determined reproduction degree.

[0113] The timer management unit 110 has a timer function and is used to manage the progress of the game including player position information and game card position information.

[0114] In particular, the timer management unit 110 is used when managing the time related to the game and measuring time, and is also used to synchronize with each terminal device 20.

[0115] The information providing unit 111 generates and controls various game information for causing the terminal device 20 to process the game, and provides the generated or controlled game information to the corresponding terminal device 20. However, in the case of a browser game, the information providing unit 111 executes a process for providing game information to each terminal device 20 in conjunction with the Web processing unit 102.

[0116] [3] Terminal Device Next, the terminal device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Note that FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional blocks of the terminal device 20 of the present embodiment. Also, the terminal device 20 of the present embodiment may have a configuration in which some of the components (each part) in FIG. 2 are omitted.

[0117] The input unit 260 is a device for inputting input information from the player, and outputs the input information of the player to the processing unit 200. The input unit 260 of the present embodiment includes a detection unit 262 that detects the input information (input signal) of the player. Examples of the input unit 260 include a lever, a button, a steering wheel, a microphone, a touch panel type display, a keyboard, and a mouse.

[0118] The storage unit 270 serves as a work area for the processing unit 200, the communication unit 296, etc., and its function can be realized by a RAM (VRAM) or the like. The storage unit 270 of the present embodiment includes a main storage unit 271 used as a work area and an image buffer 272 in which the final display image and the like are stored. Note that a configuration in which some of these are omitted may also be used.

[0119] The information storage medium 280 (a medium readable by a computer) stores programs, data, etc., and its function can be realized by an optical disk (CD, DVD), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a magnetic disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or a memory (ROM).

[0120] The processing unit 200 performs various processes of the present embodiment based on the programs (data) stored in the information storage medium 280. The information storage medium 280 can store programs for causing a computer to function as each part of the present embodiment (programs for causing a computer to execute the processes of each part).

[0121] In the present embodiment, a program and game data for causing a computer to function as each part of the present embodiment stored in the information storage medium 180 and the storage unit 140 of the server device 10 are received via a network, and the received program and data are stored in the information storage medium 280. The program and data received from the server device 10 may be stored in the storage unit 270. Even when the program and data are received in this way to make the network system function, it is included within the scope of the present invention.

[0122] The display unit 290 outputs the image generated according to the present embodiment, and its function can be realized by a CRT, an LCD, a touch panel type display, or an HMD (head-mounted display), etc. The sound output unit 292 outputs the sound generated according to the present embodiment, and its function can be realized by a speaker or headphones, etc.

[0123] The communication unit 296 performs various controls for communication with the outside (for example, other terminals, servers), and its function can be realized by hardware such as various processors or communication ASICs, or a program.

[0124] The processing unit 200 (processor) performs processing such as game processing, display control, image generation processing, or sound generation processing based on the game information, game control information, input information from the acquisition input unit 260, or a program acquired from the server device 10 via the communication unit 296.

[0125] This processing unit 200 performs various processes using the main storage unit 271 in the storage unit 270 as a work area. The function of the processing unit 200 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), ASIC (gate array, etc.), or a program.

[0126] The processing unit 200 includes a communication control unit 210, a Web browser 211, a game processing unit 212, a display control unit 213, a drawing unit 220, and a sound processing unit 230. Note that a configuration in which some of these are omitted may also be used.

[0127] The communication control unit 210 performs processes for transmitting and receiving data with the server device 10 respectively. Further, the communication control unit 210 performs processes such as storing the data received from the server device 10 in the storage unit 270, analyzing the received data, and control processes related to transmission and reception of other data.

[0128] Note that the communication control unit 210 may perform a process of storing and managing the destination information (IP address, port number) of the server in the information storage medium 280. And the communication control unit 210 may perform communication with the server device 10 when receiving input information for starting communication from the player.

[0129] In particular, the communication control unit 210 performs a process of transmitting the identification information and operation information of the player to the server device 10 and receiving data related to the player information storage unit 146 (player's web page, game screen, etc.) from the server device 10.

[0130] Note that the communication control unit 210 may perform data transmission and reception with the server device 10 at a predetermined cycle, or may perform data transmission and reception with the server device 10 when receiving input information from the input unit 260. In particular, the communication control unit 210 of the present embodiment performs a process of receiving a game screen from the server device 10.

[0131] The web browser 211 is an application program for browsing a web page (game screen), downloads an HTML file, an image file, etc. from a web server (server device 10), analyzes the layout, and performs display control. Further, the web browser 211 transmits data to the web server (server device 10) using an input form (link, button, text box, etc.).

[0132] The Web browser 211 of this embodiment can realize a browser game. For example, the Web browser 211 may execute a program written in JavaScript (registered trademark), FLASH, Java (registered trademark), or the like, received from a Web server (server device 10).

[0133] The terminal device 20 can display information from a Web server specified by a URL via the Internet using the Web browser 211. For example, the terminal device 20 can display a game screen (data such as HTML) received from the server device 10 using the Web browser 211.

[0134] The game processing unit 212 performs various game calculation processes in cooperation with the server device 10. For example, there are processes for starting a game when a game start condition is satisfied, for progressing the game, and for ending the game when a game end condition is satisfied.

[0135] The game processing unit 212 may then perform processing to place and set various objects (objects composed of primitives such as polygons, free-form surfaces, or subdivision surfaces) representing display items such as player characters, buildings, stadiums, cars, trees, pillars, walls, and maps (terrain) in the object space.

[0136] Here, the object space is a virtual space, including both two-dimensional space and three-dimensional space. Two-dimensional space is a space in which an object is placed, for example, at two-dimensional coordinates (X, Y), and three-dimensional space is a space in which an object is placed, for example, at three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z). However, this is not the case in the case of browser games.

[0137] The game processing unit 212 also controls the transmission and reception of various information at the time of login, and When the game is executed in real time in conjunction with the device 10, game processing including game processing based on the player's operation is executed.

[0138] The display control unit 213 controls the display area for displaying the game information of each player, and performs a process of displaying the game information of each player on the display unit 290. For example, the display control unit 213 may display using the web browser 211.

[0139] The drawing unit 220 performs a drawing process based on various processes (for example, game processes) performed by the processing unit 200, thereby generating an image, and outputs it to the display unit 290 by the display control unit 213. The image generated by the drawing unit 220 may be a so-called two-dimensional image or a so-called three-dimensional image.

[0140] The sound processing unit 230 performs sound processing based on the results of various processes performed by the processing unit 200, generates game sounds such as BGM, sound effects, or voices, and outputs them to the sound output unit 292.

[0141] [4] Method of processing in this embodiment [4.1] Overview Next, a method of providing / output control processing of game information in each terminal device 20 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0142] Note that FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the providing / output control processing of game information in each terminal device 20 in this embodiment.

[0143] The server device 10 in this embodiment is configured to cooperate with a plurality of terminal devices 20 and provide each terminal device 20 with player characters, other characters, game spaces or parts thereof, game parameters, BGM, and game scenarios.

[0144] In addition, the server device 10 is configured to cause a plurality of players to simultaneously execute games such as battle games, fighting games, RPGs, shooting games, racing games, or simulation games using their respective terminal devices 20.

[0145] During the game, the server device 10 performs various processes for providing, to each of the terminal devices 20, game information (hereinafter also referred to as "first game information") regarding a player (hereinafter referred to as "first player" and also as "first participant") who operates the terminal device (hereinafter referred to as "first terminal device") 20 to participate in the game, along with game information (hereinafter referred to as "second game information") regarding a player (hereinafter referred to as "second player" and also as "second participant") who operates another terminal device (hereinafter referred to as "second terminal device") 20 different from the first terminal device 20 to participate in the game, or performs various processes when outputting the second game information together with the first game information from each of the terminal devices 20.

[0146] In particular, when the server device 10 of the present embodiment generates game information of each player and provides it to each terminal device 20, it has a configuration to provide the generated second game information of the second player to the terminal device 20 of the first player.

[0147] Also, when game information is generated in each terminal device 20, the server device 10 receives game information regarding the operation instructions of each player from each terminal device 20, and has a configuration to provide the received second game information of each second player to the terminal device 20 of each first player.

[0148] When the server device 10 provides the second game information of a second player (hereinafter referred to as "specific second player") having a given relationship with the first player, or the second game information of the specific second player in a specific game situation, to the first player, it has a configuration to execute control processing (hereinafter referred to as "game information control processing") for differentiating from the entertainment information of other second participants.

[0149] Specifically, the server device 10 has a configuration for indirectly controlling the degree of reproduction by increasing (decreasing) the amount of information provided to the first player, such as performing arithmetic processing on the second game information of a specific second player quickly (slowly) or increasing (decreasing) the transmission speed.

[0150] In addition, the server device 10 directly controls the degree of reproduction by increasing (decreasing) the amount of information provided to the first player, such as widening (narrowing) the reproduction frequency band or reproduction rate, expanding (narrowing) the display area, or increasing (decreasing) the resolution, for the game information of a specific second player.

[0151] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the server device 10 of the present embodiment is a system for managing the provision of game information of a plurality of second players (i.e., a plurality of second game information) to the first player, (A1) A process of acquiring the respective second game information of the second players, which is generated in accordance with the execution of various game processes while being based on the instructions of each player or transmitted from the corresponding terminal device 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "acquisition process". [1] in FIG. 4), (A2) A detection process of detecting at least one of the relationship between the first player and each second player and the game situation of each second player as relationship information, etc. (FIG. 4 [2]), (A3) When it is determined that the detected relationship information, etc. satisfies a given condition, a process of determining the degree of reproduction of at least one specific second player to a value different from the degree of reproduction in other second players (hereinafter referred to as "non-specific second players") (hereinafter referred to as the "reproduction degree determination process". [3] in FIG. 4), and (A4) When providing each second game information to the first player based on the degree of reproduction determined for the first player, a given control process (i.e., game information control process) for the corresponding second game information or for the terminal device of the first player, executes each of the processes (FIG. 5 [1] and [2]), and has the configuration.

[0152] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the server device 10 of the present embodiment (A4-1) is a control process for controlling the terminal device 20 of the first player based on the determined reproducibility, and directly controls the second game information output from the terminal device 20 (hereinafter referred to as "direct control process". [4a] in FIG. 5), or (A4-2) Regarding the control of the terminal device 20 of the first player or the control when transferring to the terminal device 20, a control process in which the second game information output from the terminal device 20 is controlled as a result (hereinafter referred to as "indirect control process". [4b] in FIG. 5), has a configuration for executing.

[0153] Note that in FIG. 4, as an example of the game information acquisition process, (B1) When the game is executed by multi-play in which each terminal device 20 is linked from each terminal device 20, the game information is acquired by the server device 10, and (B2) When the server device 10 executes the game of each player and generates the game information of each player, it is illustrated that an operation instruction is received by the server device 10 and the game information is generated based on the received operation instruction.

[0154] Also, in FIG. 4, as an example of the detection process, examples in the case where each relationship in each player (player A (P1), player B (P2), player C (P3), and player D (P4)) is detected as detection result 1 and the game situation of each player is detected as detection result 2 are illustrated.

[0155] And in FIG. 4, as an example of the reproducibility determination process, an example in the case where player B (P2) is a specific second player with respect to player A (P1), and players C (P3) and D (P4) are non-specific second players is shown.

[0156] Furthermore, FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which game information in each terminal device 20 is output-controlled based on game control information provided from the server device 10 as direct control processing, and an example in which game information provided from the server device 10 is provided-controlled as indirect control processing.

[0157] In particular, the example of the direct control processing in FIG. 5 shows that player B becomes a specific second player with respect to player A as the first player, and a game image in which the display areas of the players are different based on the degree of reproduction (the display areas of the game images between the second players are different) is displayed on the display unit 290 of player A (P1).

[0158] Similarly, the example of the indirect control processing in FIG. 5 shows that player B becomes a specific second player with respect to player A as the first player, and the amount of information for display is different due to different transfer speeds in the game images of the players based on the degree of reproduction on the display unit 290 of player A (P1), and as a result, a game image in which the display areas in the game images of the players are different (the display areas of the game images between the second players are different) is displayed.

[0159] With this configuration, in the present embodiment, when providing and displaying game information to the first player, it is possible to make the first player aware of the specific second player. Therefore, when providing the second game information of a plurality of second players, it is possible to execute a new effect and an effective effect that enhance the interest of each player in the game.

[0160] [4.2] Game Information, Degree of Reproduction, Table Data, and Player Information Next, the game information, degree of reproduction, table data, and player information of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0161] Note that FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of player relationship table data and game situation table data of the present embodiment.

[0162] [4.2.1] Game Information Game information is information regarding a game as entertainment (i.e., an example of entertainment information), and is information for displaying or outputting various images such as moving images and still images related to the game (i.e., game screens) and various sounds such as music and voices (i.e., game sounds), and is also information regarding the execution control of the game.

[0163] In particular, in the present embodiment, game information is information including control data for displaying or outputting from each terminal device 20 a game screen and game sounds related to the execution of the game.

[0164] For example, game information is information such as resolution, color information (the amount of information including saturation and brightness), display area (size), or information indicated by additional data (player information such as player ID, player's nickname, characteristics of the player character, player's score, level, and experience value), and information for outputting these pieces of information, and is information for providing a game screen and game sounds to each player. For example, game information is information such as resolution, color information (the amount of information including saturation and brightness), display area (size), or information indicated by additional data (player information such as player ID, player's nickname, characteristics of the player character, player's score, level, and experience value), and information for outputting these pieces of information, and is information for providing a game screen and game sounds to each player.

[0165] [4.2.2] Degree of Reproduction In the present embodiment, when displaying or outputting the game information of a plurality of second players (i.e., second game information) on the terminal device 20 of the first player, the degree of reproduction set for the original information of the second game information generated by the server device 10 or by the terminal device 20 of each second player is used.

[0166] Specifically, the degree of reproduction in the present embodiment is the degree of reproduction indicating the degree of reproduction of the generated or received information (original information) in the second game information of the second player, and indicates the ratio of the amount of information when the corresponding second game information is output from the terminal device 20 of the first player.

[0167] For example, the degree of reproduction is (A1) When the game information is sound information, the playback frequency band, playback rate, etc. when outputting the game information (A2) When the game information is image information, the resolution, color information (information amount including saturation and brightness), display area (size) in the terminal device 20 of the first player, or the additional data amount (metadata amount), etc., indicates the ratio to the original in the information amount when the second game information is provided.

[0168] That is, in this embodiment, if the reproduction degree is high, the second game information is reproduced while maintaining a high sampling rate of the sound (a state close to the original) when output, and the displayed image is displayed in a large display area (a state close to the original) or high resolution (a state close to the original) in size, or all additional data (or more additional data) is displayed.

[0169] Also, the reproduction degree is basically a numerical value related to the provision of the game information of each second player, for example, a value indicating the difference from the original game information.

[0170] For example, in this embodiment, the reproduction degree is indicated using a numerical value from 0% to 100%. When it is 0%, it indicates that the elements as the original are zero, and 100% indicates that it is the same as the original. However, in this embodiment, the reproduction degree of "0%" is almost non-existent, and the explanation is based on the premise that it is possible to reproduce something with respect to the original. And in this embodiment, as the reproduction degree, it is preferably a value to the extent that the first player can recognize it as the second game information.

[0171] [4.2.3] Table Data As illustrated in FIG. 6, the table data of this embodiment includes player relationship table data (hereinafter, also referred to as "player relationship TB") in which the reproduction degree is defined according to the relationship between the first player and the second player, and game situation table data (hereinafter, also referred to as "game situation TB") in which the reproduction degree is defined according to the game situation of the second player.

[0172] Specifically, the relationship between the first player and the second player includes: (A1) The relationship between the first player and the second player is a friend relationship (including a follow relationship and a follower relationship). (A2) The relationship between the first player and the second player is a hostile relationship or a cooperative relationship. (A3) The relationship in which the first player and the second player belong to the same group or different groups based on a given category (for example, the affiliation or attribute of pre-determined participants), and (A4) The relationship of the second player with a specific target person such as a chat partner of the first player. are included.

[0173] And in the player relationship table data, as illustrated in FIG. 6(A), for each of the above relationships, a reproducibility greater than 0% and less than or equal to 100% is defined.

[0174] For example, in the player relationship table data, for each relationship type such as a friend relationship, a hostile relationship, and a cooperative relationship, each reproducibility is defined.

[0175] Note that in the player relationship table data, for each relationship type such as a friend relationship, a hostile relationship, and a cooperative relationship, (B1) The number of contacts made with each second player in the game (simply the number of contacts, the number of hostile battles fought as an enemy, or the number of cooperative battles fought together against an enemy character, etc.), and (B2) The number of times (transmission / reception times) a message (including stereotypical messages such as "like") was sent and received between each player are set, and for each of these regulations, each reproducibility may be defined.

[0176] On the other hand, the game situation of the second player includes (C1) The presence or absence of winning in a given lottery for the second player, (C2) The value of in-game parameters such as the score, points, level, experience points, physical strength value, or ability value of the second player in the game, (C3) The progress of the game (a value indicating the achievement status until the game is cleared, or the clearance status such as the type of game stage already cleared, the type of enemy characters in the middle of or after a battle, the number and type of enemy characters already defeated), (C4) The acquisition status of items or the achievement status of missions in the game, (C5) The attributes and characteristics as the second player, and, (C6) The attributes, characteristics, parameters, acquired item types, or the number of acquired items of the player character targeted by the second player's operation, is included.

[0177] And, as illustrated in FIG. 6(B), in the game situation table data, for each of the above game situations, a reproducibility greater than 0% and less than or equal to 100% is defined.

[0178] For example, FIG. 5(B) shows (D1) When the score in the game is the highest among the players participating in the game, the reproducibility is 100%, (D2) When two or more of a given item have already been acquired, the reproducibility is 50%, and, (D3) When the second player character has the same attribute as the first player character, the reproducibility is 50%, is an example of the game situation table data defined.

[0179] Also, although the above examples explained the player relationship table data and the game situation table data separately, table data (hereinafter referred to as "composite table data") in which both the relationship between the first player and the second player and the game situation of the second player are defined in a composite manner may be preset.

[0180] [4.2.4] Player Information Player information is associated with each player ID (A1) If the player belongs to a team, the player's nickname, player ID, and team name and its ID (hereinafter referred to as "affiliation information"). (A2) The date and time when the game started. (A3) Game status information indicating the game status. (A4) Relationship information indicating the relationship with other players and information regarding the relationship (hereinafter referred to as "relationship-related information"). is included.

[0181] In particular, the game status information includes (A3-1) Information regarding the individual and team achievements such as the current level (player level), score, experience points, energy parameter values (life energy value, physical strength value, and power value), obtained rewards, or game time (hereinafter also referred to as "achievement information"). (A3-2) Information on the characteristics (presence or absence of abilities and parameters defining each ability) and attributes (including level) of the player character (if there are multiple player characters, information on their respective characteristics and attributes). (A3-3) Information regarding payments such as payment history and payment amount. (A3-4) Information on the items held by the player character (hereinafter referred to as "item information") and item-related information including information on items held in the past. (A3-5) Cleared stages, tasks, and the degree of achievement until the game ends (i.e., game clear). (A3-6) Information regarding the login (access) history (hereinafter referred to as "access history information"), and (A3-7) Information on the obtained benefits (hereinafter also referred to as "obtained benefit information"). is included.

[0182] [4.3] Game control processing Next, the game control processing of this embodiment will be described.

[0183] The game management unit 103 identifies players who participate in each of the linked games (i.e., players who execute the games) when, for example, a plurality of games are executed simultaneously and each game is linked.

[0184] Then, for each game of the identified players, the game management unit 103 forms a two-dimensional or three-dimensional game space, and while based on the operations of each player, controls the movements of moving objects including each player character and other characters in accordance with the game program, controls the linkage with other games, controls the virtual camera in each game, and executes each game process for advancing other games in each game.

[0185] On the other hand, when the game management unit 103 causes a plurality of players to execute games in, for example, one game space, it identifies each player who participates in the game and also identifies a second player for each player.

[0186] Then, the game management unit 103 forms a two-dimensional or three-dimensional game space in the game, and while based on the operations of each player, controls the movements of moving objects including each player character and other characters in accordance with the game program, controls the virtual camera corresponding to each player, and executes game processes for advancing other games.

[0187] On the other hand, during the execution of the game, based on the execution of the game processes as described above, the game management unit 103 images the game space from the perspective of the virtual cameras of each game and each player, generates game sounds accordingly, and generates, as game information, information for displaying and outputting the game images together with the game sounds and the additional information of each player on each terminal device 20 (i.e., acquires game information).

[0188] Note that the information providing unit 111 cooperates with the communication control unit 101 and provides the generated game information for each player to the corresponding terminal device 20.

[0189] [4.4] Detection Process Next, a detection process for detecting the relationship between each player in the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the "relationship detection process") and a detection process for detecting the game situation of each player (hereinafter referred to as the "game situation detection process") will be described.

[0190] (Relationship Detection Process) The relationship detection unit 104 executes a relationship detection process for detecting the relationship between each player and another player (i.e., the second player) for each player (i.e., when each player is regarded as the first player), such as a friend relationship, or a hostile or cooperative relationship, at a given timing before the game starts, at the start of the game, or during the game.

[0191] Specifically, the relationship detection unit 104 may be executed at the timing when game information of a plurality of second players is provided to the terminal device 20 of the first player during the game, or may be executed at a timing earlier than the timing when the game information is provided.

[0192] For example, in the present embodiment, as the timing when game information of a plurality of second players is provided to the terminal device 20 of the first player, or a timing earlier than the timing when the game information is provided, (A1) The timing indicated by the first player, (A2) The timing when the battle starts in the battle game, (A3) The timing when the enemy boss character appears, (A4) The timing of entering a special area within the game space, (A5) The timing of obtaining or using a special item, (A6) The timing when a game of a special stage or a mini-game starts, (A7) The timing immediately before executing the gacha, or (A8) The timing when a predetermined event within the game is executed (including the timings before and after it). and the like are included.

[0193] On the other hand, the relationship detection unit 104 refers to the player information of the first player, and based on the relationship information included in the referred player information, or the relationship information and relationship-related information, executes a relationship detection process for detecting the relationship with each player (that is, the player who becomes the second player).

[0194] In particular, based on the relationship information, the relationship detection unit 104, as the relationship with the second player, as described above, (B1) A friend relationship (including a follow relationship and a follower relationship), (B2) An adversarial relationship or a cooperative relationship, (B3) A relationship belonging to the same group or a different group based on a given category, and (B4) A relationship with a specific target such as a chat partner, is detected.

[0195] In addition to the above, the relationship detection unit 104 uses relationship-related information to calculate the degree of intimacy (the number of message transmissions and receptions), the degree of friendliness (the number of contacts in a cooperative relationship or in the same group), the degree of hostility (the number of contacts in an adversarial relationship or with another group), or the degree of superiority based on the battle results (the number of wins over losses, the number of losses over wins, the win rate) in a battle game with the second player, and may detect a second player having a certain degree of intimacy, friendliness, hostility, or superiority from among the second players having a certain relationship.

[0196] (Game situation detection process) The game situation detection unit 105 detects a given game situation of each player (specifically, the player corresponding to the second player) at a given timing during the game.

[0197] Specifically, similar to the relationship detection process, the game situation detection unit 105 may be executed at the timing when game information of a plurality of second players is provided to the terminal device 20 of the first player, or may be executed at a timing earlier than the timing when the game information is provided.

[0198] Further, the game situation detection unit 105 refers to the player information of the first player, and detects the game situation of each player (i.e., the player who becomes the second player) based on the game situation information included in the referred player information.

[0199] In particular, based on the game situation information, the game situation detection unit 105, as the game situation of each second player, (C1) Personal and team achievements such as the current player level, score, experience value, energy parameter value, obtained rewards or game time, (C2) Characteristics and attributes of the player character, (C3) Billing history and billing amount, (C4) Currently held items and items held in the past, (C5) Cleared stages, tasks, and degree of achievement until the game ends (i.e., game clear), (C6) Login (access) history, or (C7) Obtained benefits, detects.

[0200] [4.5] Reproducibility determination process Next, the reproducibility determination process for determining the reproducibility when the second game information of the present embodiment is output from the terminal device 20 of the first player will be described.

[0201] (Basic principle of reproducibility determination process) The game information control unit 106 uses table data in which the reproducibility is defined in advance for each piece of information such as relationships, and determines the reproducibility stored in association with the information such as relationships detected by the relationship detection unit 104 or the game situation detection unit 105 as the reproducibility of the second game information of a specific second player.

[0202] In particular, when the relationship information between the first player and each second player is detected by the relationship detection unit 104 or the game situation detection unit 105 at a given timing, the game information control unit 106 executes a reproducibility determination process for determining the reproducibility of the game information of the second player for each first player.

[0203] Specifically, for each first player, the game information control unit 106 (A1) performs a process (hereinafter referred to as "determination process") of determining whether the detected relationship information with each second player and other information satisfy a given condition (hereinafter referred to as "determination condition"), and (A2) when it is determined by the determination process that the relationship information and other information satisfy the given condition, performs a process (hereinafter referred to as "determination process") of determining the reproduction degree in the second game information of at least one specific second player to be different from the reproduction degree of the second game information of other second players (hereinafter referred to as "non-specific second players"), and executes each of these processes as a reproduction degree determination process.

[0204] In this embodiment, the determination conditions include the conditions defined regarding the above-mentioned relationship between players (hereinafter referred to as "relationship conditions"), the conditions defined regarding the above-mentioned game situation (hereinafter referred to as "game situation conditions"), or both of these conditions (hereinafter referred to as "composite conditions").

[0205] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the game information control unit 106 may uniformly set an initial value (for example, a reproduction degree of 25%) in advance as the reproduction degree of the game information of each second player at the start of the game or the like.

[0206] Further, the game information control unit 106 executes the determination process at the start of the game or at a given timing during the game (the timing when the relationship information and other information are detected or other timings), and for the reproduction degree regarding the second player who does not meet the determination condition, it may be uniformly set to a certain reproduction degree (for example, a reproduction degree of 25%), or if the reproduction degree has already been set by an initial value or the like, the reproduction degree may be maintained.

[0207] On the other hand, the game information control unit 106 basically identifies a second player who satisfies the determination conditions for the corresponding first player as a specific second player, and determines the reproducibility of the game information of the identified specific second player. However, a second player who does not satisfy the determination conditions may be identified as a specific second player.

[0208] That is, the game information control unit 106 may control the reproducibility of the second game information of a second player who is not the target of the determination process with the determination conditions.

[0209] And in this case, the game information control unit 106, for example, determines the reproducibility of the second game information of the specific second player to be a value smaller than the reproducibility of the second game information of the non-specific second player, and as a result, increases the reproducibility of the second game information of the non-specific second player.

[0210] (Determination Process) The game information control unit 106 executes a determination process based on the player relationship table data, game situation table data, and composite table data stored in the game data storage unit 144.

[0211] In particular, the game information control unit 106 sets determination conditions (that is, which table data to use, etc.) at least before executing the determination process, in accordance with the program or according to the game situation.

[0212] Then, the game information control unit 106 executes the determination process based on the set determination conditions, that is, the table data.

[0213] Specifically, when the game information control unit 106 sets a relationship condition as a determination condition, it executes the determination process based on the player relationship table data.

[0214] For example, when using the player relationship table data in FIG. 6(A), the game information control unit 106 (B1) A friendship relationship and a cooperative relationship belonging to the same group formed within the game. (B2) An adversarial relationship and having fought against each other three or more times in the past, or being such. (B3) Having sent and received messages five or more times in the in-game chat. Determine whether it meets the conditions specified in the relational table data such as the above.

[0215] Further, when the game information control unit 106 sets game situation conditions or composite conditions as determination conditions, it executes determination processing based on the game situation table data or composite table data.

[0216] For example, when using the game situation table data in Fig. 6(B), the game information control unit 106 (C1) The score in the game is the highest among the players participating in the game. (C2) Having already acquired two or more of a given item. (C3) The second player character having the same attribute as the first player character. Determine whether it meets the conditions specified in the game situation table data such as the above.

[0217] (Decision Processing) Based on the result of the determination processing, the game information control unit 106 determines the reproducibility in the game information of the corresponding second player.

[0218] In particular, the game information control unit 106 determines, as the reproducibility, a numerical value for specifying at least one of the physical resources when the second game information of the second player is provided to the first player and the amount of information (data amount) in the game information of the second player.

[0219] That is, the game information control unit 106 determines, for example, the transfer speed of the information when the game information of the second player is transmitted and received, or the degree of reproducibility for defining physical resources in hardware such as arithmetic processing (processing for controlling the usage rate of the CPU or GPU (core allocation) or the usage rate of the memory) when providing the second game information of the second player to the first player.

[0220] Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the game information control unit 106 may determine the degree of reproducibility for defining the information amount such as the reproduction frequency band or reproduction rate of the second game information (when the entertainment information is sound) or the display area, resolution, and color information (when the entertainment information is an image) when providing the second game information of the second player to the first player.

[0221] Specifically, in this case, the game information control unit 106 determines the degree of reproducibility defined in each table data in association with the rule that matches the determination condition in the determination process as the degree of reproducibility of the game information of the corresponding second player.

[0222] For example, assume that a relationship condition is set as a determination condition, and the degree of reproducibility of the second game information of each second player is uniformly set to an initial value (for example, 25%), and the player relationship table data in FIG. 5(A) is used.

[0223] In this case, during the game, if the game information control unit 106 detects a second player who is in a friend relationship with the first player as a result of executing the determination process, the game information control unit 106 changes the degree of reproducibility from the initial value (for example, 25%) to 100% for the specific second player and determines a value different from the reproduction limit (that is, the initial value) of the second game information of the non-specific second player.

[0224] In this embodiment, the game information control unit 106 may uniformly set, as the reproduction degree of the game information of each second player, within a range that does not affect the reproduction of the second game information of a specific second player, such as a reproduction degree of 20%, for example. Alternatively, if the reproduction degree has already been set, the game information control unit 106 may maintain the reproduction degree.

[0225] On the other hand, based on the total reproduction degree that is a numerical value set according to the total number of second players and serves as a reference when determining the reproduction degree, the game information control unit 106 may determine the reproduction degree of the game information of a non-specific second player different from the specific second player, including the reproduction degree in the game information of the non-specific second player.

[0226] That is, in order to allocate physical resources with an upper limit such as communication volume and arithmetic processing, or information volume with an upper limit such as display area and resolution, according to the reproduction degree, based on the game information of a specific second player, the game information control unit 106 may determine the reproduction degree of the second game information of each second player.

[0227] That is, in this case, when the reproduction degree for the second game information of a specific second player increases, the game information control unit 106 may lower the reproduction degree of the second game information of the non-specific second player, and determine the reproduction degree of the second game information of each player so that the sum of these reproduction degrees is equal to or less than the total reproduction degree.

[0228] [4.6] Game Information Control Processing (Direct Control Processing and Indirect Control Processing) Next, with reference to FIGS. 7-9, the game information control processing (direct control processing and indirect control processing) based on the reproduction degree of this embodiment will be described.

[0229] Note that FIGS. 7-9 are diagrams for explaining the game information control processing (direct control processing and indirect control processing) based on the reproduction degree of this embodiment.

[0230] (Overview of Game Information Control Processing) For each terminal device 20, the game information control unit 106 executes a given control process regarding the second game information (the second game information to be displayed on the terminal device 20 of the first player) provided to the first player together with the first game information of the first player who operates each terminal device 20.

[0231] And, as described above, the game information control unit 106, as a given control process, (A1) A control process for controlling the terminal device 20 of the first player based on the determined reproducibility, which is a direct control process for directly controlling the second game information output from the terminal device 20, or (A2) An indirect control process for controlling the terminal device 20 of the first player or the control when transferring to the terminal device 20, in which the second game information output from the terminal device 20 is controlled as a result of the control. executes.

[0232] In particular, as a direct control process, the game information control unit 106 controls the terminal device 2 0 of the first player, and for the sound information included in the second game information of the second player, controls the reproduction frequency band and the reproduction rate based on the reproducibility, and for the image information included in the game information, controls the display control process (the control process of the display area and the resolution).

[0233] (Example 1 of game information control process) As an example of the game information control process, assume a case where the game information is displayed on the terminal device 20 of player A (P1) as the first player or on a display device (not shown) connected to the terminal device 20, and the reproducibility is a value that defines the display area as the amount of information in the second game information of player G (P7) as the second player.

[0234] In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the game information control unit 106 executes a first display control process for a display area (hereinafter referred to as the "first display area") formed in the display unit 290 or a display device (not shown) that displays the game information of player A (P1) of the first player.

[0235] Also, simultaneously with the first display control process, as shown in FIG. 7, the game information control unit 106 performs, as a direct control process, a second display control process on a display unit 290 different from the first display area or a display area of a display device (not shown) that displays the second game information of a plurality of second players in a plurality of display areas (hereinafter referred to as "second display areas"). The second display control process is executed according to the determined degree of reproduction.

[0236] Furthermore, in this case, the game information control unit 106 may control the arrangement of the second game information of a specific second player or a non-specific second player on the display unit 290 or the like based on information such as the detected relationship, such as arranging the second display area of a specific second player adjacent to the first display area of the first player, as the second display control process.

[0237] FIG. 7(A) shows an example in which a game image (original image, that is, an image displayed in a display area with a maximum size at a reproduction degree of 100%) as the first game information of the first player (Player A) and normal game images (images displayed in a display area that is 3% of the first game information with a reproduction degree of 3% determined by an initial value in advance) as the second game information of 34 second players (Players B-Z and Players a-i) are displayed on the display unit 290 of the first player.

[0238] Also, FIG. 7(B) shows an example in which, in the case of FIG. 7(A), Player N (P14) of the second player having the highest score and Player Y (P25) of the second player having the second-highest score as the game situation at a given timing during the game are specified as specific second players, and when the reproduction degree of the second game information of the specific second player is determined to be 12% (the reproduction degree that results in a display area that is 12% of the first game information), the game information of each player is displayed on the display unit 290 of the first player.

[0239] In the case shown in FIG. 7(B), when the second display areas of players N and Y are enlarged, the game images of all non-specific second players are not displayed, and the game images of other non-specific second players are automatically switched and displayed on the display operation instruction of the first player or by a program such as scrolling.

[0240] Further, the game information control unit 106 executes game information control processing by directly controlling the terminal device 20 of the first player and by controlling the information providing unit 111 (by transmitting game information in a state where the display area has already been determined).

[0241] Furthermore, in the above, the display device (not shown) connected to the terminal device 20 refers to, for example, a display that displays an image for the first player to view game information, or a display unit integrally formed on a portable terminal device such as a smartphone.

[0242] (Example 2 of game information control processing) As an example 2 of game information control processing, when the amount of information in the second game information of the second player includes the amount of displayable image information (hereinafter referred to as "image additional information") added to the second game information as additional data (for example, player ID, player nickname, player character characteristics, player score, level, and experience value, etc.), the game information control unit 106 may control, as a direct control process, the amount of information of the image information to be displayed of the second game information of a plurality of second players to the display unit 290 of the terminal device 20 of the first player or a display device (not shown) based on the reproducibility.

[0243] That is, the game information control unit 106 has a configuration capable of controlling the display of additional information included in the game information regarding the second player assumed to be important for the first player.

[0244] Specifically, when the game information control unit 106 provides (i.e., displays) the second game information of the second player to the first player, it determines the displayability of each piece of image information based on the reproducibility, and executes control processing for displaying the displayable image information on the display unit 290 of the terminal device 20 of the first player or a display device (not shown).

[0245] For example, when player ID, score, level, and achievement degree up to the goal are used as the image addition information, as shown in FIG. 8, the game information control unit 106 (1) When the reproducibility is less than 25%, only the player ID is displayed, (2) When the reproducibility is 25% or more and less than 50%, the player ID and score are displayed, (3) When the reproducibility is 50% or more and less than 80%, the player ID, score, and level are displayed, (4) When the reproducibility is 80% or more, all are displayed, and directly executes the control processing.

[0246] Note that in FIG. 8(A), a game image (original image / player ID, score, level, achievement degree up to the goal) as the first game information of the first player (player A) and normal game images (with a reproducibility of 20% or less determined by an initial value in advance and only the player ID) as the second game information of eight second players (players B - I) are shown being displayed on the display unit 290 of the first player.

[0247] Also, in FIG. 8(B), in the case of FIG. 8(A), player B (P2) of the second player having the highest score and player G (P7) of the second player having the second - highest score as the game situation at a given timing during the game are specified as the specific second players, and when the reproducibility of the second game information of the specific second players is determined to be 40% or 35%, an example where the game information of each player is displayed on the display unit 290 of the first player is shown.

[0248] However, in the case of FIG. 8(A), all additional information may be made non-displayed with a reproduction degree of 0%.

[0249] (Others) When the game information control unit 106 executes direct control processing or indirect control processing, depending on the reproduction degree, the second game information of the specific second player may be executed in a display format different from the second game information of the non-specific second player. It may be executed in a different display format.

[0250] In particular, in order to differentiate from the game information of the non-specific second player, when the game information control unit 106 provides the game information of the specific second player to the terminal device 20 of the first player, the game information control unit 106 may execute a display control process of displaying the game information of the specific second player in a display format different from the game information of the non-specific second player.

[0251] For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the game information control unit 106 may highlight the second game information of the specific second player (such as changing the background color, changing the display frame, or notifying that it has been changed).

[0252] Note that FIG. 9(A) shows an example of highlighting the second game information of the specific second player with the changed information amount, and FIG. 9(B) shows a case of highlighting the second game information of the specific second player with the changed display area.

[0253] On the other hand, as the control of the information amount of the image information as described above, it is only necessary to be able to control the displayed information amount. For example, when the second game information is the image information of the virtual space with the virtual camera as the viewpoint, the game information control unit 106 may execute a control process (viewpoint control process) of switching the virtual camera or changing the viewpoint of the virtual camera (switching to a wide-angle image), or may execute a display control process of a special effect image (an image that requires high-resolution display).

[0254] [4.7] Variation Next, a variation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0255] Note that FIG. 10 is a system diagram showing the configuration of the server device 10 using information for a multi-on-line conference system (hereinafter referred to as "on-line conference information") instead of game information as entertainment information.

[0256] Further, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an image related to an on-line conference displayed on the terminal device 20 in the multi-on-line conference system.

[0257] (Execution timing of control processing related to second game information based on reproducibility) In the present embodiment, control processing (direct control processing or indirect control processing) related to the second game information is executed using the reproducibility determined based on information such as relationships detected during the game. However, after the information such as relationships is detected and the reproducibility is determined, when a given timing condition is satisfied, the control processing related to the second game information may be executed using the reproducibility.

[0258] That is, the game information control unit 106 may execute the timing for detecting information such as relationships and determining the reproducibility and the timing for executing the control processing related to the second game information using the reproducibility at different timings.

[0259] For example, the given timing condition includes the timing when the player character of the first player starts a battle with an enemy boss character, the timing when a game of a specific stage starts, or the timing when a predetermined privilege is acquired, or the timing when a predetermined item is acquired.

[0260] For example, when the player character of the first player passes a predetermined point within a predetermined game space during the game, the game information control unit 106 performs the detection process of information such as relationships to determine the reproducibility of the second game information of the specific second player.

[0261] Also, in this case, when the game information control unit 106 subsequently detects the timing at which the player character of the first player starts a battle with the enemy boss character, it executes direct control processing or indirect control processing regarding the second game information based on the previously determined degree of reproducibility.

[0262] (Network battle) The game system 1 of the present embodiment has a plurality of controllers 30 in conjunction with each terminal device 20 centered around the server device 10, and a battle fighting game is established by having each player operate each controller 30. However, by communicatively connecting a plurality of game systems 1 via a network, while controlling the game as the first player for each game system 1, each process including the game control process based on each game system 1 may be interlocked to execute each of the above configurations and each control.

[0263] In this case, each game system 1 has the functions of the above server device 10 respectively, and executes the above game information providing / output control processing respectively based on the game information of the second player acquired from other game systems.

[0264] (Multi online conference system) In the present embodiment, a system having game information providing / output control processing has been described. However, the information management system of the present invention can also be applied to an information management system using images of one-to-many participants (face images in the case of a conference system), such as a multi online conference system.

[0265] That is, in this modification example, the information management system of the present invention can be applied to a system that provides face images, voices, material images (videos and still images), etc. as conference information of a plurality of other users (hereinafter also referred to as "second users" or "second participants") to the terminal device 20 of the first user (hereinafter also referred to as "first user" or "first participant").

[0266] For this modified example, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are given the same numbers and their descriptions are omitted.

[0267] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the server device 10 includes a processing unit 300 and a storage unit 340 instead of the processing unit 100 and the storage unit 140 of the above-described embodiment.

[0268] The storage unit 340 includes a main storage unit 342, a data storage unit 344 for a conference system, a user information storage unit 346, and a conference information storage unit (such as the date and time of the conference and information of participants) 348.

[0269] In particular, the data storage unit 344 for the conference system stores table data in which the reproducibility is defined according to the relationship (for example, friend relationship, belonging to the same group, etc.) between users who use the multi-on-line conference system, and table data in which the reproducibility is defined according to the situation during the conference (such as the presence or absence of speech, the presence or absence of a smiling face, and the number of nods per unit time) when each user becomes the second user.

[0270] In addition, the user information storage unit 346 stores, for each user, information such as the workplace and contact information of each user (for example, information described on a business card), attributes (gender and age), and the relationship with other users (such as friends).

[0271] The processing unit 300 includes a communication control unit 101, a Web processing unit 102, a conference system management unit 303, a relationship detection unit 104, a conference situation detection unit 305, and a conference information control unit 306.

[0272] The conference system management unit 303 executes various processes necessary when using the multi-on-line conference system.

[0273] The relationship detection unit 104 detects the relationship of each user based on the user information of each user participating in the multi-on-line conference stored in the storage unit 340.

[0274] The meeting situation detection unit 305 detects the meeting situation for each user (i.e., the first user), such as the presence or absence of speech of other users (i.e., the second users) participating in the multi-party conference, the presence or absence of a smiling face, its level (degree), duration, the presence or absence of emotion, its type, and the number of nods per unit time.

[0275] When it is determined that the detected information such as the relationship between each user, the meeting situation of each user, or both of them satisfy given conditions, the meeting information control unit 306 identifies at least one specific second user.

[0276] For example, during the speech of the first user, the meeting information control unit 306 identifies as the specific second user a user with a smiling face for a certain period of time or a second user whose number of nods per unit time (e.g., per minute) is equal to or more than a certain number.

[0277] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, based on the above-mentioned table data, the relationship between users, and the meeting state, the meeting information control unit 306 determines, for each user (i.e., the first user), the reproducibility when providing or outputting the meeting information of the second user, and based on the determined reproducibility, expands the display area of the specific second user, etc., and executes meeting information control processing (i.e., processing similar to the direct control processing or indirect control processing in the above embodiment) on the user meeting information for the information providing unit 111 or the corresponding terminal device 20.

[0278] Note that as the meeting information control processing, the meeting information control unit 306 may only provide or output the user meeting information of the second user, by stopping the provision of the user meeting information of the first user to the terminal device 20 of the first user or the output of the user meeting information of the first user from the terminal device 20 of the first user.

[0279] In addition, FIG. 11(A) shows an example in which the display of the meeting information of the first user is stopped, and the face images of the 12 second users (User B (P2)-User M (P13)) as the second user meeting information are displayed with a certain degree of reproducibility (initial value 25%) (when the display area is controlled).

[0280] And FIG. 11(B) shows an example in the state of FIG. 11(A) when User E (P6) among the 12 second users is specified as the specific second user, the reproducibility of the user E is changed to 100%, and the face image of the user E (P6) based on the change is displayed based on the 100% reproducibility (including the case where the face images of some second users are changed to non-display).

[0281] (Meeting information control process for multiple first users) In the present embodiment, based on the relationship regarding communication within the game or in the real space such as the friend relationship between the first participant as the first player and the second participants as the multiple second players, the entertainment information of the second participants for the first player is determined. However, the reproducibility may be determined based on the relationship regarding the actions and action histories of each second participant for each first participant (hereinafter referred to as "first user").

[0282] In this modification example, it is premised that the first user is a plurality of general users, the plurality of second participants are famous people or popular characters, etc., and each first user is not provided with the entertainment information of other first users.

[0283] In such a case, the server device 10 detects the relationship between each first user and each second participant based on the presence or absence of charging (tipping) by each first user for each second participant, the amount of charging, the number of clicks for the enlarged display when the second participant is displayed, the display time, the implementation of chat and the number thereof, and the transmission of comments such as "like".

[0284] Then, for each first user, the server device 10 may detect the relationship with each second participant, and determine the degree of reproducibility (e.g., 100%) of the information regarding the second participant for the first user who satisfies the relationship condition defined in the table data.

[0285] For example, when it is detected that "a certain amount of charging or more has been executed", which is a condition defined in the table data by inserting money or the like, for a specific second participant, the second participant is identified as a specific second participant of the first user, and based on the table data, the degree of reproducibility (100%) for the second participant is determined.

[0286] Then, based on the determined degree of reproducibility, the server device 10 executes direct control processing or indirect control processing on the image of the second participant to provide the image of the second participant controlled by the first user.

[0287] [5] Operations in this embodiment Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the operation executed by the server device 10 of this embodiment, that is, the operation of the control process for executing control regarding the second game information of the second player when providing the second game information of the second player to the first player will be described.

[0288] Note that FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the output control process of the second game information of the second player executed by the server device 10 of this embodiment.

[0289] This operation is a process executed at a given timing during the execution of the game by a specific first player, and is an operation executed during multiplayer in which the same game is executed in conjunction with the operation instructions of each player of a plurality of players using a plurality of terminal devices 20.

[0290] This operation is a case where the degree of reproducibility in the second game information of a specific second player is determined using game situation table data, and is an operation for controlling the second game information of the second player when providing game information to each terminal device 20 operating in conjunction with the server device 10, or when outputting the game information from each terminal device 20.

[0291] Furthermore, in this operation, it is assumed that various player information of each player is appropriately updated during the execution of the game.

[0292] Each terminal device 20 operating in conjunction with the server device 10 forms an image including sound based on the received game information and displays it on the display unit 290 formed on each terminal device 20 and outputs sound.

[0293] First, when the game situation detection unit 105 detects a given timing (every certain period or timing having predetermined conditions in the game) or an instruction from a player participating in the game (the player who becomes the first player) (step S101), it detects the game situation of each of a plurality of second players different from the first player (step S102).

[0294] Next, the game information control unit 106 refers to the game situation table data stored in the game data storage unit 144 and determines whether the game situation of each detected second player satisfies the determination condition (that is, the condition defined in the game situation table data) (step S103).

[0295] At this time, if the game information control unit 106 determines that the detected game situation of any second player does not satisfy the determination condition, it ends this operation, and if it determines that the game situation of at least one second player satisfies the determination condition, it proceeds to the process of step S104.

[0296] Next, when the game information control unit 106 determines that the game situation of at least one of the second players satisfies the determination condition, it identifies a specific second player or an unspecified second player (step S104).

[0297] Next, the game information control unit 106 determines the reproducibility of the second game information of the specific second player (step S105).

[0298] Finally, the game information control unit 106 executes information control processing for controlling the information providing unit 111 or the terminal device 20 of the corresponding first player based on the determined reproducibility (step S106) and ends this operation.

[0299] [6] Others The present invention is not limited to those described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, terms cited as broad or synonymous terms in the description in the specification or drawings can be replaced with broad or synonymous terms in other descriptions in the specification or drawings.

[0300] In this embodiment, it may be applied to various games, for example, competitive games such as sports games such as baseball games, soccer games, basketball games, role-playing games, and other simulation games.

[0301] Also, in this embodiment, each game may be provided to the terminal device 20 by one server device 10, or a server system may be constructed by linking a plurality of server devices 10 and each game may be provided to the terminal device 20.

[0302] Also, in this embodiment, it may be realized by a single game device (game system) having the functions of the server device 10, that is, a device (standalone) that operates independently without depending on other devices such as the server device and is linked with other game devices.

[0303] The present invention includes configurations that are substantially the same as the configurations described in the embodiments (for example, configurations having the same functions, methods, and results, or configurations having the same objectives and effects). The present invention also includes configurations in which non-essential parts of the configurations described in the embodiments are replaced. The present invention also includes configurations that exhibit the same operational effects as the configurations described in the embodiments or configurations that can achieve the same objectives. The present invention also includes configurations in which known technologies are added to the configurations described in the embodiments 。

[0304] As described above, although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will easily understand that many modifications that do not substantially depart from the novel matters and effects of the present invention are possible. Therefore, all such modified examples are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0305] 10 … Server device 20 … Terminal device 100 … Processing unit 101 … Communication control unit 102 … Web processing unit 103 … Game management unit 104 … Relationship detection unit 105 … Game situation detection unit 106 … Game information control unit 110 … Timer management unit 111 … Information providing unit 120 … Input unit 130 … Display unit 140 … Storage unit 142 … Main storage unit 144 … Game data storage unit 146 … Player information storage unit 148 … Item information storage unit 180 … Information storage medium, 196 … Communication unit 200 … Processing unit 210 … Communication control unit 211 … Web browser 212 … Game processing unit 213 … Display control unit 220 … Rendering unit 230 … Sound processing unit 260 … Input unit 270 … Memory unit 271 … Main memory unit 272 … Image buffer 280 … Information storage medium 290 … Display unit 292 … Sound output unit 296 … Communication unit 300 … Processing unit 303 … Conference system management unit 305 … Conference situation detection unit 306 … Conference information control unit 340 … Memory unit 342 … Conference system data storage unit 344 … User information storage unit 348 … Conference information storage unit

Claims

1. An entertainment information management system for managing the provision of information on a game as entertainment for a plurality of second participants different from the first participant to the first participant, as entertainment information, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring the entertainment information of each of the second participants; detection processing means for executing a detection process for detecting relationship information indicating that the relationship between the first participant and each second participant is a cooperative relationship or an antagonistic relationship in the game; when it is determined that the detected relationship information satisfies a given condition, a reproducibility determination means for determining a reproducibility indicating the degree of reproduction of the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant to be different from the reproducibility of the entertainment information of other second participants; when providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant, (a) a first display control process for displaying the entertainment information of the first participant as a game image imaging the game space in a first display area which is a display area formed in a display means for displaying the entertainment information of the first participant and which is a region divided into a plurality of regions; and (b) a second display control process for each of a plurality of second display areas which are display areas different from the first display area formed in the display means and which display the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants as game images imaging the game space, based on the determined reproducibility, as a control process; display control means for executing; game control means for controlling multiplayer execution in which the first participant and the plurality of second participants participate in the game as entertainment; comprising: the display control means: executes the second display control process for causing the game images of the specific second participant and the game images of the other second participants to be displayed in each second display area using different reproducibilities, and controls the display of the multiplayer, characterized in that it is an entertainment information management system.

2. In the entertainment information management system according to Claim 1, the reproducibility determination means: An entertainment information management system that controls the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of the second participant who has become the target of the determination process that satisfies the given condition, among the relationship information and the like detected by the detection process.

3. An entertainment information management system that manages the provision of information regarding the entertainment of a plurality of second participants different from the first participant to the first participant as entertainment information, an acquisition means for acquiring the entertainment information of each of the second participants; a detection processing means for executing a detection process for detecting at least one of the relationship between the first participant and each second participant and the situation of the entertainment of each second participant as relationship information and the like; when it is determined that the detected relationship information and the like satisfy a given condition, a reproduction degree determination means for determining a reproduction degree indicating the degree of reproduction with respect to the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant to be different from the reproduction degrees of the entertainment information of other second participants; a display control means for executing a given control process when providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant based on the determined reproduction degree; comprising the reproduction degree determination means An entertainment information management system that determines the reproduction degree of the entertainment information of the specific second participant, including the reproduction degrees in the entertainment information of other second participants different from the specific second participant, based on a total reproduction degree that is a numerical value set according to the total number of the second participants and serves as a reference when determining the reproduction degree.

4. In the entertainment information management system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, the reproduction degree includes a numerical value for defining at least one of the physical resources of a given process executed when the entertainment information of each second participant is provided and the amount of information in the entertainment information of each second participant.

5. In the entertainment information management system according to Claim 4, The physical resource includes at least one of the transfer rate of the entertainment information when the entertainment information of each second participant is transmitted and received, and an element related to arithmetic processing when providing the entertainment information of each second participant to the first participant. An entertainment information management system.

6. In the entertainment information management system according to claim 4, The amount of information in the entertainment information of each second participant includes a value that defines at least one of the resolution, color information, display area, and number of drawing objects when displaying the entertainment information of each second participant. An entertainment information management system.

7. In the entertainment information management system according to claim 6, The amount of information in the entertainment information of each second participant as the reproducibility includes the amount of information of displayable image information when displaying the entertainment information of each second participant, The display control means, When providing the entertainment information of the specific second participant to the first participant, based on the determined reproducibility, the amount of information of the image information to be displayed of the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants is controlled to the display means. An entertainment information management system.

8. In the entertainment information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The storage means stores table data in which the reproducibility is defined in advance for each of the relationship information and the like, The reproducibility determination means, The reproducibility stored in association with the detected relationship information and the like is determined as the reproducibility in the entertainment information of at least the specific second participant. An entertainment information management system.

9. In the entertainment information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The display control means, When providing the entertainment information of the specific second participant to the first participant, the display control process as the given control process of displaying the entertainment information of the second participant specified as the specific second participant in a display format different from the entertainment information of other second participants is executed on the display means. An entertainment information management system.

10. In the entertainment information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising providing means for providing the entertainment information to the terminal devices of each participant, wherein the acquisition means acquires the entertainment information by generating the entertainment information in conjunction with the terminal devices of each participant, wherein the display control means as the given control process, executes a process for providing entertainment information when transferring it to the terminal device or a process for controlling internal processing of the terminal device, an entertainment information management system.

11. In the entertainment information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising generating means for generating entertainment information of the first participant, wherein the acquisition means acquires the entertainment information transmitted from the terminal devices of each second participant, wherein the display control means as the given control process, executes an output control process for outputting the entertainment information of the first participant and each second participant to an output means, an entertainment information management system.

12. A program for managing to provide information regarding a game as entertainment of a plurality of second participants different from the first participant to the first participant as entertainment information, acquisition means for acquiring the entertainment information of each of the second participants, detection processing means for executing a detection process for detecting relationship information indicating that the relationship between the first participant and each second participant is a cooperative relationship or an adversarial relationship in the game, when it is determined that the detected relationship information satisfies a given condition, a reproducibility determination means for determining a reproducibility indicating a degree of reproduction of the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant to be different from the reproducibility of the entertainment information of other second participants ​ When providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant, (a) among a plurality of divided areas formed in a display area formed on a display means for displaying the entertainment information of the first participant, and the display area is divided into a plurality of areas, a first display control process for displaying the entertainment information of the first participant as a game image obtained by imaging the game space in a first display area, and (b) among the plurality of divided areas, based on the determined degree of reproduction, a second display control process for each of a plurality of second display areas formed on the display means and different from the first display area, and for displaying the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants as a game image obtained by imaging the game space, as a control process, a display control means, and, Game control means for performing control related to multiplayer executed by the first participant and the plurality of second participants participating in the game as the entertainment, Causing a computer to function as, The display control means, A program characterized in that the second display control process for causing the game image of the specific second participant and the game images of the other second participants to be displayed in each second display area using different degrees of reproduction is executed to control the display of the multiplayer.

13. A program for managing to provide information regarding the entertainment of a plurality of second participants different from the first participant to the first participant as entertainment information, An acquisition means for acquiring the entertainment information of each of the second participants, A detection processing means for executing a detection process for detecting at least one of the relationship between the first participant and each second participant and the situation of the entertainment of each second participant as relationship-related information, When it is determined that the detected relationship-related information satisfies a given condition, a degree-of-reproduction determination means for determining a degree of reproduction indicating the degree of reproduction of the acquired information in the entertainment information of at least one specific second participant to be different from the degree of reproduction of the entertainment information of the other second participants, and, Control means for executing a given control process when providing the entertainment information of the plurality of second participants to the first participant based on the determined reproducibility. Function the computer as, The reproducibility determination means, A program characterized in that, based on the total reproducibility which is a numerical value set according to the total number of the second participants and which serves as a reference when determining the reproducibility, the reproducibility of the entertainment information of a specific second participant is determined including the reproducibility in the entertainment information of other second participants different from the specific second participant.

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