Information processing programs, information processing devices, information processing methods, information processing systems

Abstract

To provide a new information processing device that presents a map image in which regions where a player character has been located can be seen in a game where the player character moves in a virtual space.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: a control unit which controls a position of a first character in a virtual space on the basis of a first operation input of a first user of a first terminal; a position history information storage unit which stores position history information indicating where each of the first character and a second character whose position in the virtual space is controlled on the basis of an operation input of a second user of a second terminal has been located in the virtual space in a storage unit; and a presentation unit which presents a map image which corresponds to the virtual space and in which a first user traversing region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the first character has been located can be distinguished from a second character traversing region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the second character has been located on the basis of the position history information when there is a log screen display operation of the first user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing system for executing a game.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a system is known that acquires a play record including position information of each player character in a virtual space when a plurality of users each play a game, and displays the in-game state of each player character on a display device based on this play record (for example, Patent Document 1). With such a system, it is possible to present information on the positions in the virtual space where one's own player character and the player characters of other users are located.

[0003] Also, in a game in which a player character is moved in a virtual space, in order to display an area in the virtual space where the player character satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, an area where the player character is located, an area where a predetermined action such as coloring the player character is performed, an area where the player character achieves a predetermined mission, etc.), a system in which a map image of the virtual space is presented is known. By checking this map image, the user can easily check which areas in the virtual space satisfy the predetermined conditions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a novel information processing program, information processing device, information processing method, and information processing system for presenting a map image in which the areas where the player character has previously been located can be seen, in a game in which the player character moves within a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing program of Configuration 1 is an information processing program executed by a computer in a first terminal capable of running a game in which the game status is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, and has a configuration that causes the computer to function as: a control means for controlling the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from a first user of the first terminal in the game; a position history information storage means for storing position history information in a storage unit indicating where each of the first character and the second character, whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on an operation input from a second user of the second terminal, has been located in the virtual space in the game; and a presentation means for presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, when a second operation input is made by the first user, is capable of distinguishing between a first region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the second character has been located, based on the position history information.

[0007] This configuration allows the first terminal to display a map image that recognizes areas where the first character has been located and areas where the second character on the second terminal has been located, thereby improving the visibility of the areas where the first and second characters have been located, respectively.

[0008] The information processing program of configuration 2 is configured such that, in the information processing program of configuration 1, the presentation means presents the map image such that the first region is displayed in a first display mode and the second region is displayed in a second display mode, and the presentation means presents the map image in the first display mode for regions where both the first character and the second character have been located.

[0009] This configuration displays the areas where the first character has been located and the areas where the second character on the second terminal has been located in different display modes, thereby improving the visibility of the areas where the first and second characters have been located, respectively.

[0010] The information processing program of Configuration 3 has a configuration in which, in the information processing program of Configuration 1 or Configuration 2, if a parameter indicating the size of the area in the virtual space where the first character and the second character have been located satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer further functions as a notification presentation means that presents a notification to the first user of the first character and the second user of the second character.

[0011] This configuration allows us to determine the size of the area in which the first and second characters have been located in the virtual space.

[0012] The information processing program of configuration 4, in any of the information processing programs of configuration 1 to configuration 3, has a configuration in which the presentation means masks areas in the virtual space where the first character has never been located and removes the masks from areas where the first character has been located in the virtual space, thereby making areas in the virtual space where the first character has been located visible.

[0013] This configuration restricts the presentation of map images for areas in the virtual space that the first character has never been located in, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of games that involve exploring such areas.

[0014] The information processing program of configuration 5, in the information processing program of configuration 4, has a configuration in which the presentation means applies different masks to the first region where the second character has been located and the second region where the second character has not been located, for regions where the first character has never been located in the virtual space.

[0015] This configuration allows us to distinguish between areas that any other character has ever been in and areas that no character has ever been in.

[0016] The information processing program of configuration 6, in the information processing program of configuration 5, has a configuration in which the presentation means applies a first mask to reduce the color information of the ground surface in the first region, and a second mask to superimpose a mask panel that hides the ground surface in the second region.

[0017] This configuration allows the game to distinguish between areas where no character has ever been located and to display the ground surface with reduced color information in areas where other characters have been located, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of exploring areas where no character has ever been.

[0018] The information processing program of configuration 7 is an information processing program executed by a computer of a terminal capable of running a game, and has a configuration that causes the computer to function as a presentation means, which controls the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from the user of the terminal, stores position history information indicating the position of the first character over time in the virtual space in a storage unit, and, based on a second operation input from the user, presents a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, based on the position history information, allows the user to see places where the first character has previously been located in the game, and when a second operation input is made, presents the previous map image that was presented when the previous second operation input was made as the map image, and then presents the current map image based on the position history information for the period from when the previous map image was presented until the current second operation input is made as the map image.

[0019] This configuration makes it easy to identify where the first character has moved within the virtual space between the time the map image was displayed and the time the map image is displayed now.

[0020] The information processing program of configuration 8 further enables the computer to function as a synchronization means for synchronizing the game status with other terminals participating in the same session, and the location history information has a configuration that includes information indicating the time-based position of the second character of the other terminal in the virtual space.

[0021] This configuration allows for the presentation of a map image for the second character that identifies their location within the virtual space between the last map image presented and the current map image presented.

[0022] In the information processing program of Configuration 9, in the information processing program of Configuration 8, the presentation means has a configuration for presenting the map image in a manner that can distinguish between a first area where the first character has been located and a second area where the second character has been located based on the position history information.

[0023] With this configuration, a map image that can distinguish between the area where the first character has been located and the area where the second character has been located is presented, so the visibility is improved.

[0024] In the information processing program of Configuration 10, in any of the information processing programs from Configuration 7 to Configuration 9, the presentation means has a configuration for presenting the map image such that the current map image is gradually presented after presenting the previous map image.

[0025] With this configuration, the area newly located between the presentation of the previous map image and the presentation of the current map image can be visually recognized by animation.

[0026] In the information processing program of Configuration 11, in the information processing program of Configuration 10, the presentation means presents the map image masked for the area where the first character has not been located based on the position history information, and for the area where the first character has newly located between the previous second operation input and the current second operation input based on the position history information gradually releases the mask of the previous map image and presents the map image so as to transition to the current map image.

[0027] With this configuration, the area newly located between the presentation of the previous map image and the presentation of the current map image can be visually recognized by an animation that releases the mask.

[0028] The information processing device of configuration 12 is an information processing device as a first terminal capable of executing a game in which the game status is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, and has the following configuration: control means for controlling the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input of a first user of the first terminal in the game; position history information storage means for storing position history information in a storage unit indicating where the first character and the second character, whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on an operation input of a second user of the second terminal, have been located in the virtual space in the game; and presentation means for presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, when a second operation input is made by the first user, is capable of distinguishing between a first region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the second character has been located, based on the position history information.

[0029] This configuration allows the first terminal to display a map image that recognizes areas where the first character has been located and areas where the second character on the second terminal has been located, thereby improving the visibility of the areas where the first and second characters have been located, respectively.

[0030] The information processing device of configuration 13 is an information processing device provided in a terminal capable of running a game, and comprises: control means for controlling the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from the user of the terminal; position history information storage means for storing position history information indicating the position of the first character over time in the virtual space in a storage unit; and presentation means for displaying a map image corresponding to the virtual space based on a second operation input from the user, which displays a map image that allows the user to see places where the first character has previously been located in the game based on the position history information, and when a second operation input is made, displays the previous map image that was displayed when the previous second operation input was made as the map image, and then displays the current map image based on the position history information for the period from when the previous map image was displayed until the current second operation input is made as the map image.

[0031] This configuration makes it easy to identify where the first character has moved within the virtual space between the time the map image was displayed and the time the map image is displayed now.

[0032] The information processing method of configuration 14 is an information processing method performed on a first terminal capable of running a game in which the game status is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, and includes a control step of controlling the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input of a first user of the first terminal in the game; a position history information storage step of storing position history information in a storage unit that indicates where the first character and the second character, whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on an operation input of a second user of the second terminal, have been located in the virtual space in the game; and a presentation step of presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, when a second operation input is made by the first user, is capable of distinguishing between a first region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the second character has been located, based on the position history information.

[0033] This configuration allows the first terminal to display a map image that recognizes areas where the first character has been located and areas where the second character on the second terminal has been located, thereby improving the visibility of the areas where the first and second characters have been located, respectively.

[0034] The information processing method of configuration 15 is an information processing method executed on a terminal capable of running a game, and includes a first control step of controlling the position of a character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from the user of the terminal; a position history information storage step of storing position history information indicating the character's position in the virtual space over time in a storage unit; and a presentation step of presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space based on a second operation input from the user, which is a map image that allows the character to see places where they have previously been located in the game based on the position history information, and if the second operation input is made, presenting the previous map image that was presented when the previous second operation input was made as the map image, and then presenting the current map image based on the position history information for the period from when the previous map image was presented until the current second operation input is made as the map image.

[0035] This configuration makes it easy to identify where the first character has moved within the virtual space between the time the map image was displayed and the time the map image is displayed now.

[0036] The information processing system of configuration 16 is an information processing system capable of executing a game in which the game status is synchronized between a second terminal and a first terminal participating in the same session, and comprises: control means for controlling the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from a first user of the first terminal; position history information storage means for storing position history information in a storage unit indicating where the first character and the second character, whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on an operation input from a second user of the second terminal, have been located in the virtual space during the game; and presentation means for presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, when a second operation input is received from the first user, is capable of distinguishing between a first region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a position in the virtual space where the second character has been located, based on the position history information.

[0037] This configuration allows the first terminal to display a map image that recognizes areas where the first character has been located and areas where the second character on the second terminal has been located, thereby improving the visibility of the areas where the first and second characters have been located, respectively.

[0038] The information processing system of configuration 17 is an information processing system including a terminal capable of running a game, and comprises: control means for controlling the position of a character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from the user of the terminal; position history information storage means for storing position history information indicating the character's position in the virtual space over time in a storage unit; and presentation means for presenting a map image corresponding to the virtual space based on a second operation input from the user, which, based on the position history information, allows the user to see locations where the character has previously been in the game, and when the second operation input is received, presents the previous map image presented when the previous second operation input was made as the map image, and subsequently presents the current map image based on the position history information for the period from when the previous map image was presented until the current second operation input is made as the map image.

[0039] This configuration makes it easy to identify where the first character has moved within the virtual space between the time the map image was displayed and the time the map image is displayed now. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0040] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a game server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a table showing the data structure of location history information stored in the storage unit of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a timing chart of the processes performed for synchronization between the game server, the first terminal, and the second terminal in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of a game screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of a log screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows another example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows an example of displaying a mark indicating the position of the player character in a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an example of a map image of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a flowchart of the screen presentation process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows an example of an un-unveiled distribution map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0041] Hereinafter, information processing programs, information processing devices, information processing methods, and information processing systems of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations described below. In implementing the present invention, specific configurations may be appropriately adopted depending on the embodiment.

[0042] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 100 includes a server 1 and a plurality of information processing devices 2. In this embodiment, the information processing system 100 is applied as a game system, with server 1 being a game server and information processing devices 2 being game devices. The information processing devices as game devices 2 may be devices dedicated to games, or they may be general-purpose information processing devices such as smartphones, stationary or portable game devices, tablet terminals, mobile phones, personal computers, or wearable devices that execute game programs. The game server 1 and the game devices 2 are configured to communicate with each other via a network 3 such as the Internet. In the following embodiments, a person who uses the information processing system, i.e., a person who plays the game, is called a user, and a character operated by the user in the game is called a player character.

[0043] [Game Server Hardware Configuration] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a game server according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game server 1 comprises at least a processor 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13. The processor 11 executes various programs for controlling the game server 1. The storage unit 12 stores various programs executed by the processor 11 and various data used. The communication unit 13 connects to the network 3 by wired or wireless communication and sends and receives predetermined data with the game device 2 or other servers (not shown).

[0044] [Game console hardware configuration] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game device 2 comprises a display unit 21, a main unit 22, and a controller 23. The display unit 21, the main unit 22, and the controller 23 may be integrally configured, or they may be connected to each other by wire or wireless connections.

[0045] The display unit 21 is a device in which multiple pixels are arranged in two dimensions and which displays based on a video signal. The display unit 21 also has a function to output audio based on an audio signal. The display unit 21 may be a display panel and speaker integrated with the main unit 22, or it may be a monitor device with a speaker (for example, a television receiver) that is connected to the main unit 22 by a wire and receives and displays a video signal from the main unit 22.

[0046] The main unit 22 comprises a processor 221, an image and sound output unit 222, a storage unit 223, a wireless communication unit 224, and a controller communication unit 225. The storage unit 223 stores various programs executed by the processor 221 and various data used. The storage unit 223 may be an internal storage medium such as flash memory or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), or it may be configured to use an external storage medium installed in a slot (not shown).

[0047] The processor 221 is an information processing unit that performs various information processing operations performed in the main unit 22. For example, it may consist only of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or it may consist of a SoC (System-on-a-chip) that includes multiple functions such as CPU function and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) function. The processor 221 performs various information processing operations by executing an information processing program (in this embodiment, a game program) stored in the memory unit 223.

[0048] The wireless communication unit 224 enables the game device 2 to communicate wirelessly with other main units 22 or designated server devices. For example, internet communication or short-range wireless communication may be used for this wireless communication. The controller communication unit 225 enables the main unit 22 to communicate with the controller 23 via wired or wireless connection. The image and sound output unit 222 outputs the video signal and sound signal generated by the processor 221 to the display unit 5.

[0049] The controller 23 has a vertically elongated housing and can be gripped in a vertical orientation. The housing is shaped and sized to be gripped with one hand when gripped in a vertical orientation.

[0050] The controller 23 includes at least one analog stick 232, which is an example of a directional input device. The analog stick 232 can be used as a directional input unit that can input directions. The user can input a direction (and an amount corresponding to the angle of tilt) by tilting the analog stick 232. The controller 23 also includes a button unit 233 that includes various operation buttons. For example, the controller 23 may have multiple operation buttons on the main surface of the housing. These operation buttons may be, for example, ABXY buttons, plus buttons, minus buttons, L buttons, R buttons, etc.

[0051] Furthermore, the controller 23 is equipped with an inertial sensor 234. Specifically, the controller 23 is equipped with an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor as the inertial sensor 234. In this embodiment, the acceleration sensor detects the magnitude of acceleration along three predetermined axes. The angular velocity sensor detects the angular velocity around three predetermined axes.

[0052] Furthermore, the controller 23 also includes a communication unit 231 for wired or wireless communication with the controller communication unit 234. Directional input to the analog stick 232, information indicating the pressed state of the button unit 233, and various detection results from the inertial sensor 234 are repeatedly output to the communication unit 231 at appropriate intervals and transmitted to the main unit 22.

[0053] [Game Overview] Next, the game processing performed in this embodiment will be described. First, an overview of the game assumed in this embodiment will be given. The game assumed in this embodiment is a game in which a player character explores a three-dimensional virtual space below the surface of the sea (hereinafter referred to as "virtual underwater space") by diving.

[0054] This game may award points to the user by having the player character complete predetermined missions while exploring a virtual underwater space, and rank users based on the points earned. Alternatively, it may simply involve the player character exploring a virtual underwater space and recording the log of their exploration without setting any specific objectives.

[0055] In this embodiment, a user can participate in the game by joining a session set up by the game server 1. In a session, multiple users of game devices 2 connected online to the game server 1 can simultaneously explore the same virtual underwater space. Alternatively, or in addition to this, a user may play a game in which they explore the virtual underwater space alone. In this case, the game device 2 may be capable of running such a game offline.

[0056] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the game system 100 as an information processing system comprises a game server 1 and a plurality of game devices 2. Two game devices 2 are shown in Figure 4. Hereinafter, any one of the plurality of game devices 2 constituting the game system 100 will be referred to as the first terminal, and any other game device 2 will be referred to as the second terminal. The game system 100 executes a game in which the game status is synchronized between the first terminal and the second terminal participating in the same session.

[0057] The game server 1 includes a synchronization unit 51 that performs processing for synchronizing the game status between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a communication unit 52 for communicating with the first terminal and the second terminal, respectively. The synchronization unit 51 is configured by the processor 11 in Figure 2 executing a predetermined program and operating using the storage unit 12, and the communication unit 52 corresponds to the communication unit 13 in Figure 2.

[0058] Each game device 2 includes a communication unit 41, a synchronization unit 42, an operation reception unit 43, a control unit 44, a storage unit 45, a location history information storage unit 46, a display unit 47, and a presentation unit 48. These functions are configured in cooperation with the hardware shown in Figure 3 by the processor 221 in Figure 3 executing the game program as the information processing program of this embodiment. The game program may be stored in a non-temporary storage medium and may be read from the non-temporary storage medium and installed in the game device 2. Alternatively, the game program may be installed in the game device 2 by downloading it from a server via a network.

[0059] Furthermore, the configuration of game device 2 does not need to be provided entirely in the same device; it may be distributed across multiple devices, in which case the functions described below may be configured by wired or wireless communication between these multiple devices. Below, the functions of game device 2 as the first terminal will be described.

[0060] The communication unit 41 has a configuration corresponding to the wireless communication unit 224 shown in Figure 3, and transmits and receives various information by wired or wireless communication with the game server 1. In particular, the communication unit 41 transmits location history information (hereinafter referred to as "first location history information") indicating the location of the player character of the first terminal (hereinafter referred to as "first character") to the game server 1, and receives location history information (hereinafter referred to as "second location history information") indicating the location of the player character of the second terminal (hereinafter referred to as "second character") from the game server 1.

[0061] The operation reception unit 43 receives operations performed by the user on the analog stick 232, button unit 233, and inertial sensor 234 as electrical signals. The control unit 44 controls the position of the first character in the virtual space based on the operation input (specifically, operations on the joystick 232) performed by the user of the first terminal (hereinafter referred to as the first user) to move the first character in the game.

[0062] The location history information storage unit 46 stores the first location history information and the second location history information in the storage unit 45. The first location history information is the location history of the first character in the control unit 44 and is obtained from the control unit 44. The second location history information is the location history of the second character and is obtained via the communication unit 41. For this purpose, the synchronization unit 42 synchronizes the game status with a second terminal participating in the same session. Specifically, the synchronization unit 42 transmits the first location history information to the game server 1 via the communication unit 41 and receives the second location history information from the game server 1.

[0063] Figure 5 is a table showing the data structure of location history information stored in the storage unit of an embodiment of the present invention. The location history information includes information indicating the time-dependent position of each user's character in the virtual underwater space. In this embodiment, as an example, each record of location history information stored in the storage unit 45 includes the user ID, the region number of the region where the user's character was located, and the time of entry into that region. In other examples, it may also include the user ID and the coordinates in the virtual underwater space where the user's character was located at each unit of time.

[0064] Here, the virtual underwater space is divided into multiple unit regions in the planar direction. The area of ​​the virtual underwater space may be, for example, 500m x 500m, and the size of the unit region may be, for example, 10m x 10m. That is, the virtual underwater space may be divided into (50 x 50 =) 2500 unit regions. Each unit region is assigned a region number, and the location history information indicates the region that has been traversed (entered) by this region number.

[0065] Furthermore, the entry time may be the actual date and time of the country in question, but in this embodiment, the entry time is expressed as the elapsed time from the start of the session, based on the session start time. Users can join a session from the start, or they can join a session midway through. Also, when each user joins a session, they start the game from a randomly selected position in the virtual underwater space. Therefore, the area where each player character is located at time 0:00 is generally different.

[0066] Figure 6 is a timing chart of the processes performed for synchronization between the game server, the first terminal, and the second terminal in an embodiment of the present invention. When movement control is performed on the first terminal and as a result enters a unit area different from (adjacent to) the unit area of ​​the current location (step S11), the location history information storage unit 46 stores the area number and time of the newly entered unit area as location history information in the storage unit 45 (step S12), and transmits the location history information, including the user ID of the first terminal, the area number of the entered unit area, and the time of entry into the unit area, to the game server 1.

[0067] In the game server 1, the synchronization unit 51 receives location history information transmitted from the first terminal via the communication unit 52 (step S21), and at a predetermined timing, distributes the received location history information to all terminals (including the second terminal) participating in the session (step S22). In this embodiment, the game server 1 periodically distributes location history information to each terminal, but conversely, each terminal may periodically access the game server 1 to obtain location history information stored on the game server 1.

[0068] In the second terminal, the synchronization unit 42 receives location history information from the game server 1 via the communication unit 41 (step S31), and the location history information storage unit 46 stores this location history information in the storage unit 45 (step S32). As a result, a new record of location history information, as shown in Figure 5, is added to the storage unit 45.

[0069] If, in the second terminal, movement control is performed to move the second character from its current position into an adjacent unit area (step S33), the position history information storage unit 46 records position history information for the entered unit area in the storage unit 45 (step S34) and transmits this position history information to the game server 1.

[0070] In the game server 1, similar to when location history information is received from the first terminal, the synchronization unit 51 receives location history information transmitted from the second terminal via the communication unit 52 (step S23), and at a predetermined timing, distributes the received location history information to all terminals participating in the session (including the first terminal) (step S24).

[0071] Furthermore, in the first terminal, similar to the processing of the second terminal described above, the synchronization unit 42 receives location history information from the game server 1 via the communication unit 41 (step S13), and the location history information storage unit 46 stores this location history information in the storage unit 45 (step S14). As a result, a new record of location history information, as shown in Figure 5, is added to the storage unit 45.

[0072] In Figure 6, an example is shown in which the process of sharing the location history information of the first character with other terminals, including the second terminal (steps S11 to S32), is followed by the process of sharing the location history information of the second character with other terminals, including the first terminal (steps S33 to S14). However, these processes do not have to be in this order, and each can be executed at any time. Furthermore, the process of distributing location history information from the game server 1 to multiple terminals is performed periodically. Therefore, the game server 1 acquires location history information from multiple terminals at the intervals in which location history information is distributed, accumulates the location history information that should be shared with all terminals, and distributes the location history information acquired from multiple terminals to all terminals at the time of distribution.

[0073] The display unit 47 switches between displaying the game screen and the log screen. The game screen displays an image from the first character's perspective or an image from a virtual camera behind the first character (a screen including the first character). The log screen includes a map image of the virtual underwater space where the session is running, viewed in plan view. The display unit 47 displays the images presented by the presentation unit 48. The display unit 47 corresponds to the display unit 21 shown in Figure 3.

[0074] The presentation unit 48 creates an image to be displayed on the display unit 47 and presents the created image to the display unit 47. In this embodiment, in particular, when the first user performs an operation to display the log screen (specifically, an operation to press a predetermined button unit 233), the presentation unit 48 presents a log screen including a map image corresponding to the virtual underwater space. The presentation unit 46 generates a map image by referring to the first location history information and the second location history information stored in the storage unit 45.

[0075] Figure 7 shows an example of a game screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the game screen 70, a first character 71 swimming in a virtual underwater space is displayed in the center of the screen, and the field of view is that of a virtual camera image taken from behind the first character 71. The game screen 70 also includes the terrain 72 surrounding the first character 71 in the virtual underwater space, as well as creatures 73 and a second character (another player character) 74 present there. Various information regarding the location, creatures, and second character within the screen may be displayed on the game screen. The game screen may also display an image from the first-person perspective of the first character.

[0076] Figure 8 shows an example of a log screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The log screen 60 includes a map image 61 and an information display window 62. Around the map image 61 are displayed the user ID 63, display content 64 indicating whether or not sharer information is displayed, the unveiling rate 65 indicating the percentage of the area where a predetermined action (in this embodiment, an action by the player character to remove bacteria covering marine organisms and investigate them) has been performed by the player character on terrain parts and organisms thereon, and the traversal rate 66 indicating the percentage of the area traversed by either the first character or the second character. As shown in Figure 8, the map image 61 shows contour lines including the outline of the sea surface (0m above sea level), and the area enclosed by the contour lines is colored according to its depth. Note that "sharer" refers to a second user who shares information in the game with the first user.

[0077] Figure 9 shows another example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The map image 61 in Figure 9 shows a map of the entire virtual underwater space. In this way, by operating a predetermined button on the button unit 233, the user can switch on the log screen 60 between displaying a map showing the entire virtual underwater space as the map image 61, or displaying an enlarged map of the area where the first character is located. The user can also switch the information displayed in the information display window 62 on the log screen 60 by operating a predetermined button on the button operation unit 23. The information display window 62 provides display categories such as diving log, sharer, and ranking.

[0078] Figure 10 shows an example of displaying a mark indicating the position of a player character in a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. In map image 61, the position of the first character is indicated by an arrowhead mark 611. In front of the arrowhead mark 611, a triangle 612 is shown that extends in the direction the first character is facing.

[0079] When the display unit 48 displays the map image 61, immediately after starting to display the map image 61, it animates an arrowhead mark 611 as a position icon to indicate the position of the first character, making the position of the first character within the map image easier to see. Immediately after displaying the map image 61, the display unit 48 enlarges and displays the arrowhead mark 611 indicating the position of the first character, as shown in Figure 10(a). The display unit 48 then gradually reduces the size of the arrowhead mark 611, returning it to its original size, as shown in Figure 10(b). After that, the display unit 48 animates a sonar radar-like light-emitting effect 613 around the arrowhead mark 611, as shown in Figure 10(c).

[0080] In this way, when the display unit 48 starts displaying the map image 61, it animates the enlargement of the arrowhead mark 611 indicating the position of the first character, and then animates the subsequent luminous effect 613. As a result, when the map image 61 is displayed, the position of the first character can be instantly seen, and the position of the first character can continue to be easily seen thereafter.

[0081] Figure 11 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information displayed in the map image 61 is divided into public information, which is shared with all characters participating in the session, and private information, which is received only from the first character or its sharer. The private information includes, for example, the arrowhead mark 611 which is the position icon of the first character, the sharer's position icon 615, the emote icon 616, and the icon 617 of a creature or point marked by the sharer. The public information includes, for example, the location information of the unknown pulses of the first character and its sharer. The movement trajectory 613 of the first character is also displayed in the map image 61.

[0082] Although details are omitted in Figure 8, the information display window 62 shows both private and public log information. Private log information includes events such as when a sharer returns to the session, when a sharer leaves the session, when a sharer marks (shares) a creature, when a sharer marks (shares) coordinates, the sharer's salvage information, and mission reward distribution logs. Public log information includes main mission-related logs, map completion rate information, unveil rate information, and other system announcements.

[0083] Figure 12 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The display unit 48 presents a map image that distinguishes between areas explored by the first character, areas explored by others, and areas explored by other players, based on location history information stored in the storage unit 45. Specifically, the display unit 48 presents the map image in a first display mode for areas explored by the first character, a second display mode for areas explored by other players, and a third display mode for areas explored by other players.

[0084] In the example in Figure 12, an overlay mask is superimposed on the unexplored areas to conceal the surface of the virtual underwater space (third display mode), so that topographic information of the unexplored areas cannot be seen in the map image. Also, in the map image of the example in Figure 12, a mask that allows visibility of topographic information but is transparent is superimposed on areas explored by others (second display mode). Areas explored by the user are not masked (first display mode), and topographic information can be seen.

[0085] Furthermore, instead of masking areas explored by other players, they may be displayed in monochrome (second display mode) to distinguish them from areas explored by the player themselves, which are displayed in full color (first display mode). In other words, the mask panel for unexplored areas does not have transparency, and the mask for areas explored by other players allows for terrain confirmation, but may have less color information compared to areas explored by the player themselves. In the map image, areas where only the first character has been located and areas where both the first and second characters have been located are not particularly distinguished and are both displayed in full color without masks as areas explored by the player themselves.

[0086] In the example shown in Figure 12, the mask is applied by superimposing a mask panel onto the map image for each 10m x 10m unit area. When a player character enters a unit area, that unit area is changed to an area that has been explored. As the game progresses, the explored area gradually expands as the first and second characters move into new areas of the virtual underwater space. The display unit 48 updates the map image when such updates occur, even while the map image is being displayed.

[0087] Furthermore, the display unit 48 has the function of a notification display means that, when displaying the game screen 70 or the log screen 60, displays a notification to the first user of the first character and the second user of the second character when a parameter indicating the size of the area in which the first character and the second character have been located in the virtual underwater space satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0088] Specifically, the notification unit 48 may, for example, display a notification each time the exploration rate, which is the ratio of the area explored to the area of ​​the virtual underwater space, increases by 5%. The notification unit 48 may also display a notification each time the area explored by the first character increases by 5%. Similarly, for the second character, a notification may be displayed each time the second character's exploration rate increases by 5%. Furthermore, the above notifications may be limited to the sharer if such a second character is a sharer.

[0089] Figure 13 shows an example of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 13, the method of displaying the map image when switching from the game screen to the log screen will be explained. When the game screen is displayed and the first user performs a predetermined button operation to switch the screen to the log screen 60, the operation reception unit 43 receives this operation. Based on this operation, the presentation unit 48 presents the log screen 60, which includes a map image. In this log screen 60, the presentation unit 48 reads location history information from the storage unit 45 and, based on this location history information, presents a map image that distinguishes between areas explored by the user, areas explored by others, and unexplored areas, as shown in Figure 12.

[0090] At this time, the display unit 48 first displays the map image that was displayed when the previous log screen display operation was performed (hereinafter referred to as the previous map image) as the map image, as shown in Figure 13(a). Then, as shown in Figures 13(b) and (c), it displays the latest map image (hereinafter referred to as the current map image) through an animation based on the updates to the location history information during the period from when the previous map image was displayed until when the current log screen display operation is performed. In the example in Figure 13, in Figure 13(b), the mask panel is highlighted for the unit area that has been updated between the previous map image and the current map image (shown with a thick border in Figure 13(b)), and then, as shown in Figure 13(c), the mask is removed or changed.

[0091] For this purpose, the display unit 48 stores the time when the map image was last displayed. If the map image is to be updated while it is being displayed, it also stores the time when the map image was last closed. The display unit 48 then first displays the previous map image (see Figure 13(a)), refers to the location history information of the storage unit 45 shown in Figure 5, extracts the newly updated content between the previous time and the current time, presents an animation according to the updated content (see Figure 13(b)), and finally presents the current map image that reflects the latest location history information (see Figure 13(c)). At this time, as shown in Figure 13(c), the animation processing for changing and removing the mask is performed sequentially from the upper left unit area to the right, and sequentially from the bottom row. The animation processing for changing and removing the mask may be performed in the order of the unit areas traversed by the character, or all updated unit areas may be updated simultaneously without animation processing.

[0092] Figure 14 shows an example of a part of a map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 14, an animation that gradually presents the current map image from the previous map image will be described in detail. In Figure 14, unit area 81 is an area that was previously unexplored and has now been updated to an area explored by the user; unit area 82 is an area that was previously unexplored and has now been updated to an area explored by another person; and unit area 83 is an area that was previously explored by another person and has now been updated to an area explored by the user.

[0093] Unit region 81 is masked by a non-transparent mask panel in the previous map image (see Figure 14(a)). Subsequently, the mask panel is highlighted (see Figure 14(b)), an animation of the mask panel being destroyed is displayed (see Figure 14(c)), and the mask panel is removed in the current map image (see Figure 14(d)). Unit region 82 is masked by a non-transparent mask panel in the previous map image (see Figure 14(a)). Subsequently, the mask panel is highlighted (see Figure 14(b)), the mask panel gradually becomes semi-transparent (see Figure 14(c)), and is masked by a transparent mask panel in the current map image. Unit region 83 is masked by a transparent mask panel in the previous map image (see Figure 14(a)). Subsequently, the mask panel is highlighted (see Figure 14(b)), then gradually fades away (see Figure 14(c)), and finally, the mask panel is removed from the map image (see Figure 14(d)).

[0094] Figure 15 is a flowchart of the screen presentation process according to an embodiment of the present invention. The screen presentation process is performed on the first terminal. First, the synchronization unit 42 performs synchronization processing (step S41). In the synchronization processing, it transmits first position history information to the game server 1 and obtains second position history information from the game server 1 and stores it in the storage unit 45. Next, the operation reception unit 43 monitors whether or not a movement operation to move the first character has been input (step S42). If no movement operation is input (NO in step S42), it returns to step S41 and repeats the synchronization.

[0095] If a movement operation is performed (YES in step S42), the control unit 44 controls the movement of the first character in accordance with the movement operation (step S43). The position history information storage unit 46 stores the first position history information in the storage unit 45 in response to the movement control (step S44). Next, the operation reception unit 43 determines whether or not it has received a log screen display operation to display the log screen 60 (step S45). If there is no log screen display operation (NO in step S45), the process returns to step S41 and the above process is repeated.

[0096] If a log screen display operation is performed (YES in step S45), the presentation unit 48 presents the log screen 60 (step S46). At this time, for the map image, an animation is displayed that reflects the difference (update content) from the previous map image to the current map image, as described above. While the log screen 60, including the map image 61, is being displayed, the synchronization unit 42 continues synchronization (step S47). Then, the operation reception unit 43 monitors whether or not it has received a game screen display operation to switch the screen from the log screen 60 to the game screen 70 (step S48).

[0097] If the system does not accept the command to display the game screen (NO in step S48), the system returns to step S46 and the presentation unit 48 continues to present the log screen 60. If the system accepts the command to display the game screen (YES in step S48), the presentation unit 48 presents the game screen 70 (step S49) and returns to step S41 to repeat the above process.

[0098] As described above, according to the information processing system 100 of this embodiment, in a game in which player characters from multiple game devices 2 participate in the same session, each game device 2 is presented with a map image that can distinguish between areas where its own character has been located and areas where other characters have been located, thereby improving the visibility of each area.

[0099] Furthermore, in the information processing system 100 of this embodiment, when presenting a map image as log information, the previously presented map image (previous map image) is presented first, followed by the map image to be presented this time (current map image). This allows the system to recognize areas where the user's own character and other characters have been located during the period between the presentation of the previous map image and the presentation of the current map image.

[0100] In the above embodiment of the information processing system 100, a virtual underwater space is provided as the virtual space, but the system is not limited to this, and the virtual space may be a virtual space on land or in the air. Also, in the above embodiment, the information processing system 100 presents the virtual space and its map image while running a game as a game system, but the information processing system 100 is not limited to applications in games, and may, for example, be a system that performs driving simulations of mobile objects such as vehicles and drones.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the virtual space is provided as a three-dimensional space, while the position history information is shown in a two-dimensional unit area, and the log screen 60 presents a planar map image 61 that does not have height (depth) information. The position history information storage unit 46 determines that the player character is located in (entered) the unit area if the player character is located at any height within the unit area, and performs the above processing.

[0102] When determining the traversal rate of 66 and the unveiling rate of 65 (see Figure 8), the number of traversable unit areas (the denominator for calculating the traversal rate) may be determined as follows. That is, when a 3D virtual space is generated for each session by combining multiple randomly selected existing terrain parts at randomly selected depths, the maximum number of unit areas determined for each terrain part is calculated. For example, if one terrain part has an area of ​​100m x 100m and its unit area is 10m x 10m, the maximum number of unit areas for this terrain part is calculated to be 10 x 10 = 100.

[0103] Then, for example, the number of traversable unit areas is determined when the terrain is submerged every 5 meters. For example, unit areas that are above ground are inaccessible. Whether or not an area is accessible in this case can also be determined by a measurement function that counts the areas that can be entered by actually moving the character. By using this measurement function, it is possible to accurately count the accessible unit areas even in a 3D virtual space generated by combining multiple randomly selected existing terrain parts at randomly selected depths.

[0104] In this way, in a randomly generated 3D virtual space, the number of accessible unit areas can be determined from the height (depth) of the terrain parts. Therefore, the sum of the number of accessible unit areas for multiple terrain parts that make up the 3D virtual space can be determined as the total number of accessible unit areas for that session.

[0105] Even in areas that appear to be above ground from a two-dimensional perspective, such as caves, it may be possible to pass underneath and reach a central lake. In such cases, the measurement method using the above-mentioned measurement function can count the number of accessible unit areas. Alternatively, the number of accessible unit areas can be determined by a human count without using this measurement function.

[0106] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the display unit 48 displays a map image 61 as log information, and this map image 61 shows the topography of a three-dimensional virtual space. However, in addition to this map image 61, the display unit 48 may also be able to display an un-unveiled distribution map image. The un-unveiled distribution map image is map information that visualizes the abundance of organisms that have not yet been unveiled in each unit area.

[0107] Figure 16 shows an example of an un-unveiled organism distribution map image according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the un-unveiled organism distribution map image 91, the abundance of un-unveiled organisms in each unit area is represented by color. In the example of Figure 16, the un-unveiled organism distribution map image is displayed in monochrome, and the lighter the color, the more un-unveiled organisms there are. Alternatively, the un-unveiled organism distribution map image may be displayed in color, with red indicating a higher abundance of un-unveiled organisms in each unit area, and blue indicating a lower abundance of un-unveiled organisms. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 1 Server (Game Server) 2. Information processing device (game device) 3 Network 11 processors 12 Storage section 13 Communications Department 21 Display section 22 Main unit 23 Controllers 41 Communications Department 42 Classmates 43 Operation reception section 44 Control Unit 45 Storage section 46 Location history information storage unit 47 Display section 48 Presentation section 51 Classmates 52 Communications Department 60 Log screen 61 Map Images 62 Information Display Window 63 User ID 64 Display contents 65 Unveiling rate 66 Completion rate 70 Game Screen 71 First Character 72 Terrain 73 Biology 74 Second Character 81-83 Unit area 91 Unreleased Amber distribution map image 100 Information Processing Systems (Game Systems) 221 processors 222 Image and audio output section 223 Storage section 224 Wireless Communication Section 225 Controller Communication Unit 231 Communications Department 232 Analog Sticks 233 Button section 234 Inertial Sensor

Claims

1. An information processing program executed by a computer on a first terminal capable of running a game in which the game state is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, In the aforementioned game, a control means controls the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from a first user of the first terminal. A location history information storage means that stores location history information in a storage unit indicating where each of the first character and the second character whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on the operation input of the second user of the second terminal was located in the game, and When the first user makes a second operation input, a presentation means presents a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, based on the location history information, can distinguish between a first region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the second character has been located. An information processing program that enables the aforementioned computer to function.

2. The presenting means presents the map image such that the first region is displayed in a first display mode and the second region is displayed in a second display mode. The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein the presentation means presents the map image in the first display mode for areas where both the first character and the second character have been located.

3. The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein, if a parameter indicating the size of an area in the virtual space where the first character or the second character has been located satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer further functions as a notification presentation means for presenting a notification to the first user of the first character and the second user of the second character.

4. The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein the presentation means masks areas in the virtual space where the first character has never been located and removes the masks from areas where the first character has been located, thereby making areas in the virtual space where the first character has been located visible.

5. The information processing program according to claim 4, wherein the presentation means applies different masks to a region in the virtual space where the first character has never been located, for a third region where the second character has been located and a fourth region where the second character has never been located.

6. The information processing program according to claim 5, wherein the presenting means applies a first mask to reduce the color information of the ground surface in the third region, and a second mask to superimpose a mask panel that hides the ground surface in the fourth region.

7. An information processing device, which is a first terminal capable of running a game in which the game status is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, In the aforementioned game, a control means controls the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from a first user of the first terminal, A location history information storage means that stores location history information in a storage unit indicating where each of the first character and the second character whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on the operation input of the second user of the second terminal was located in the game, When the first user makes a second operation input, the presenting means presents a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, based on the location history information, can distinguish between a first region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the second character has been located. Equipped with, information processing device.

8. An information processing method performed on a first terminal capable of running a game in which the game status is synchronized with a second terminal participating in the same session, In the game, a control step is made to control the position of the first character in the virtual space based on the first operation input of the first user of the first terminal, A position history information storage step involves storing position history information in a storage unit that indicates where each of the first character and the second character, whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on the operation input of the second user of the second terminal, was located in the virtual space during the game. When the first user makes a second operation input, the presenting step presents a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, based on the location history information, can distinguish between a first region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the second character has been located. Information processing methods, including those mentioned above.

9. An information processing system capable of running a game in which the game status is synchronized between a second terminal and a first terminal participating in the same session, In the aforementioned game, a control means controls the position of a first character in a virtual space based on a first operation input from a first user of the first terminal, A location history information storage means that stores location history information in a storage unit indicating where each of the first character and the second character whose position in the virtual space is controlled based on the operation input of the second user of the second terminal was located in the game, When the first user makes a second operation input, the presenting means presents a map image corresponding to the virtual space, which, based on the location history information, can distinguish between a first region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the first character has been located and a second region corresponding to a location in the virtual space where the second character has been located. An information processing system equipped with [the following features].

Images