Program, information processing method, information processing device, and information processing system

Abstract

Provided is an information processing device for providing a game G having a matching function to a user, the information processing device being configured to execute: quest management processing of presenting a joint quest to the user and a matching partner of the user and managing progress of the joint quest; profile disclosure processing of sequentially disclosing to each other a plurality of profiles of the user and the matching partner in accordance with an achievement state of the joint quest; and penalty management processing of, when a number of registered matching partners of the user is an upper limit number and the user cancels registration of the matching partner, giving a predetermined penalty to the user.

Description

Program, Information Processing Method, Information Processing Apparatus, and Information Processing System Cross - reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024 - 194158 (filed on November 6, 2024), and the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing method, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system.

[0003] In recent years, communication tools between users that are utilized by accessing a server via a program installed on a terminal such as a smartphone or a PC have been widely used.

[0004] As one of such communication tools, there is provided a service (so - called matching app) having a matching function, in which users can obtain an opportunity to communicate with each other through the Internet, and by further exchanging messages to enhance intimacy and then mutually approving each other, they can enter a state where they can conduct more flexible communication than the communication that can be performed with other users. (See Patent Document 1).

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 125081

[0006] In such a matching app, since one applies for a matching desire after scrutinizing the content of the profile, the profile is often made publicly available from the beginning. In this case, it is often judged only by the content of the profile, and in actuality, even if the partner is a compatible one, they may be excluded from the target of the matching partner from the beginning. Since the profile is only one aspect showing the personality of the other person, judging the matching partner early only by the profile may result in missing the encounter with a more optimally compatible matching partner.

[0007] Therefore, this disclosure aims to provide a program, information processing method, information processing device, and information processing system that facilitate and support interaction between specific users through a game having a matching function.

[0008] The program relating to this disclosure causes an information processing device for providing a game with a matching function to a user to execute a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner mutually public according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0009] The information processing method relating to this disclosure is an information processing method for providing a game having a matching function to a user, and involves causing a computer to execute: a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0010] Furthermore, the information processing device relating to this disclosure is an information processing device for providing a game having a matching function to a user, and comprises: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0011] The information processing system relating to this disclosure is an information processing system for providing a game having a matching function to a user, comprising: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0012] This is a schematic diagram showing an information processing system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a functional block diagram of a game server according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing an example of information contained in the storage unit of a game server according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a functional block diagram of a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a diagram showing a specific example of a game screen displayed on a user terminal according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a flowchart showing interaction support processing by an information processing system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a flowchart showing penalty application processing by an information processing system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. This is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a computer.

[0013] Hereinafter, an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings illustrating the embodiments, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted.

[0014] <System Configuration> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] The information processing system 1 includes a game server 100 and a plurality of user terminals 300 (300(1), 300(2),..., 300(N)). The game server 100 and the user terminals 300 are connected to a network NW and can communicate with each other via the network NW. The network NW includes the Internet. The network NW may include a LAN (Local Area Network) and / or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0016] The game server 100 and the user terminals 300 are information processing devices each composed of one or more computers 900. The basic configuration of the computer 900 will be described later.

[0017] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the game server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The game server 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a processing unit 130. The game server 100 is a server that provides a game G to user terminals 300 accessed via the network NW. In the present embodiment, the user terminal 300 is a smartphone, and the following description will be given by taking as an example the case where the user installs and uses the application of the game G on the user terminal 300.

[0018] The game G is a simulation game in which the user can display and progress the activities of their own avatar in a virtual space. In the game G, the user can develop their own virtual space assigned to each user, or visit the virtual spaces of other users and the virtual spaces shared by multiple users to perform collaborative work. The game G also has a matching function between users who play the game G. In the present embodiment, the game G will be described as providing a sandbox cultivation game that cultivates a user-exclusive sandbox where only the user can perform work and a shared sandbox where users can perform collaborative work.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen D100 as an example of a screen of game G displayed on user terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The outline of game G will be described using FIG. 3.

[0020] As shown in screen D100 of FIG. 3, game G according to this embodiment is a sandbox cultivation game that cultivates a dedicated sandbox D120 where only the user can perform operations and a shared sandbox D130 where matched users can perform collaborative operations. Avatar DA1 displayed on screen D100 corresponds to the user (Haruto) who is the owner of dedicated sandbox D120, and operations such as moving within dedicated sandbox D120 and shared sandbox D130 are performed by operating the user (Haruto) who is the owner of dedicated sandbox D120. Avatar DA2 corresponds to another user (Hinata) who is a matching partner, and operations such as moving avatar DA2 within shared sandbox D130 are performed by operating the other user (Hinata).

[0021] Dedicated sandbox D120 is a sandbox dedicated to each user and is displayed only on the user terminal 300 of that user. In dedicated sandbox D120, a field D121 and a house D122 are provided as work areas, and the user can perform cultivation work on dedicated sandbox D120, such as growing and harvesting harvested items D123 in field D121 through avatar DA1, selling the harvested harvested items D123 and exchanging them for currency, or repairing house D122. And the harvested harvested items D123 can obtain currency that is valid within game G by selling within game G. The obtained currency can be exchanged for items used for cultivating dedicated sandbox D120 and shared sandbox D130, decorations for one's own avatar DA1, etc. Also, by performing these cultivation operations, the user's personal experience value (GP) is given. Dedicated sandbox D120 is continuous with shared sandbox D130 by bridge D140, and avatar DA1 can freely move back and forth between dedicated sandbox D120 and shared sandbox D130 through this bridge D140.

[0022] The shared garden D130 is displayed on the user terminals 300 of both the user (Haruto), who owns the private garden D120, and the other user (Hinata), who is his matching partner. The shared garden D130 has a work area consisting of a field D131 and a house D132. The user (Haruto) and the other user (Hinata), his matching partner, can perform various collaborative tasks in cultivating the shared garden D130 through their respective avatars DA1 and DA2, such as growing and harvesting crops D133 in the field D131, selling the harvested crops D133 for currency, and repairing the house D132 within the shared garden D130. The harvested crops D133, like crops D123, can be sold in-game to obtain in-game currency and can also be exchanged for various items and decorations. In addition, the user and his matching partner are awarded shared experience points (LGP) for performing these cultivation tasks.

[0023] Collaborative tasks within the shared sandbox D130 can be completed by performing a single task, or by performing multiple tasks. Each task can be performed by either the user (Haruto) or the other matching user (Hinata). For example, in a collaborative task consisting of five tasks, the user (Haruto) can perform the first two tasks, and the other user (Hinata) can perform the remaining three. Furthermore, each task is not limited to when both users (Haruto) and the other user (Hinata) are logged in simultaneously; it can also be performed by only one user (Haruto) when the other user (Hinata) is logged out.

[0024] The collaborative work that takes place within the shared garden D130 includes multiple collaborative quests presented sequentially from Game G. Collaborative quests are tasks that the user and their matched partner work on together. By progressing through the collaborative quests, new areas of the shared garden D130 will be unlocked, and the types of crops and / or animals that can be grown will increase. Collaborative work is not limited to collaborative quests; it also includes tasks that the user (Haruto) and / or their matched partner (Hinata) undertake independently.

[0025] Furthermore, Avatar DA2 can freely move between the shared sandbox D130 and other private sandboxes, which are not displayed to the user (Haruto) who owns the private sandbox D120, a separate private sandbox prepared for other users (Hinata) who are compatible with Avatar DA2. These other private sandboxes are only displayed on the user terminal 300 of the other user (Hinata) who is compatible with Avatar DA2, and are therefore not displayed on the user's screen D100 shown in Figure 3.

[0026] Furthermore, above screen D100, there is a user information area D110 that displays information about the user (Haruto). The user information area D110 displays the user (Haruto)'s avatar DA1 icon, username, level, personal experience points (GP), etc. In addition, below screen D100, there is a menu area DMN that displays various menu buttons. By selecting (clicking or tapping) a menu button in this menu area DMN, the user (Haruto) can display various operation items and menu items within the game G.

[0027] In this way, Game G is a game in which users (Haruto) and other matched users (Hinata) can interact and deepen their relationship by working together simultaneously or in divided tasks in a shared sandbox D130 that is shared only between them.

[0028] Returning to Figure 2, let's explain the functions of the game server 100. The communication unit 110 is a network interface and communicates with the user terminal 300 via the network NW. The communication unit 110 passes the data received from the user terminal 300 to the processing unit 130, and also transmits the data generated by the processing unit 130 to the user terminal 300.

[0029] The storage unit 120 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk and / or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 120 stores information about the game G, user information, co-op quest information, specified profile information, specified question information, application programs, etc., which are necessary for the game server 100 to function.

[0030] Figure 4 shows examples of information included in user information, collaborative quest information, prescribed profile information, and prescribed question information stored in the memory unit 120.

[0031] User information includes basic information, matching information, profile response information, and player data.

[0032] Basic information includes user ID, username, avatar information, age, and gender. Basic information is, in principle, publicly available to all other users. Avatar information refers to the user's avatar within the game G, and includes the character and equipment / accessories. Users can select their character and equipment / accessories on the user settings screen (not shown).

[0033] Matching information is information managed for each user regarding the matching function provided by Game G. Matching information includes the maximum number, the number of registered matches, and the match partner information. The maximum number indicates the maximum number of matching slots in which a match partner can be registered, and includes the maximum number and the current number. The maximum number is a value common to all users in Game G, for example, 4 slots. The current number fluctuates within a range from 0 to the maximum number, depending on the user's progress in Game G and / or the completion of certain conditions. When starting a new Game G, the current number is set to be smaller than the maximum number. The number of registered matches indicates the number of registered match partners. Match partner information is information managed for each user's match partner. Match partner information includes the match partner's user ID, matching status, intimacy level, shared experience points, shared garden information, joint quest progress information, chat history between the user and the match partner, and question and answer information. The status indicates the matching status and includes friend, couple, etc. Initially, the status is "Friend," and it can transition to "Couple" through mutual approval. A couple can only be formed with one matching partner. Intimacy is a value that increases or decreases depending on the interaction with the matching partner in the game G. Shared experience points are information indicating the amount of experience points shared between the user and the matching partner, earned through work in the shared sandbox. In the diagram, this may be abbreviated as LGP. Shared sandbox information is information about the shared sandbox shared with the matching partner as described above. Shared quest progress information is information indicating the progress of the shared quests with the matching partner as described above. Specifically, the shared quest ID of completed shared quests is stored. Chat history is information about the chat history between the user and the matching partner. Question and answer information is information indicating the user's answers to the question items identified by the question ID of the prescribed question information described later. The question ID of the question and answer information is relationally linked to the question ID of the prescribed question information.

[0034] Profile response information is information (profile responses) that indicates the user's answers to profile items identified by the profile ID of the predefined profile information described later. The profile ID of the profile information is relationally linked to the profile ID of the predefined profile information. The game server 100 retrieves and stores profile responses for each profile item from the user's user terminal 300 at the user's discretion. Users are encouraged to register a certain number of profile items in advance.

[0035] Player data is information managed for each user, including their level in the game G (sometimes indicated as Lv. in the diagram), their private sandbox information, their personal experience points (sometimes indicated as GP in the diagram), currency, and rewards / items. Private sandbox information indicates the progress of the user's private sandbox.

[0036] Cooperative quest information includes the cooperative quest ID, cooperative quest items, and unlocked targets, and is managed for each cooperative quest. The cooperative quest items are information that indicates the content of the cooperative quest. The unlocked targets are information that indicates what will be unlocked (made public) to the user and the matching partner upon completion of the cooperative quest. The unlocked targets are communication support information, and communication support information includes profile answer information, prescribed question information, and question answer information. By linking the unlocked targets to cooperative quests, information that supports communication can be sequentially revealed to each other as the cooperative quest progresses.

[0037] Default profile information includes a profile ID and profile items, and is managed for each profile. A profile is a user's self-introduction information. The default profile information is pre-programmed by the operator of Game G, with multiple profile items stored in the system. Specifically, profile items include, for example, place of residence, blood type, educational background, annual income, hobbies, personality, values, etc. Other specific examples will be explained in the screen examples below.

[0038] The standardized question information includes the question ID and the question item, and is managed for each question in Game G's private question function (hereinafter referred to as "private question"). The standardized question information is pre-stored by the Game G operator with multiple question items. The private question function is a function that allows users and their matched partners to get to know each other more deeply by asking various questions (private questions) from Game G according to the progress of Game G, obtaining answers from each party, and then making them mutually public at a predetermined time. Private questions cover a wide range of topics, such as values, views on love and life, and some include content that is a little more personal. Other specific examples of private questions will be explained in the screen examples below. The order in which private questions are presented is set according to the progress of the game and / or the level of intimacy, starting with lighter content in the first half and progressing to "content that is difficult to ask yourself but that you want to ask your matched partner about" in the second half.

[0039] Returning to Figure 2, the processing unit 130 comprises, as functional units, a game provision unit 131, a matching management unit 132, a quest management unit 133, an interaction support unit 134, a penalty management unit 135, and a reward management unit 136. The processing unit 130 realizes each of these functional units by executing the application program stored in the memory unit 120, and performs interaction support processing and penalty imposition processing. The interaction support processing is the process of making at least one of the following available to the user and the matching partner as communication support information upon completion of a joint quest in game G: profile answers, private question items, and private question answers. It performs a series of processes including quest completion determination, reward imposition process, and information disclosure process, which will be described later. The penalty imposition processing is the process when a user cancels a matching partner in game G. It performs a series of processes including upper limit determination and penalty imposition process, which will be described later. Details of these processes will be described later.

[0040] The game provision unit 131 provides the user terminal 300 with a game G that can be played by multiple users logging in via their respective user terminals 300.

[0041] The matching management unit 132 manages the matching between users who play the game G.

[0042] The matching management unit 132 executes the registration and cancellation of matching partners according to the operations and requests of the users.

[0043] The matching management unit 132 accepts the registration of matching partners up to a predetermined upper limit number of matching frames for each user.

[0044] The registration of a matching partner is, for example, when user A applies for matching to user B and user B approves, the matching is established and registered in the vacant matching frames of each other. Specifically, when the matching is established, the matching management unit 132 newly creates matching partner information identified by the user ID of the matching partner and a shared sandbox in the user information of the storage unit 120. If the matching frame of either user A or user B is not vacant (already reached the current upper limit number), neither can be registered.

[0045] The cancellation of a matching partner is, for example, executed when user C selects a decision from the cancellation application screen for user D who is user C's matching partner. After the cancellation is executed, they are mutually deleted from the matching frames of user C and user D.

[0046] The quest management unit 133 presents a joint quest to the user and the matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest (quest management function). Specifically, the quest management unit 133 sequentially presents the content of the joint quest items identified by the joint quest ID of the joint quest information in the storage unit 120 to the user and the matching partner according to the progress and / or intimacy of the shared sandbox of the user and the matching partner. Also, the quest management unit 133 stores the progress of the joint quest item in the joint quest progress information of the matching partner information in the storage unit 120.

[0047] The communication support unit 134 supports communication among users of the game G. Specifically, in order to gradually and continuously promote communication between a user and a matching partner, the communication support unit 134 sequentially discloses information (communication support information) including the humanity (personality) of the user according to the progress of the game G.

[0048] The communication support unit 134 presents each profile item of the defined profile information in the storage unit 120 to the user, obtains a profile response, which is a response to each profile item from the user, and stores it in the profile response information in the storage unit 120. Then, the communication support unit 134 sequentially discloses the profile response information of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the achievement status of the joint quest (profile disclosure function). Specifically, for example, when user E and user F, who is the matching partner of user E, clear a predetermined joint quest, if a profile response of a predetermined profile item (for example, "intention of marriage") is specified as the disclosure target of the predetermined joint quest, the profile response (for example, "within a few years") of the predetermined profile item of user E is made viewable to user F, and the profile response (for example, "haven't thought about it for a while") of the predetermined profile item of user F is made viewable to user E (opened) so that they can view each other's responses.

[0049] The communication support unit 134 also sequentially discloses the private question items stored in the prescribed question information of the memory unit 120 to the user and the matching partner, depending on the progress of the joint quest. The communication support unit 134 then obtains answers to each item of the private question from the user and / or the matching partner and stores them in the question answer information of the memory unit 120. The communication support unit 134 sequentially discloses the question answer information of the user and the matching partner to each other, depending on the progress of the joint quest. Specifically, for example, if user E and user F, who is user E's matching partner, complete a predetermined joint quest, and a predetermined private question item (for example, "Is there anything you want to ask the other person that's a little difficult to ask?") is designated as an item to be unlocked for that predetermined joint quest, the communication support unit 134 discloses the question item to both user E and user F and prompts them to input their profile answers. Furthermore, if, after the question item in question is made public, another collaborative quest is completed and the answer information for that question item is specified as an unlockable item, then User E's answer to that question item (for example, "Do you like games?") will be made viewable (unlocked) to User F, and User F's answer to that question item (for example, "Do you have any pet allergies?") will be made viewable (unlocked) to User E.

[0050] The penalty management unit 135 imposes a predetermined penalty on a user if the user cancels the registration of any matching partner (penalty imposition function). In this case, the penalty management unit 135 does not impose a penalty on the matching partner whose registration was canceled.

[0051] The penalty management unit 135 may impose a predetermined penalty on a user if the number of registered matching partners of the user reaches a predetermined upper limit, specifically the current upper limit, and the user cancels the registration of any matching partner.

[0052] The reward management unit 136 manages in-game rewards that users can acquire and use in game G. In-game rewards include experience points, currency usable within game G, and rewards and items that can be owned or used within the game.

[0053] The reward management unit 136 grants in-game rewards to the matched partner when a user completes a co-op quest. Specifically, when a user completes a co-op quest by performing the final of several work steps, the reward management unit 136 grants currency and / or reward items to both the user and the matched partner, in addition to granting shared experience points.

[0054] The reward management unit 136 may change the reward distribution rate / evaluation rate for co-op quests according to the level of intimacy between the user and their matching partner. The reward management unit 136 may also change the reward distribution rate / evaluation rate for co-op quests given to the matching partner according to the user's game level G. For example, if the matching partner is a higher-level user, the opportunity to obtain higher rewards and / or rarer items may increase compared to when the matching partner is a relatively lower-level user.

[0055] The reward management unit 136 may calculate the ranking of the user and matching partner pair in Game G based on the progress of Game G, specifically the progress of the cultivation work in the shared garden D130, and may adjust the amount of in-game rewards awarded according to the ranking. More specifically, the amount of in-game rewards awarded may be adjusted based on the ranking of shared experience points (LGP). In addition, the reward management unit 136 may provide items that can only be obtained by the user and the matching partner, according to the intimacy level between the user and the matching partner.

[0056] Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of a user terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The user terminal 300 comprises a communication unit 310, a storage unit 320, a control unit 330, a display unit 340, and an operation unit 350. The communication unit 310, storage unit 320, control unit 330, display unit 340, and operation unit 350 are electrically connected to each other via a communication bus 360. The user terminal 300 is a terminal that allows a user to play game G alone or together with other users using other user terminals 300 by accessing the game server 100 via an installed program, such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

[0057] <Screen Example> Next, a specific example of a game G provided to a user terminal 300 by a game server 100 having the above-described configuration and functions will be explained using a screen example.

[0058] Figures 6 to 13 show example screens D200 to D900 of the game G displayed on the user terminal 300 of a user (Haruto) according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0059] The screen D200 shown in Figure 6 is the matching management screen for game G. Screen D200 contains a user information area D210 that displays user (Haruto) information, a matching frame area D220 that displays the user's matching frame, and a menu area DMN that displays the menu for game G. The matching management screen D200 can be displayed by selecting the transition to the matching management screen from the menu button in the menu area DMN that is displayed on various screens.

[0060] The user information area D210 contains the user (Haruto)'s avatar icon DA1, basic user information such as username (Haruto), age (34 years old), and gender (male), player data (level 20), and a profile button. By selecting (tapping or clicking) the profile button, the user (Haruto) can transition to a screen displaying the user's (Haruto's) profile information. The matching frame area D220 contains four matching frames D221, D222, D223, and D224. Matching frame D221 displays information about the first matching partner (Hinata) registered by the user (Haruto). Matching frame D222 displays information about the second matching partner (Aoi) registered by the user (Haruto). Matching frame D223 indicates that it is possible to register a new matching partner, but no matching partner has been registered yet. The user (Haruto) can transition to a screen (not shown) where he can apply for a match with a new partner by selecting matching slot D223. Matching slot D224 indicates that it is currently unavailable (matching slot not yet unlocked). The user (Haruto) can unlock matching slot D224 by fulfilling certain conditions, specifically by progressing through game G or by paying game G points, etc. Matching slot D221 contains the icon of the first matching partner (Hinata)'s avatar DA2, status (friend), common points (LGP: 265), intimacy level (B+), and progress of the joint quest. The joint quest progress section contains information on the ongoing joint quest (Let's continue harvesting turnips), information on the completed joint quest (Finished! Planting flowers), and an evaluation button to send an evaluation to the matching partner regarding the progress. The user (Haruto) can proceed to the shared garden D130 screen with their first matchmaking partner (Hinata) by selecting the "Turnip Harvest" button to continue the ongoing co-op quest.Similarly, in matching slot D222, the icon of the second matching partner (Aoi)'s avatar DA3, status (friend), shared points (LGP: 965), intimacy level (D-), and progress of the joint quest are displayed. The joint quest progress displays information on the ongoing joint quest (Let's continue watering the field), information on the completed joint quest (Finished! Harvesting chestnuts), and a rating button. Similarly, the user (Haruto) can transition to the shared garden screen D130 with the second matching partner (Aoi) by selecting the "Harvesting Chestnuts" button.

[0061] The screen D300 shown in Figure 7 is the quest management screen for managing quests in game G. Screen D300 contains a user information area DUI that displays user (Haruto) information, a quest list area D310 that displays a list of quests, and a menu area DMN. The quest management screen D300 can be displayed by selecting the transition to the quest management screen from the menu button in the menu area DMN that is displayed on various screens. The user information area DUI contains the user (Haruto) avatar icon DA1, username (Haruto), and player data (level 20 GP965). The quest list area D310 contains tabs to switch between "private sandbox" and "shared sandbox". Figure 7 shows the state where the shared sandbox with the first matching partner (Hinata) is selected. Below the tabs are quest content areas D311, D312, and D313 that show the contents of each joint quest. In quest area D311, the instructions for the collaborative quest, "Harvest 50 spinach plants in the shared garden together," along with the reward, a gauge showing the progress of the work process, and a "Plant" button to transition to the shared garden to advance the collaborative quest. In quest area D312, the instructions for the collaborative quest, "Send a message from Haruto," along with the reward, a gauge, and a "Send" button to transition to a chat screen where the user (Haruto) can send a message to their matched partner (Hinata). In quest area D313, the instructions for the collaborative quest, "Send a message from Hinata," along with the reward and a gauge, are located.

[0062] The screen D400 shown in Figure 8 is a screen that includes a pop-up area D410 that notifies the user that a profile has been made public. The pop-up area D410 displays that the user's (Haruto's) answer to the "Intention to Marriage" profile item of their matched partner (Hinata) has been made public as a result of completing the joint quest. The user (Haruto) may select (tap, etc.) the "Confirm" button in the pop-up area D410 to proceed to screen D500, which displays the profile information of their matched partner (Hinata).

[0063] The screen D500 shown in Figure 9 is a screen that includes a pop-up area D510 that displays the profile information of the matching partner (Hinata). The pop-up area D510 displays a list of profile items and the matching partner's (Hinata's) answers that are publicly available to the user (Haruto).

[0064] The screen D600 shown in Figure 10 is a screen that includes a pop-up area D610 for canceling registration in the matching management screen. The pop-up area D610 displays content confirming that the user (Haruto) will cancel the friendship (cancel the match) with their matching partner (Aoi). When the user (Haruto) selects the OK button in the pop-up area D610, the registration of both the user (Haruto) and the matching partner (Aoi) is canceled. When the user (Haruto) selects the OK button, the game server 100 executes the penalty application process described later, and if it is determined that a penalty should be applied to the user (Haruto), the screen transitions to the screen D700 shown in Figure 11.

[0065] The screen D700 shown in Figure 11 includes a pop-up area D710 that notifies the user of a penalty for the matching slot. The pop-up area D710 displays that the matching slot for which registration was canceled will be restricted until a specified date and time. The user (Haruto) can also make the restricted matching slot available again in exchange for certain points or items.

[0066] The screen D800 shown in Figure 12 is a screen that includes a pop-up area D810 that notifies the user that a private question has been made public. The pop-up area D810 displays that the answer to the private question "Is there anything you want to ask the other person that's a little hard to ask?" has been made public as a result of completing the joint quest. The user (Haruto) may also proceed to screen D900, which displays the answer to the private question from his matching partner (Hinata), by selecting the "Confirm" button in the pop-up area D810.

[0067] The screen D900 shown in Figure 13 is a screen that includes a pop-up area D910 that displays the answers to the private questions. The pop-up area D910 displays the questions of the private questions and the answers from both the user (Haruto) and the matching partner (Hinata).

[0068] <System Operation> Next, the operation of the game server 100 of the information processing system 1 having the above-described configuration and functions will be explained using a flowchart. In the following explanation, it will be assumed that user A (for example, "Haruto" shown in Figure 7) is using user terminal 300, and user A is in the process of matching with user B (for example, "Hinata" shown in Figure 7) in game G (status: friend).

[0069] Figure 14 is a flowchart showing the communication support processing by the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0070] In step S101, the game server 100 provides the game G to the user terminal 300.

[0071] In step S102, the quest management unit 133 of the game server 100 presents the user and their matching partner with the next joint quest to be completed, based on the matching partner information of user A and user B, and the joint quest information. The user and their matching partner then jointly complete the presented joint quest. The quest management unit 133 updates the joint quest progress information in response to the actions of user A and / or user B.

[0072] In step S103, the quest management unit 133 of the game server 100 determines whether the co-op quest presented in step S102 has been completed (quest completion determination) if the progress information of the co-op quest presented in step S102 has been updated. If the determination result is true (YES), i.e., the co-op quest has been completed, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if the determination result is false (NO), i.e., the co-op quest has not been completed, step S103 is repeated.

[0073] In step S104, that is, if the joint quest presented in step S102 is completed, the reward management unit 136 of the game server 100 grants in-game rewards to the user and the matching partner (reward granting step). This reward granting step may be omitted depending on the reward settings of the joint quest.

[0074] In step S105, the interaction support unit 134 of the game server 100 discloses the unlocked targets associated with the joint quest presented in step S102 to the user and the matching partner (information disclosure step), and then terminates the flow.

[0075] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the penalty imposition process by the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure. The penalty imposition process is applied when a user cancels the registration of a matching partner.

[0076] In step S201, the game provision unit 131 of the game server 100 provides the game G to the user's user terminal 300.

[0077] In step S202, the matchmaking management unit 132 of the game server 100 accepts a request from the user to unregister a matchmaking partner specified by the user, in response to the user's operation.

[0078] In step S203, the matching management unit 132 of the game server 100 refers to the user's matching partner information in the storage unit 120 and determines whether the number of registered matching partners for the user, including the matching partner for whom registration cancellation was requested in step S102, is equal to the current upper limit (upper limit determination). If the determination result is true (YES), that is, the number of registered matching partners for the user is equal to the current upper limit, the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if the determination result is false (NO), that is, the number of registered matching partners for the user is not equal to the current upper limit, the process proceeds to step S205.

[0079] In step S204, that is, if the number of registered matching partners for the user is equal to the current maximum number, the penalty management unit 135 of the game server 100 imposes a penalty on the user (penalty imposition step).

[0080] In step S205, the matchmaking management unit 132 of the game server 100 mutually cancels the registration of the user and the matching partner specified by the user in step S202, and terminates the flow.

[0081] <Basic Configuration of the Computer> Figure 16 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of computer 900. Computer 900 includes a control unit 901, a storage unit 902, a communication unit 903, an input unit 904, and an output unit 905. The control unit 901, storage unit 902, communication unit 903, input unit 904, and output unit 905 are electrically connected to each other via a communication bus 910.

[0082] The control unit 901 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit, also called a processor) and controls various parts of the computer 900, as well as reading and executing various programs stored in the storage unit 902.

[0083] The storage unit 902 includes a main memory such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk, and is a device for storing various programs for running the operating system or various applications of the computer 900, and data used by these programs. The processes shown in the flowcharts described above are realized by the control units 901 of each computer constituting the game server 100 and the user terminal 300 executing the programs stored in their respective storage units 902.

[0084] The communication unit 903 is a device for communicating with external devices and sends and receives data according to instructions from the control unit 901. Each computer constituting the game server 100 and the user terminal 300 uses this communication unit 903 to communicate with other devices, including the network NW shown in Figure 1.

[0085] The input unit 904 is a device that receives input from the outside and supplies it to the control unit 901, and is composed of, for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, and camera. The output unit 905 is a device that outputs the processing results of the control unit 901 to the outside, and is composed of, for example, a display and speaker.

[0086] <Program> Here, the program for realizing each functional unit of the game server 100 according to this embodiment will be described. The game server 100 is implemented on the computer 900. The operation of each component of the game server 100 is stored in the auxiliary storage device of the storage unit 902 in the form of a program. The control unit 901 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device of the storage unit 902, expands it into the main memory of the storage unit 902, and executes the above processing according to the program. The control unit 901 also reserves a storage area corresponding to the storage unit 120 in the main memory of the storage unit 902 according to the program.

[0087] Specifically, the program is a program to be executed on a computer 900, which comprises a processor and a memory unit, for providing a game with a matching function to a user. The program causes the computer to execute a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters a matching partner.

[0088] The auxiliary storage device of the storage unit 902 is an example of a tangible medium that is not temporary. Other examples of tangible mediums that are not temporary include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and semiconductor memory connected via the input unit 904. Furthermore, if this program is distributed to the computer 900 via a network NW, the computer 900 that receives the program may load it into the main memory of the storage unit 902 and execute the above processing.

[0089] Furthermore, the program may be intended to implement some of the functions described above. In addition, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that implements the functions described above in combination with other programs already stored in the auxiliary storage device of the memory unit 902.

[0090] According to the information processing system 1 of this embodiment described above, when a user unregisters a matching partner, a predetermined penalty is imposed on the user who unregistered the partner. This prevents users from arbitrarily changing matching partners and encourages them to continue interacting with their registered matching partners. Furthermore, by sequentially releasing profiles, private questions, and answers to private questions according to the game's progress, continuous interaction is supported, and opportunities to get to know matching partners more deeply can be provided. Additionally, staggering the timing of posing private questions and the timing of releasing the answers obtained from users for those questions motivates continued use of the service. In this way, by gradually releasing information about matching partners, continuous topics of conversation and / or the revelation of unexpected aspects of their personalities can be provided, enabling the building of more intimate and lasting relationships. In other words, it can promote and support interaction between specific users through the game G.

[0091] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted.

[0092] For example, in the above embodiment, the joint quest was an activity performed jointly by the user and the matching partner, but it may also be a task where the user and / or the matching partner's experience points in the game exceed a predetermined value.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a shared sandbox was generated for each matching partner whose status is "friend," but a shared sandbox may be generated only for matching partners whose status is "couple." In other words, a user may be allowed to have a shared sandbox only with matching partners whose status is "couple."

[0094] Alternatively, the upper limit determination step (step S203) for the penalty imposition process in the above embodiment may be omitted, and a penalty may be imposed for unregistering all matching partners. This provides a stricter deterrent against unregistering.

[0095] The game provider unit 131 may provide a sub-game SG within the game G. The game provider unit 131 may provide a sub-game SG that can only be played by the user and their matching partner. The game provider unit 131 may provide a sub-game SG that can only be played by a pair of users and their matching partner whose status is "couple".

[0096] Furthermore, the above-described operation flows can be performed not only independently but also in combination of two or more operation flows. For example, some steps of one operation flow may be added to another operation flow, or some steps of one operation flow may be replaced with some steps of another operation flow. It is not necessary to execute all steps in each flow; only some steps may be executed. Also, the order of steps in each flow may be changed as appropriate.

[0097] (Other Embodiments) The above-described operation flows are not limited to being performed separately and independently; two or more operation flows can be combined and performed. For example, some steps of one operation flow may be added to another operation flow, or some steps of one operation flow may be replaced with some steps of another operation flow. It is not necessary to execute all steps in each flow; only some steps may be executed. Also, the order of steps in each flow may be changed as appropriate.

[0098] A program may be provided that causes a computer to execute each of the processes according to the above embodiment. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. Using a computer-readable medium, it is possible to install the program on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient storage medium. The non-transient storage medium is not particularly limited, but may be a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. Furthermore, the circuits that execute each of the processes performed by the apparatus according to the above embodiment may be integrated, and at least a part of the apparatus may be configured as a semiconductor integrated circuit (chipset, SoC).

[0099] The functions realized by the apparatus according to the above-described embodiment may be implemented in a circuit or processing circuit, including a general-purpose processor, application-specific processor, integrated circuit, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPU (a Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, which are programmed to realize the described functions. The processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered a circuit or processing circuit. The processor may be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in memory. In this disclosure, circuit, unit, and means are hardware programmed to realize or execute the described functions. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein, or any hardware known to be programmed to perform or execute the functions described herein. If the hardware is a processor that is considered to be of the type of circuit, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to constitute the hardware and / or processor.

[0100] The phrases “based on” and “depending on / in response to” as used in this disclosure do not mean “based solely on” or “in response solely” unless otherwise specified. “Based on” means both “based solely on” and “at least partially on.” Similarly, “depending” means both “at least partially on” and “at least partially on.” The terms “include,” “comprise,” and variations thereof do not mean that they include only the listed items, but may include only the listed items or may include additional items in addition to the listed items. Furthermore, the term “or” as used in this disclosure is not intended to mean exclusive OR. Additionally, any reference to elements using designations such as “first,” “second,” etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used herein as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Therefore, references to the first and second elements do not imply that only two elements may be adopted therein, or that the first element must precede the second element in any way. In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, these articles shall be plural unless it is clearly indicated from the context that they are not.

[0101] Although the embodiments have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to those described above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0102] (Note) The features of the above-described embodiment are noted below.

[0103] (Note 1) A program that causes an information processing device for providing a game with a matching function to a user to execute: a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner mutually public according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner. This makes it possible to encourage continued interaction with existing matching partners. In other words, it is possible to promote and support interaction between specific users through a game with a matching function.

[0104] (Note 2) The matching function allows registration of matching partners up to a predetermined upper limit, and the penalty management process is the program described in Note 1, which imposes the predetermined penalty on the user if the number of matching partners registered by the user reaches the upper limit and the user cancels the registration of a matching partner.

[0105] (Note 3) The penalty management process is the program described in Note 1, which does not impose the penalty on the matching partner.

[0106] (Note 4) The program described in Note 1 or 2, which further causes the information processing device to execute a reward management process that grants a reward to the matching partner when the user completes the joint quest. This can improve motivation to progress through the joint quest as the matching partner can also be contributed to.

[0107] (Note 5) The reward management process is the program described in Note 4, which varies the amount of the reward according to the relationship value between the user and the matching partner. By increasing the reward when the status is couple rather than friend, it can motivate users to deepen their interaction to become a couple from friends, and improve their motivation to progress through joint quests.

[0108] (Note 6) The interaction support process is a program described in any of Notes 1 to 5 that makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner public when the user's and / or the matching partner's game experience points reach a predetermined value or higher. This makes it possible to improve motivation to progress through the joint quest by including joint quests other than the joint sandbox work.

[0109] (Note 7) The interaction support process is the program described in Note 1, which makes a set of pre-prepared questions available to the user and the matching partner according to the progress of the joint quest. This can improve motivation to progress through the joint quest. In addition, since the game G can prepare questions in advance that can serve as a starting point for deepening interaction, it is possible to promote interaction even for users who are not good at interacting.

[0110] (Note 8) The interaction support process is the program described in Note 7, which obtains answers to the question from the user and / or the matching partner, and, depending on the progress of the joint quest, makes the user's answer public to the matching partner and the matching partner's answer public to the user. This makes it possible to improve motivation to progress in the joint quest by staggering the timing of asking (publishing) the question and the timing of publishing the answer to that question.

[0111] (Note 9) The aforementioned joint quest is a program described in any of Notes 1 to 8, which is an in-game task carried out jointly by the user and the matching partner. The user and the matching partner can deepen their understanding of each other's personalities through information sharing via chat, etc., and / or the way they proceed with their joint work.

[0112] (Note 10) The reward management process is the program described in Note 4, which calculates the ranking of the user and the matching partner in the game and varies the amount of the reward according to the ranking. This can increase the motivation to progress through the joint quest in order to improve the ranking.

[0113] (Note 11) The reward management process is the program described in Note 4, which provides items that can only be obtained by the user and the matching partner, according to the level of intimacy between the user and the matching partner. This can increase the motivation to progress through joint quests in order to obtain rare items.

[0114] (Note 12) The reward management process is the program described in Note 4, which varies the amount of reward given to the matching partner in the game according to the user's level in the game.

[0115] (Note 13) A program according to any one of Notes 1 to 12 that causes the information processing device to further execute a game provision process that provides a subgame that can be played only by the user and the matching partner.

[0116] (Note 14) An information processing method for providing a game having a matching function to a user, the method comprising: a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner mutually public according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0117] (Note 15) An information processing device for providing a game having a matching function to a user, comprising: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

[0118] (Note 16) An information processing system for providing a game having a matching function to a user, comprising: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

Claims

1. A program that causes an information processing device for providing a game with a matching function to a user to execute: a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner mutually public according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the matching function allows registration of matching partners up to a predetermined upper limit, and the penalty management process imposes the predetermined penalty on the user if the number of matching partners registered by the user reaches the upper limit and the user cancels the registration of a matching partner.

3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the penalty management process does not impose the penalty on the matching partner.

4. The program according to claim 1, further comprising: causing the information processing device to execute a reward management process that grants a reward to the matching partner when the user completes the joint quest.

5. The program according to claim 4, wherein the reward management process varies the amount of the reward according to the relationship value between the user and the matching partner.

6. The program according to claim 1, wherein the interaction support process makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner public when the user's and / or the matching partner's game experience points reach a predetermined value or higher.

7. The program according to claim 1, wherein the interaction support process discloses a set of pre-prepared questions to the user and the matching partner according to the progress of the joint quest.

8. The program according to claim 7, wherein the interaction support process obtains answers to the questions from the user and / or the matching partner, and, depending on the completion status of the joint quest, discloses the user's answers to the matching partner and discloses the matching partner's answers to the user.

9. The program according to claim 1, wherein the joint quest is an in-game task carried out jointly by the user and the matching partner.

10. The program according to claim 4, wherein the reward management process calculates the rankings of the user and the matching partner in the game, and varies the amount of the reward according to the ranking.

11. The reward management process provides items that can only be obtained by the user and the matching partner, according to the level of intimacy between the user and the matching partner, as described in claim 4.

12. The program according to claim 4, wherein the reward management process varies the amount of the reward to the matching partner in the game according to the user's game level.

13. The program according to claim 1, which further causes the information processing device to execute a game provision process that provides a sub-game that can be played only by the user and the matching partner.

14. An information processing method for providing a game having a matching function to a user, the method comprising: a quest provision process that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support process that sequentially makes multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner mutually public according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management process that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

15. An information processing device for providing a game having a matching function to a user, comprising: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

16. An information processing system for providing a game with a matching function to a user, comprising: a quest provision unit that presents a joint quest to the user and the user's matching partner and manages the progress of the joint quest; an interaction support unit that sequentially discloses multiple profiles of the user and the matching partner to each other according to the progress of the joint quest; and a penalty management unit that imposes a predetermined penalty on the user if the user unregisters the matching partner.

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