JP7670956B2 - Information processing device, information processing method, program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method , a program , and an information processing system .

One example of an online game that multiple users can play together is a game in which a second user can provide a first user who controls an in-game character with items or in-game characters to assist or hinder the first user (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

In the game described in the above patent document, for example, a character operated by a first user moves within an area, and a second user throws a support item into the same area. Then, when the character operated by the first user moves within the area to the location of the item thrown by the second user, the effect of the support item is imparted to the first user.

JP 2018-171283 A Patent No. 6722316 Patent No. 6599080

In games like the one above, in which a controlled character is moved within an area, or more precisely, on a field within an area, there are cases where only a portion of the field (for example, a certain area including the controlled character) is displayed on the screen to the first user who is the operator. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of gameplay, it is preferable that the placement position of an item or the like (hereinafter referred to as an input object) inserted by the second user be freely determined on the field. However, in such cases, it is possible that the input object of the second user is present in a part of the field that is not displayed to the first user at a certain point in time. In such a situation, the presence of the input object may not be noticed by the first user, and the input object may not be used effectively (i.e., the operation of inserting the object by the second user may be wasted).

The present invention aims to provide an information processing device, information processing method, and program that can allow a first user to easily recognize the presence of an input object that is placed outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first user's screen.

An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first reception unit that receives a moving operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field, a second reception unit that receives an input operation performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user to input an input object on the field, and a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen that shows a portion of the field according to the moving operation, and is characterized in that when the position of the input object determined according to the input operation is outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the input object at a display position according to the position on the first screen.

According to one aspect of the present invention, even if the position of an object thrown onto the field by a second user is outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the presence of the thrown object can be easily made known to the first user. This allows the object thrown by the second user to be used effectively, and makes it possible to encourage the second user to participate in the game by throwing the object.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an area in a game. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a first screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second screen. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an information processing device and a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functions of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of user information related to a first user. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of user information related to a second user. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of input information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first terminal in which an input object is displayed on a first screen. The left diagram in FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged diagram of a field, and the right diagram is a diagram showing the first terminal on which a display object is displayed on the first screen (part 1). The left diagram in FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged diagram of a field, and the right diagram is a diagram (part 2) of the first terminal on which a display object is displayed on the first screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a first screen on which additional information is displayed together with a display object. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the first screen in which additional information is displayed together with a display object. FIG. 13 shows screen transitions at the start of a game. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by a server and a first terminal in information processing according to an embodiment of the present invention (part 1). FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by the server and the first terminal in the information processing according to one embodiment of the present invention (part 2). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by a server and a second terminal in information processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates screen transitions for purchasing an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as the present embodiment) shown in the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is merely one of the specific examples given to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention naturally includes its equivalents.
In addition, the screen examples shown in the drawings referenced in the following description are merely examples, and the screen configuration examples, the content of the information displayed, and the GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc. can be freely designed according to the content of the information processing, the design specifications of the system, and the user's preferences, and can be changed as appropriate.

[About the game according to this embodiment]
Prior to describing the information processing device according to this embodiment, a specific game (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "game") that can be played through the information processing device will be described. A game is content that a user plays by operating a game playing terminal while viewing a game screen on the terminal, and more specifically, is an online game that uses data communication. Here, online games can include, for example, social games that can be used with only a web browser and an SNS (Social Networking Service) account.

The game progresses by moving the controlled object on a field set within the area shown in FIG. 1 and clearing the area by reaching a specified position on the field or by defeating a specified enemy (an example of a specific object) that appears on the field. There are no particular limitations on the genre (classification) of the game.

Here, an "area" refers to an in-game space that is set up for the purpose of clearing, and is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space, and a "field" refers to an area that is set up within the area and in which the controlled object can move (the area with a gray floor in Figure 1).
An "operated object" is a game medium that moves on a field in response to the operation of a user playing a game (more specifically, a first user described below). The appearance (display image) of the operated object is not particularly limited, and can be set to any appearance according to the concept of the game. In the following, an example will be described in which the operated object is a human-shaped character.

Furthermore, on the field, the above-mentioned enemies (shown as black circles in FIG. 1) appear as objects other than the operated object, and auxiliary objects such as support items (shown as white triangles in FIG. 1) are placed. Note that the enemies and auxiliary objects may move on the field, or may be stationary at predetermined positions on the field.
Furthermore, in the game, an object to be thrown in can be added onto the field based on an operation by a user (more specifically, a second user, which will be described later). The object to be thrown in will be described in detail later.

The user progresses through the game by moving the controlled object while defeating enemies on the field and using auxiliary objects and thrown objects, and clears areas. In this embodiment, multiple areas are playable in the game, and a field is set for each area. When the user clears one area, the user moves to the next area and moves the controlled object on the field set in the area after the transition. However, there is no particular limit to the number of playable areas in the game, that is, the number of fields, and it may be just one.

In addition, in this embodiment, a user can play the game alone, or can play the game together with other users. In other words, the game is a cooperative play-compatible game (a so-called multiplayer game) in which multiple users can operate their own terminals to play in the same area.

In a cooperative game, each of the multiple users selects a role at the start of play and plays according to that role during the game. In this embodiment, there are two types of roles that each user can select, specifically, "object manipulation" and "play assistance." Object manipulation is the role of manipulating a manipulated object and moving it on the field, and a user who selects the role of object manipulation is hereinafter referred to as the "first user." Play assistance is the role of playing the game together with the first user and assisting the first user, and a user who selects the role of play assistance is hereinafter referred to as the "second user." Here, assisting the first user means playing the game from a different perspective than the first user and assisting the first user in playing the game (specifically, moving the manipulated object to progress in the game) through operations different from those of the first user (in other words, operations unique to the second user), thereby making the game progress advantageously for the first user.

In this embodiment, the minimum required number of first users (lower limit) is determined in advance, and joint play of the game can be started only when the number of first users equal to or greater than the lower limit is participating. On the other hand, no lower limit is set for the number of second users, and as long as the number of first users is equal to or greater than the lower limit, joint play of the game can be started with any number of second users, for example even if there is no second user. In addition, the maximum number of participants in joint play of the game for each of the first and second users is not particularly limited, but may be set, for example, to a number based on the game specifications.

While viewing the first screen G1 displayed on the first user's terminal (user terminal), the first user performs a movement operation on the terminal to move the operated object on the field. The first screen G1 is a screen that displays a portion of the field (the portion surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 1), specifically, a certain range of the field that includes the operated object, as shown in FIG. 2.

The first user checks the state and current position of his/her controlled object on the first screen G1, and performs a movement operation while looking at the first screen G1 as shown in FIG. 2. When a movement operation is performed, the controlled object moves on the field in response to the movement operation, and the range of the field displayed on the first screen G1 changes accordingly. In other words, the first screen G1 is a screen that displays a portion of the field in response to the movement operation, and the first user can only see a portion of the field while playing the game.

Incidentally, the first screen G1 shown in FIG. 2 is a screen in which a portion of the field is viewed from directly above the field, but is not limited to this, and the first screen G1 may be a screen in which a portion of the field is viewed from any angle (view angle), and the angle may be freely changeable by the first user.

Additionally, a parameter value is set for the first user in association with the first user. The parameter value is a value managed by the first user as the game progresses, and in this embodiment, is a numerical value that represents the state and ability of the operated object operated by the first user. More specifically, the parameter value includes the operated object's status values such as stamina and hunger level, ability values such as attack power and movement speed, and attribute values such as size (display size).

The parameter values change as the game progresses, and more specifically, they change in conjunction with the movement and state changes of the first user's controlled object in the game. For example, when the controlled object moves on the field or is affected by an enemy on the field (specifically, an attack or obstruction from the enemy, etc.), its stamina, which is one of the parameter values, decreases. Note that the parameter values do not necessarily have to change in conjunction with the movement and state changes of the controlled object, and may change based on operations performed by the first user, for example.

The first user can also obtain the on-field objects by bringing the controlled object close to or into contact with the auxiliary objects and thrown-in objects on the field, and can use or activate the effects of the obtained objects during gameplay. Here, the effect of an object refers to a game effect (including in-game effects) that is given to the first user who uses/activates the effect, and specifically includes changing parameter values corresponding to the first user and causing a specified event to occur in or around the controlled object operated by the first user (for example, reducing the number of enemies that appear).

The number of operated objects controlled by one first user may be one or two or more. When controlling two or more operated objects, the first user switches the operated object to be controlled as appropriate, and accordingly, a part of the field displayed on the first screen G1 is switched. When the first user controls two or more operated objects, a parameter value is set for each operated object, and the parameter value of each operated object becomes a parameter value corresponding to the first user.
In the following, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that a single first user controls a single operated object.

In addition, in cooperative play of the game, two or more users can select the role of controlling an object and play as the first user. In this case, there are controlled objects for each first user on the field (see FIG. 1), and each first user controls a corresponding controlled object. Note that multiple first users may cooperate to clear the same area, may compete with each other in the same area, or may be divided into multiple teams and play against each other in the same area.

During the game play, the second user mainly watches (spectates) the first user's play through the second screen G2 displayed on his/her own terminal (user terminal). The second screen G2 is a screen that shows an overhead view of the field on which the controlled object operated by the first user exists (for example, a screen that shows the field from above), and the second screen G2 can show parts of the field other than the part shown on the first screen G1. For example, the second screen G2 can show the entire field as shown in FIG. 3, and can also show a part of the field in enlargement in response to a zoom operation performed by the second user through the second screen G2 (for example, a so-called pinch-out operation in which the second user touches the second screen G2 with two fingers and widens the distance between the fingers). By enlarging or reducing the part of the field displayed on the second screen G2, the second user who watches the field from above through the second screen G2 can be given the impression (visual effect) that the altitude of the field of view has increased or decreased.

The range that can be displayed on the second screen G2 is limited to the field of the area where the operated object of the first user who plays together with the second user exists. The range that can be displayed on the second screen G2 at one time may be changed depending on the area. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, for an area where the field is relatively small, the entire field may be displayed on the second screen G2. On the other hand, for an area where the field is relatively large and difficult to see when displayed on a single screen, a part of the field may be displayed on the second screen G2, and when the second user performs a predetermined screen operation, the part of the field displayed on the second screen G2 may be slid (scrolled).
In addition, the second screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is a screen in which the field is viewed from directly above, but is not limited to this, and the second screen G2 may be a screen in which the field is viewed from any angle (view angle), and the angle may be freely changeable by the second user.

During joint game play, the second user does not operate an object (character) that can attack enemies or obtain auxiliary objects and thrown objects on the field, like the controlled object operated by the first user. Therefore, the second user does not have a parameter value set that changes in response to the action of a specific object on the field (specifically, an attack from an enemy, an obstruction, etc.), such as stamina.

Meanwhile, during joint play of the game, the second user can perform an input operation to input an input object (indicated by a star in FIG. 1) onto the field for the purpose of, for example, assisting (supporting) the first user. An "input object" is an item or character that is used by the first user in the game and assists the first user in playing the game. To use the input object, the first user moves his/her controlled object closer to the position of the input object on the field.

When the distance between the operated object and the input object reaches a predetermined distance (for example, when the operated object touches the input object), the effect of the input object is given (activated) to the first user who is operating the operated object. Note that the effect of the input object is not given to a second user, regardless of whether it was input by the first user or another second user.

The effect of the input object is, for example, to change a parameter value corresponding to the first user who uses the input object. The parameter value corresponding to the first user is a value that the first user manages as the game progresses, and in this embodiment, is a numerical value set for the first user's operated object. Specifically, the parameter value includes status values such as stamina and hunger level, ability values such as attack power and movement speed, and attribute values such as size (display size) of the operated object controlled by the first user. Note that when the first user operates multiple operated objects, a parameter value is set for each of the multiple operated objects, and the parameter value of each operated object becomes the parameter value corresponding to the first user.

The parameter values change as the game progresses, and more specifically, they change in conjunction with the movement and state changes of the first user's controlled object in the game. For example, moving on the field or touching an enemy on the field reduces stamina, which is one of the parameter values. Note that the parameter values do not necessarily have to change in conjunction with the movement and state changes of the controlled object, and may change based on operations performed by the first user, for example.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the current value of the parameter value is displayed near the operated object in the first screen G1 as shown in FIG. 2 so that the first user can confirm it, and is also displayed on the second screen G2 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the second user can confirm it. However, this is not limited to this, and the current value of the parameter value may be displayed only on the first screen G1 and not on the second screen G2.

The parameter value also changes depending on the use of an input object or an auxiliary object. For example, when a first user uses an item for restoring vitality, which is an example of an input object, the vitality value of the first user's operated object is restored. When a first user uses an item for increasing movement speed, which is an example of an input object, the movement speed of the first user's operated object increases for a fixed period of time.

The number of types of input objects and the effect of each type are not particularly limited and can be determined arbitrarily depending on the content of the game. In addition, input objects are not limited to those that impart an effect to support the first user's play, and input objects that impart an effect to hinder the first user's play may be included in the input objects. In addition, the display mode of the input objects is not particularly limited, but is preferably a mode according to the type of object, in particular, the effect when used, such as those that disappear from the field immediately after the effect is imparted, those that remain on the field for a certain time after the effect is activated and the effect continues, and those that impart an effect multiple times and change the display mode each time the effect is imparted.

When performing an insertion operation, the second user selects an object to be used as an insertion object from among the objects possessed by the second user in the game (possession objects), and specifies the placement position of the insertion object on the field.

The object selected as the throw-in object and the position of the throw-in object on the field are not limited to being determined based on the will of the second user, but may be determined automatically by lottery or the like. Also, the throw-in object is not limited to being selected from among the objects possessed by the second user. For example, list information specifying multiple objects may be prepared in advance, and when the second user meets a certain condition in the game, one or multiple objects selected at random from the list information may be used as the throw-in object.

The insertion operation, i.e., the selection of the object to be inserted and the designation of the position of the object to be inserted, is performed through the second screen G2 during joint play of the game (see FIG. 18). Specifically, while playing the game, the second user selects the object to be inserted by clicking the icon of the object to be inserted from among the icons of the objects in possession displayed on the second screen G2. The second user then designates an arbitrary point on the field displayed on the second screen G2 and sets that point as the position of the object to be inserted. Note that the position of the object to be inserted is limited to within the field in the area where the second user is playing jointly with the first user.

Each time an object is added as an input object, it is consumed, and the number of objects in possession decreases. When the number of objects in possession reaches zero, that object (i.e., the object for which there is an insufficient number) can no longer be selected as an input object.

Note that if the input object is not used by the first user (i.e., if the first user does not obtain the effect of the input object), the unused input object may be returned to the second user who input the input object after the end of the cooperative play. In other words, the number of objects that the second user possesses that were input as input objects may be increased in accordance with the number of unused input objects.

On the other hand, during joint play of the game, the second user can purchase the object in order to replenish the missing object (in other words, to increase the number of objects owned), i.e., can obtain the above-mentioned object by paying a price. For example, when the second user clicks on an icon of an object that the second user has insufficient number of objects among the icons of objects owned displayed on the second screen G2 during joint play, the second screen G2 transitions as shown from the left to the right diagram of FIG. 18, and an object purchase screen G3 pops up.

In the object purchase screen G3, the second user is presented with multiple purchase quantities and their prices for the object whose icon the second user clicked, i.e., the object whose number is insufficient. The second user selects the desired number to purchase and clicks the purchase confirmation button set for the selected number to purchase. This allows the second user to increase the number of objects that the second user owns by the selected purchase quantity and add the purchased object to the list of candidates for the object to be inserted. In addition, a settlement process for payment of the price is performed for the second user in connection with the purchase of the object. Note that the settlement process may be a known billing process, or, if the price is paid with in-game currency, a process of deducting the amount of in-game currency held by the second user according to the price may be performed. In addition, if the amount of in-game currency held by the second user is less than the price, the second user may transition from the object purchase screen G3 to an in-game currency purchase screen (not shown), purchase in-game currency through that screen, and then return to the object purchase screen G3 to purchase the object using the above procedure.

Object purchases are not limited to cases where they are limited to objects that the user is short of. For example, during joint game play, the second user may be prompted to purchase an object of a type selected based on the playing status of the first user, and the second user may be able to purchase the object. Specifically, during game play, based on changes in the parameter values of the controlled object operated by the first player, an object that is valid for the changed parameter values (e.g., an object that restores the parameter value, etc.) is selected, and the type of the selected object is presented to the second user along with its price (amount in in-game currency). In this case, the second user can obtain the presented object by paying the price, and make it a candidate for a possessed object, i.e., an input object.

The purchase of objects during the above-mentioned cooperative play can only be performed by the second user, not by the first user. On the other hand, before the start of cooperative play or after the end of cooperative play, either the first user or the second user may be able to purchase objects that can be used as input objects.

The purchase price of an object may be the same when purchased during cooperative play as when purchased before or after cooperative play begins, or may be higher when purchased during cooperative play. The purchase price of an object may be higher during specific periods during cooperative play (for example, periods when enemies such as bosses appear on the field) than during periods other than the specific periods.

In addition, there may be cases where an object purchased during cooperative play is used as an input object, but the input object is not used by the first user in the cooperative play (i.e., the effect of the input object is not activated). In such cases, after the cooperative play ends, a process may be executed to refund (grant) the price paid when the object was purchased to the second user who performed the input operation.

Note that objects that can be inserted as input objects may be acquired by methods other than the above-mentioned purchase, for example, by the second user playing an event during the game (such as a lottery event in which an item can be obtained).

When the second user performs an input operation, the input object is placed together with the associated object in a placement position determined in accordance with the input operation (specifically, a position designated by the second user). The associated object is an indicator that indicates that the input object has been placed (input) in the placement position, and specifically corresponds to a graphic such as an arrow or pin, a speech bubble as shown in FIG. 1, or an icon corresponding to the input object.

When an input object is placed in the part of the field that is displayed on the first screen G1, the input object and associated objects are displayed on the first screen G1, and the first user can recognize the presence of the input object by looking at the first screen G1 on which these objects are displayed.

As a side note about accessory objects, a speech bubble-type accessory object can display, for example, the type of input object, the username of the second user who input the input object, and the username of the first user designated by the second user as the intended recipient of the input object.

In addition, when multiple first and second users play a game together, the second user can specify which of the multiple first users is to use the input object when performing the input operation, and in a case where the multiple first users are divided into multiple teams, the second user can specify one team as the destination of the input object.

In addition, in cooperative play of the game, two or more users can select the role of spectator and play as second users. In this case, each second user can perform the insertion operation individually, and an inserted object is inserted (placed) on the field for each second user.

Meanwhile, when the second user throws an object onto the field and the position of the object is within the part of the field that is displayed on the first screen G1, the first user can directly see the object displayed on the first screen G1.
On the other hand, if the position of the thrown-in object is outside the portion of the field that is shown on the first screen G1, the thrown-in object is not displayed on the first screen G1, and the first user cannot directly check the thrown-in object. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the position of the thrown-in object is outside the portion that is shown on the first screen G1, measures are taken to make the first user aware of the presence of the thrown-in object (see, for example, FIGS. 10 to 13). This is a characteristic feature of the present invention, and will be described in detail in a later section.

[Regarding the information processing device of this embodiment and each user's terminal]
Next, the information processing device according to this embodiment and the terminals of each user will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the following description, a scene will be assumed in which two first users and two second users, a total of four users, play a game together (more specifically, in the same area). However, the contents described below are not limited to the above scene, and may be applied to a case in which there is at least one first user and one second user.

The first user and the second user each have a terminal for playing the game, and hereinafter, the terminal owned by the first user will be referred to as the first terminal 11, and the terminal owned by the second user will be referred to as the second terminal 12. Note that in FIG. 4, the terminals owned by the first users, users A and B, correspond to the first terminal 11, and the terminals owned by the second users, users C and D, correspond to the second terminal 12.

The first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 are each a client terminal, and specifically, are composed of a personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a television receiver capable of inputting information, a wearable terminal, or the like. The first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 are each communicatively connected to the server 10 via a communication network 14 as shown in FIG. 4. The communication network 14 is, for example, a communication line network consisting of the Internet or a mobile communication network, and may include a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like.

The server 10 is an example of the "information processing device" of the present invention, and is a computer that executes various information processing related to the progress of the game, such as generating and transmitting and receiving data necessary for the progress of the game, and more specifically, in this embodiment, is an SNS server. The server 10 may be composed of one computer, or may be composed of multiple computers distributed in parallel. The server 10 may also be a server computer for ASP (Application Service Provider), SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). In this case, a series of information processes related to the progress of the game (excluding input and display of information) are executed by the server 10, so that the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 only need to input information to be handed over to the server 10 and display information distributed from the server 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, the server 10 has a processor 21, a memory 22, a communication interface 23, and a storage 24 as hardware devices, which are electrically connected via a bus 25. The processor 21 may be configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

The memory 22 may be configured with semiconductor memory such as a Read Only Memory (ROM) and a Random Access Memory (RAM).
The communication interface 23 may be, for example, a network interface card, a communication interface board, etc. The standard of data communication by the communication interface 23 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include communication by a wireless LAN based on Wi-fi (registered trademark), communication by a mobile communication system of 3G to 5G or a later generation, or communication based on LTE (Long Term Evolution).

The storage 24 may be configured with a flash memory, a hard disc drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disc (FD), a magneto-optical disc (MO disc), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a secure digital card (SD card), or a universal serial bus memory (USB memory). The storage 24 may be built into the server 10, or may be attached to the server body in an external format. The storage 24 may also be configured with an external computer (e.g., a database server) communicably connected to the server body. A distributed ledger technology such as a blockchain may be used as a technology for recording various data in order to avoid unauthorized data tampering.

In addition, the server 10 has installed therein, as software, a program for an operating system (OS) and an information processing program for game progression. These programs correspond to the "programs" of the present invention, and when executed by the processor 21, the server 10 functions as the information processing device of the present invention.

Specifically, while the game is being played, the server 10 executes the above program to generate display control data for the first screen G1 and transmit it to the first terminal 11 of each of the first users A and B, and generates display control data for the second screen G2 and transmits it to the second terminal 12 of each of the second users C and D.

The server 10 also accepts a movement operation from each of the first users A and B. In this case, the server 10 executes a process of moving the operated object corresponding to the first user who performed the movement operation on the field. The server 10 then generates display control data for displaying the first screen G1 and the second screen G2 that reflect the position of the operated object after the movement, and transmits the generated display control data to the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12.

The server 10 also accepts an input operation from one or both of the second users C and D, and more specifically, obtains data indicating the content of the input operation from the second terminal 12 of the second user who performed the input operation. In this case, the server 10 executes a process of placing the input object on the field in response to the input operation. Then, the server 10 generates display control data for displaying the first screen G1 and the second screen G2 that reflect the state in which the input object has been input on the field, and transmits the generated display control data to the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12. At this time, the first terminal 11 to which the display control data is transmitted (i.e., the first terminal 11 in which the field into which the input object has been input is displayed on the first screen G1) may be the first terminal 11 of each of the two first users A and B, or may be limited to the first terminal 11 of the first user designated by the second user who performed the input operation.

The above program may be obtained by reading it from a computer-readable recording medium, or may be obtained (downloaded) via a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

[Functions of the information processing device according to this embodiment]
5, the server 10 has a first reception unit 31, a second reception unit 32, a game processing unit 33, a memory unit 34, and a display control unit 35. Of these functional units, the memory unit 34 is realized by the memory 22 or the storage 24, and the other functional units are realized by cooperation between various hardware devices constituting the server 10 and programs installed in the server 10. Each functional unit will be described in detail below.

(First Reception Department)
The first reception unit 31 receives operations performed by the first user through the first terminal 11 during game play, and more specifically, obtains data indicating the operation content from the first terminal 11 through the communication network 14. The operations received by the first reception unit 31 include a moving operation performed by the first user to move the operated object on the field. The moving operation is performed by the first user through the first screen G1 displayed on the first terminal 11, and in the case shown in Fig. 2, for example, it is an operation of touching the operated object on the first screen G1 and dragging it to the destination.
Furthermore, when a plurality of first users play together in the same area, the first reception unit 31 receives a movement operation for each first user.

(Second Reception Section)
The second reception unit 32 receives operations performed by the second user through the second terminal 12 while the first user and the second user are playing the game together, and more specifically, obtains data indicating the operation content from the second terminal 12 via the communication network 14. The operations received by the second reception unit 32 include an input operation, a display change operation, a purchase operation, and a post-input operation.

The throw-in operation is an operation performed by the second user to throw an object into the field. In this embodiment, the throw-in operation includes an operation in which the second user selects an object to be thrown in from among the objects possessed by the second user in the game (in other words, an operation in which one of multiple types of throw-in objects is selected) and an operation in which the second user specifies the placement position of the object to be thrown in on the field, and the second reception unit 32 accepts these operations as throw-in operations. Furthermore, when multiple first users and second users play the game together, the second reception unit 32 can accept, as a throw-in operation, an operation in which the second user specifies the use destination of the thrown-in object (the other party who will use the thrown-in object) from among multiple first users.

The display change operation is an operation performed by the second user to change the portion of the field displayed on the second screen G2, and examples of this include an operation to enlarge the portion displayed on the second screen G2 (pinch out operation) and an operation to reduce the portion displayed on the second screen G2 (pinch in operation).

The purchase operation is an operation in which the second user purchases an object that is a candidate for an input object during joint play of a game, and more specifically, is an operation in which the second user obtains an object by paying the price of an object that the user does not own enough of and is therefore unable to select as an input object. The purchase operation is performed through the object purchase screen G3, and corresponds to, for example, an operation of selecting the desired number of purchases on the same screen and clicking the purchase button.

A post-throw operation is an operation performed by the second user who performed the throw-in operation after the throw-in operation, and is performed, for example, for the purpose of making the first user aware that the thrown-in object is on the field, and corresponds to an operation such as touching a predetermined location on the second screen G2 (specifically, a location on the field corresponding to the placement position of the thrown-in object) multiple times. In this way, a post-throw operation is usually performed multiple times by the second user after the throw-in operation, but the post-throw operation may be performed only once. Note that a post-throw operation is not an operation that affects the activation or variation of the effect of the thrown-in object, and is, as described above, performed solely to draw the first user's attention to the thrown-in object.

When multiple second users play together in the same area, the second reception unit 32 receives the above operations (i.e., the input operation, the display change operation, the purchase operation, and the post-input operation) for each second user.

(Game Processing Unit)
The game processing unit 33 executes information processing for progressing the game, and when a first user and a second user play together, executes information processing for progressing the game according to operations received from each user. For example, when the first reception unit 31 receives a movement operation from the first user, the game processing unit 33 executes processing for moving the operated object of the first user who performed the movement operation on the field according to the movement operation. In conjunction with this processing, the game processing unit 33 moves an enemy on the field in conjunction with the movement of the operated object, and also appropriately changes the parameter value of the operated object after the movement, and executes processing for decreasing the physical strength as a parameter value when the operated object touches an enemy, for example.

When multiple first users play the game together, the game processing unit 33 changes the parameter values of each operated object controlled by each first user according to the progress of the game, specifically, based on the movement and state changes of each operated object.

When the second reception unit 32 receives a throw-in operation from the second user, the game processing unit 33 executes a process of placing (throwing) the thrown-in object on the field in response to the throw-in operation. When the operated object of the first user reaches the throw-in object's placement position on the field (i.e., the position where the operated object touches the thrown-in object), the game processing unit 33 executes a process of imparting an effect corresponding to the type of the thrown-in object at the above-mentioned placement position to the first user operating the operated object.

(Memory unit)
The storage unit 34 stores various information necessary for playing the game, and includes an area information storage unit 41, a user information storage unit 42, and an input information storage unit 43, as shown in FIG.

The area information storage unit 41 stores information about each of the multiple defined areas (hereinafter referred to as "area information"). The area information includes information about the field, the types and locations of enemies that appear on the field, the types and locations of auxiliary objects placed on the field, and the conditions for clearing the area.

The user information storage unit 42 stores information about users playing a game (hereinafter referred to as "user information"), and stores user information for each user when multiple users play the game together. The user information includes the user's name (user name), identification ID, and the area in which they are playing, and in the case of joint play, it further includes the user's role in the game (i.e., whether they are the first user or the second user) and the names or identification IDs of other users playing together. In addition, when multiple first users play a game together and are divided into multiple teams, the user information for each first user includes the team to which they belong and the names and identification IDs of other users who belong to the same team.

When a first user and a second user play a game together, information specific to each user is stored as user information. As shown in FIG. 6, the user information of the first user includes information about the operated object operated by the user, specifically, the appearance of the operated object, the initial value, upper limit value, and current value of the parameter value, and the current position in the field. As shown in FIG. 7, the user information of the second user includes information about the owned objects that can be used as input objects (specifically, the type and number of owned objects) and information indicating the range of the field to be displayed on the second screen G2. When multiple first users are divided into multiple teams to play the game, the second user will belong to one of the teams, and the user information of the second user in this case includes the team to which the second user belongs and the names and IDs of the first users who belong to that team.

The input information storage unit 43 stores information (hereinafter referred to as input information) regarding the input of an input object by a second user onto a field, and when multiple input objects are input into one field, it stores input information for each input object. As shown in FIG. 8, the input information includes the username of the second user who input the input object, the type and placement position of the input object, and if the second user specifies the use of the input object, the username of the specified first user, and the usage status (whether or not an effect was imparted).

(Display control unit)
The display control unit 35 controls the terminal of each user and displays on the terminal of each user a screen (game screen) reflecting the results of information processing by the game processing unit 33. When a first user and a second user play a game together, the display control unit 35 includes a first display control unit 51 and a second display control unit 52 as shown in Fig. 5, and each display control unit controls the terminal of the corresponding user.

To be more specific, the first display control unit 51 controls the terminal of the first user, i.e., the first terminal 11, and causes the first terminal 11 to display a first screen G1 showing a portion of the field including the operated object. To be more specific, the first display control unit 51 reads out the user information of the first user stored in the user information storage unit 42, identifies the current position of the operated object of the first user, generates display control data for the first screen G1 based on the identified current position, and transmits the generated display control data to the first terminal 11.

On the first terminal 11 side, a first screen G1 is displayed that shows a portion of the field including the operated object. In this case, when the first display control unit 51 causes the first terminal 11 to display the first screen G1, the first display control unit 51 causes the current value of a predetermined parameter value of the operated object to be displayed near the operated object on the first screen G1 (see FIG. 2). Also, when the game processing unit 33 moves the operated object in response to the movement operation of the first user, the first display control unit 51 controls the first terminal 11 to display the first screen G1 showing the operated object after it has been moved on the field.

When multiple first users play the game together, the first display control unit 51 individually controls the first terminal 11 of each first user and displays, for each first user, a first screen G1 corresponding to each first user, that is, a first screen G1 showing an operated object controlled by each first user in the field.

The second display control unit 52 controls the second terminal 12 of the second user to display the second screen G2 on the second terminal 12. To explain in more detail, the second display control unit 52 reads the user information of the second user stored in the user information storage unit 42, identifies the area in which the second user is playing and its display range, generates display control data for the second screen G2 based on the identified content, and transmits the generated display control data to the second terminal 12.

On the second terminal 12 side, a second screen G2 is displayed, which shows the part of the field that corresponds to the above-mentioned display range. At this time, if the first user's operated object is present in the part of the field that is displayed on the second screen G2, the second display control unit 52 displays the current value of a predetermined parameter value of the operated object near the operated object on the second screen G2 (see FIG. 3).

Furthermore, when the second reception unit 32 receives a display change operation, the second display control unit 52 changes the portion of the field displayed on the second screen G2 based on the display change operation, and specifically controls the second terminal 12 of the second user who performed the display change operation to display the second screen G2 that displays the portion of the field that corresponds to the changed display range. This makes it possible to change the range displayed on the second screen G2 in the field (i.e., the range that the second user can view) regardless of the position of the operated object.

In addition, when the second user initiates a purchase operation to purchase an object (more specifically, an object that the user does not own in sufficient quantities), the second display control unit 52 controls the second terminal 12 of the second user who performed the purchase operation to pop up an object purchase screen G3 on the second screen G2 (see the right diagram in Figure 18).

When multiple second users play in the same area, the second display control unit 52 controls the second terminal 12 of each second user individually and displays the second screen G2 corresponding to each second user, that is, the second screen G2 showing the display range set for each second user, for each second user.

When the game processing unit 33 places the thrown-in object on the field in response to the throw-in operation of the second user, the second display control unit 52 causes the second terminal 12 to display the second screen G2 showing the field on which the thrown-in object and the aforementioned accessory object are placed at the placement position specified by the second user. Accordingly, if the above placement position is within the portion shown on the first screen G1, the first display control unit 51 controls the first terminal 11 to display on the first terminal 11 the first screen G1 on which the thrown-in object and the accessory object are placed at the above placement position, as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, the first display control unit 51 may display information about the second user who threw in the thrown-in object (e.g., the name of the second user) near or inside the accessory object on the first screen G1.

In addition, when an operated object touches an input object on the field and the effect of the input object is imparted to a first user operating the operated object, the first display control unit 51 controls the first terminal 11 to display an effect image corresponding to the effect on the first terminal 11. For example, when a game is being played jointly by multiple first and second users and the effect of the input object is imparted to one first user, the first display control unit 51 displays, as the above-mentioned effect image, a message indicating that the effect of the input object has been imparted to the first user, or the ID or name of the first user to whom the effect of the input object has been imparted, on the first terminals 11 of the other first users.

On the other hand, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 10, when the placement position of the thrown object is outside the area shown on the first screen G1, the first display control unit 51 controls the first terminal 11 to display the display icon ic at a predetermined position on the first screen G1, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 10. Specifically, the first display control unit 51 generates display control data for displaying the display icon ic at a predetermined position on the first screen G1, and transmits the generated display control data to the first terminal 11.

The display icon ic is an example of a display object corresponding to the input object placed at the above-mentioned placement position, and is displayed on the first screen G1 to notify the first user of the existence and placement position of the input object when the placement position of the input object is outside the area shown on the first screen G1. The display icon ic according to this embodiment is configured, for example, by an image (image) of a reduced version of the input object.
It should be noted that, instead of the display icon ic, a character or symbol indicating the input object, or an image designated by the second user, etc. may be displayed as the display object.

The display icon ic is displayed at a display position on the first screen G1 that corresponds to the placement position of the thrown-in object, as shown in the right diagram of Fig. 10. Specifically, the first display control unit 51 determines the display position of the display icon ic according to the positional relationship between the placement position of the thrown-in object on the field and the portion shown on the first screen G1 (the portion surrounded by a dashed line in the left diagram of Fig. 10).

To explain in more detail, the display position of the display icon ic is determined so that the position of the thrown-in object when viewed from the part of the field that is displayed on the first screen G1 and the display position of the display icon ic on the first screen G1 are in the same orientation. Therefore, if the positional relationship between the position of the thrown-in object on the field and the part that is displayed on the first screen G1 changes, the first display control unit 51 changes the display position of the display icon ic on the first screen G1 based on the change in the above-mentioned positional relationship, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

When determining the display position of the display icon ic, the first display control unit 51 reads the user information of the first user stored in the user information storage unit 42 (specifically, the current position of the operated object on the field) and the input information stored in the input information storage unit 43, and determines the display position based on this information.

In addition, when multiple first users play the game together, the first display control unit 51 controls the first terminal 11 of each first user to display the first screen G1 for each first user on each first terminal 11. In this situation, if the placement position of the thrown-in object for two or more first users is outside the area displayed on the first screen G1, the display icon ic is displayed on the first screen G1 on each first terminal 11 of the two or more first users. The display position of the display icon ic at this time is determined for each first user. In other words, since the part of the field displayed on the first screen G1 may change for each first user, the display position of the display icon ic is also determined according to the first screen G1 for each first user to reflect this.

However, this is not limited to the above case. Of the multiple first users, the display icon ic may be displayed on the first screen G1 of the first user designated by the second user during the input operation, and the display icon ic may not be displayed on the first screen G1 of the other first users. In other words, the first display control unit 51 may transmit display control data for displaying the display icon ic at a predetermined position on the first screen G1 only to the first terminal 11 of the first user designated by the second user among the multiple first users.

In addition, in a similar manner to the above, the display icon ic may be displayed on the first screen G1 of a first user who satisfies any one of the following conditions 1 to 3 among a plurality of first users, and the display icon ic may not be displayed on the first screen G1 of the other first users. In other words, the first display control unit 51 may control the first terminal 11 of the first user who satisfies a predetermined condition (specifically, any one of conditions 1 to 3) to display the display icon ic at a predetermined position on the first screen G1.
Condition 1: In a case where a plurality of first users are divided into a plurality of teams to play a game, the first user must belong to the same team as the second user who inserted the inserted object.
Condition 2: The user is a first user who operates an operated object that is within a predetermined range from the placement position of the input object in the field.
Condition 3: The user is a first user selected based on the current value of a parameter value (hereinafter, referred to as a target parameter value) corresponding to the effect of the input object.

As a specific example of condition 3 above, when an input object that confers an effect of restoring stamina is input, a display icon ic corresponding to the input object may be displayed on the first screen G1 of a first user whose current stamina value is below the minimum or reference value.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the placement position of the thrown-in object on the field is outside the portion displayed on the first screen G1, the display icon ic is displayed on the first screen G1 at a display position corresponding to the placement position of the thrown-in object. As a result, even in the above case, the first user can easily notice the presence of the thrown-in object on the field through the first screen G1 and understand its placement position.

In addition, when there are multiple input objects outside the portion shown on the first screen G1, a display icon ic may be displayed for each object. However, the more the number of display icons ic increases, the harder it becomes to see the first screen G1. Therefore, an upper limit may be set for the number of display icons ic displayed on the first screen G1. In this case, when the number of input objects outside the portion shown on the first screen G1 exceeds the above-mentioned upper limit, input objects equivalent to the upper limit may be selected in order from the input object closest to the operated object, and display icons ic (i.e., the same number of display icons ic as the upper limit) may be displayed for each of the selected input objects. Alternatively, a priority may be determined for each of the multiple input objects outside the portion shown on the first screen G1 based on the relationship with the target parameter value of the first user, and the input object for which the display icon ic is displayed may be selected according to the priority.

In addition, the first display control unit 51 may appropriately change the manner in which the display icon ic is displayed (display manner) for reasons such as more effectively notifying the first user of the presence of the thrown-in object. Examples of the display manner of the display icon ic include the display color of the display icon ic, the contrast with the surrounding color, the display size, the presence or absence of additional information, changes such as rotation or blinking, and the presence or absence of emphasis such as highlighting. The rules for changing the display manner are stored in advance in the storage unit 34, and the first display control unit 51 changes the display manner according to the progress of the game at that time in accordance with the above-mentioned change rules.

As a first case in which the display mode of the display icon ic is changed, the first display control unit 51 may display the display icon ic in a display mode corresponding to the type of object that has been inserted as an input object, among a plurality of types of objects. As a specific example, when a certain input object is inserted, a display icon ic that is a reduced version of the input object may be displayed, or the display icon ic may be displayed in a color corresponding to the type of the input object.

In a second case, the first display control unit 51 may display the display icon ic in a display mode based on the surrounding conditions of the thrown-in object on the field. The surrounding conditions of the thrown-in object refer to, for example, the presence or absence of objects present within a predetermined range from the placement position of the thrown-in object on the field, or the number of objects present. Objects present within the predetermined range include, for example, enemies and auxiliary objects that appear near the placement position of the thrown-in object, or other thrown-in objects other than the thrown-in object at the above placement position. Note that "within the predetermined range" includes, for example, positions that are within a predetermined distance from the placement position, and further includes a range that is considered to be near the placement position in the technical field of the present invention.
As a specific example of the second case, when an enemy appears near an input object, or when an auxiliary object that provides the same type of effect as the input object is placed near the input object, the display icon ic corresponding to the input object may be displayed in a different display mode than usual (for example, a display size larger than usual).

As a third case, the first display control unit 51 may display the display icon ic in a display mode based on the distance between the current position of the operated object in the field and the placement position of the input object. As a specific example, the shorter the distance is (i.e., the closer the operated object is to the input object), the larger (or smaller) the display icon ic may be displayed.

In addition, the additional information of the display icon ic may be changed according to the distance. For example, the additional information may be increased as the distance becomes shorter. Specifically, until the distance becomes equal to or shorter than the first distance, only the display icon ic with the reduced size of the input object is displayed. Thereafter, until the distance becomes equal to or shorter than the second distance that is smaller than the first distance, information of the second user who input the input object is additionally displayed as additional information. Thereafter, until the distance becomes equal to or shorter than the third distance that is smaller than the second distance, information according to an auxiliary object near the input object (for example, information written in the auxiliary object, etc.) may be additionally displayed. In this case, as the operated object gets closer to the input object, the amount of information that the first user can know about the input object increases.

In addition, in a situation where the placement position of the throw-in object is outside the portion of the field that is shown on the first screen G1, the display icon ic may be switched between being displayed and not displayed based on the above distance. Specifically, the display icon ic may be hidden when the above distance exceeds a predetermined value, and the display icon ic may be displayed when the above distance falls below the predetermined value. The predetermined value may be changed according to the number of throw-in objects that are placed outside the portion that is shown on the first screen G1. For example, when the number of throw-in objects that are placed outside the portion that is shown on the first screen G1 exceeds a predetermined number, the predetermined value may be set smaller than when the number of the throw-in objects does not exceed the predetermined number.

As a fourth case, when the second reception unit 32 receives a post-input operation of the second user, the first display control unit 51 may change the display mode of the display icon ic depending on the number of times the post-input operation has been performed. As a specific example, when the second user performs a post-input operation by touching the display location of the input object on the second screen G2 multiple times, the first display control unit 51 may blink or highlight the display icon ic depending on the number of screen touch operations performed by the second user. In addition, the display time or highlight time of the display icon ic may be controlled depending on the number of screen touch operations.

As a fifth case, when another object (specifically, an enemy) is displayed at the display position of the display icon ic (overlapping with the display icon ic), the first display control unit 51 may change the display mode of the display icon ic since the enemy becomes difficult to see. In this case, for example, the display icon ic may be temporarily hidden, or may be displayed in a display mode that does not obstruct the display of the enemy, such as by graying it out.

In addition, for reasons such as improving the gameplay, particularly the interest of joint play, the first display control unit 51 may notify the first terminal 11 of additional information along with the display icon ic during joint play of the game. Specifically, the first display control unit 51 may control the first terminal 11 to display the display icon ic at a display position corresponding to the arrangement position of the thrown-in object on the first screen G1 as shown in FIG. 12, and may notify information (e.g., a user name) about the second user who threw in the thrown-in object. The notification of the information about the second user is not particularly limited, and may be displayed near the display icon ic on the first screen G1, or may be displayed at a position away from the display icon ic.

With regard to the above configuration, for example, in a situation where multiple first users and second users are playing a game together, information about the second user who threw in the thrown-in object may be notified to first users among the multiple first users who satisfy a predetermined condition (specifically, any of the above-mentioned conditions 1 to 3), while not notifying first users who do not satisfy the predetermined condition. In other words, the first display control unit 51 may control only the first terminal 11 of the first user who satisfies the predetermined condition to display the display icon ic at a display position corresponding to the position of the thrown-in object on the first screen G1, and may notify information about the second user.

As another example, in a situation where multiple first and second users are playing a game together, if the second user specifies the use of the input object (the first user who is desired to use the input object) during the input operation, information about the specified first user (e.g., the user name) may also be notified, as shown in FIG. 13. That is, the first display control unit 51 may control the first terminal 11 of each of the multiple first users to display the display icon ic at a display position corresponding to the arrangement position on the first screen G1, and may notify information about the first user specified by the second user. The notification of the information about the specified first user is not particularly limited, and may be displayed near the display icon ic on the first screen G1, or may be displayed at a position away from the display icon ic.

As another example, in a situation where a plurality of first and second users are playing a game together, when one of the first users' operated objects is approaching the input object on the field, information about that first user (hereinafter, the first user approaching the input object) may be displayed as additional information near the display icon ic on the first screen G1 of the other first users. That is, for example, a screen may be displayed in which the message "Given to user A!" in FIG. 13 is replaced with a message "Looks like user A will get it!" This allows the other first users to be informed of the presence of the first user approaching the input object.
In addition, to determine which of multiple first users has an operated object approaching the input object, the current position of the operated object is identified from the user information of each first user, and the first user whose current position has moved the furthest toward the placement position of the input object during a specified period of time is set as the first user closest to the input object.

[Information processing method according to this embodiment]
Next, as an example of the information processing method of the present invention, an information processing method using the information processing device according to this embodiment (i.e., the server 10) will be described. Note that, in the following, as the explanation of the information processing method according to this embodiment, the flow of information processing for game progress executed by the server 10 will be mainly explained.

The information processing for game progression according to this embodiment is divided into a stage from when the user logs in to the game and starts playing, to when the user actually plays the game. The former will be explained from the perspective of the GUI, with reference to the example screen shown in FIG. 14, showing the transition of the game screen displayed on the user's terminal. The latter will be explained with reference to the flow diagrams shown in FIGS. 15 to 17.

When a user operates the terminal to log in to the game and then performs a specified input operation, the number of players selection screen shown in FIG. 14 (the screen on the left in the figure) is displayed. The user selects either solo play, in which one person plays alone, or cooperative play, in which multiple people play together in the same area, and touches one of the two play style selection buttons displayed on the screen. The following explanation assumes that the user has selected cooperative play.

The terminal of the user who has selected cooperative play transmits data indicating the result of that selection to the server 10. The server 10 identifies the user who has selected cooperative play, and then, within a certain period of time, determines whether there are any other users who have selected cooperative play. If there are other users who have selected cooperative play, the server 10 transmits display control data for the role selection screen shown in FIG. 14 (the screen on the right in the figure) to the terminals of each user who has selected cooperative play.

Each user who selects cooperative play selects either the role of object control or the role of spectator play, that is, whether to play as the first user or the second user, through the role selection screen displayed on their device, and touches one of the two role selection buttons displayed on the screen. After each user selects a role, the device of each user transmits data indicating the selection result to the server 10. When the server 10 receives the role selection results from each of the users who selected cooperative play, it determines the number of users participating in the cooperative play at that time, and the role of each user. After going through the above procedures, multiple users who selected cooperative play can begin playing the game cooperatively.

In this embodiment, a minimum required number of first users (lower limit) is set, so the game waits until the number of users participating as first users (i.e., the number of players who have selected the role of the first user) exceeds the lower limit, and collaborative play begins at the point when the number of first users exceeds the lower limit.
In addition, in this embodiment, the game specifications are such that once collaborative play has begun, other users cannot join in the collaborative play until the collaborative play has ended, but this is not limited to this, and the specifications may also permit other users to join in mid-play.

Information processing after game play begins differs depending on the role of each user, with the first user's information processing (hereinafter, first user's flow) proceeding according to the flow shown in Figures 15 and 16, and the second user's information processing (hereinafter, second user's flow) proceeding according to the flow shown in Figure 17. Each flow will be explained below.

(First user side flow)
The first user side flow is executed via communication between the server 10 and the terminal of the first user (first terminal 11). In addition, when multiple first users play together in the same area, the first user side flow is executed for each first user.

In this flow, first, the server 10 generates display control data for the first screen G1 and transmits it to the first terminal 11, thereby controlling the first terminal 11 and displaying the first screen G1 on the first terminal 11 (S001, S002). Note that the first screen G1 displayed on the first terminal 11 at the start of game play shows a portion of the field that corresponds to the initial position (start position) of the first user's operated object.

During game play, the first user performs a movement operation through the first screen G1 from time to time to move the operated object on the field (S003). When the movement operation is performed, the server 10 accepts the movement operation through communication with the first terminal 11 (S004) and executes a process of moving the operated object of the first user on the field in response to the movement operation (S005). After that, the server 10 generates display control data for the first screen G1 (hereinafter referred to as the "first screen G1 after movement") that displays a part of the field including the operated object after the movement and transmits it to the first terminal 11 to control the first terminal 11, and causes the first terminal 11 to display the first screen G1 after the movement (S006, S007).
Thereafter, steps S004 to S007 are repeatedly carried out every time the first user performs a movement operation, whereby the first screen G1 after the movement is updated as needed.

Although not specifically shown, during game play, the server 10 changes the parameter values of the first user's operated object in response to the movement and state changes of the operated object, and accordingly updates the user information stored in the memory unit 34 (in particular, the current parameter values of the operated object).

When an input object is input (placed) on the field by the input operation of the second user (S008), the server 10 determines whether the input object is located outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen G1 of the first user (S009). If the object is located outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen G1, the server 10 generates display control data for the display icon ic and transmits it to the first terminal 11 to control the first terminal 11 (S010). As a result, the first terminal 11 displays the display icon ic corresponding to the input object at a display position according to the input object's position on the first screen G1 (more specifically, at a position in the same orientation as when the input object is viewed from the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen) (S011).

When the display icon ic is displayed on the first screen G1 of the first terminal 11, it is preferable to change the display mode of the display icon ic according to the situation at that time. Specifically, as described above, the display mode may be changed according to the type of object inserted as the inserted object, the surrounding situation of the inserted object in the field (e.g., the number of enemies appearing near the inserted object, etc.), the presence or absence of other objects (e.g., enemies) at the display position of the display icon ic, the number of operations performed by the second user after insertion, etc.
In addition, in a situation where the placement position of the thrown-in object is outside the area displayed on the first screen G1, the display icon ic may be switched between being displayed and not displayed based on the distance between the current position of the operated object and the placement position of the thrown-in object.

In addition, when multiple first users and second users play the game together, the display icon ic may be displayed on the first screen G1 of each of the multiple first users (specifically, the first users who satisfy the condition that the placement position of the thrown-in object is outside the first screen G1). Alternatively, the display icon ic may be displayed only on the first screen G1 of a specific first user, specifically, only of the first user designated by the second user who threw in the thrown-in object. Furthermore, the display icon ic may be displayed only on the first screen G1 of the first user who satisfies a predetermined condition (specifically, any of the above-mentioned conditions 1 to 3). Furthermore, together with the display of the display icon ic, information about the second user who threw in the thrown-in object, or information about the first user designated by the second user may also be notified.

On the other hand, in step S009, if the placement position is within the portion shown on the first screen G1, the server 10 generates display control data for the first screen G1 and transmits it to the first terminal 11 to control the first terminal 11 (S012). On the first terminal 11 side, the display icon ic is not displayed, and the first screen G1 is displayed showing a portion of the field in which the input object is placed at the placement position (S013). Also, although not shown, when the operated object reaches a position where it touches the input object, the server 10 executes a process of imparting the effect of the input object to the first user operating the operated object, and accordingly updates the user information stored in the storage unit 34 (particularly, the current parameter values of the operated object, etc.).

Among the steps described above, steps S003 to S013 are repeatedly performed until the game ends (S014). Here, the end of the game means that a condition for ending the joint play of the game by multiple users is satisfied, such as when a specified area is cleared, when a preset game play time (time limit) has elapsed, when one or all of the users request to stop playing (retire), etc.
Then, when the game ends, the first user side flow ends at that point.

(Second User Side Flow)
The second user side flow is executed via communication between the server 10 and the second user's terminal (second terminal 12). In addition, when multiple second users play together in the same area, the second user side flow is executed for each second user.

In this flow, first, the server 10 generates display control data for the second screen G2 and transmits it to the second terminal 12, thereby controlling the second terminal 12 and displaying the second screen G2 on the second terminal 12 (S021, S022). Through the second screen G2, the second user can view the play of the first user (more simply, the movement of the controlled object on the field and the progress of the game linked to that movement, etc.).

When the second user performs a display change operation through the second screen G2 to change the display range of the second screen G2 while playing the game (S023), the server 10 accepts the display change operation through communication with the second terminal 12 (S024). The server 10 then generates display control data for the second screen G2 based on the accepted display change operation, and controls the second terminal 12 by transmitting the data to the second terminal 12 (S025). As a result, the second screen G2 showing the changed display range is displayed on the second terminal 12 (S026).

In addition, while playing the game, the second user can perform an input operation through the second screen G2, and when the input operation is performed (S027), the server 10 accepts the input operation through communication with the second terminal 12 (S028). The server 10 executes a process of inputting (placing) the input object onto the field based on the accepted input operation, and specifically, places the owned object selected by the second user from among the owned objects in the input operation at the position on the field specified by the second user (S029).

Although not shown in FIG. 17, when the thrown-in object is thrown, the server 10 generates new display control data for the second screen G2 and transmits the data to the second terminal 12 to control the second terminal 12. As a result, the second screen G2 is displayed on the second terminal 12, showing the field on which the thrown-in object is placed at the placement position.

Furthermore, among the objects possessed by the second user, those that are introduced onto the field as input objects are consumed, decreasing the number of objects possessed by the second user, and the user information of the second user is updated accordingly. However, this is not limited thereto, and if the input object has not been used by the first user for a certain period of time, the object may be returned to the second user (returned to the objects possessed by the second user).
In addition, for objects that are insufficient in number (more specifically, objects whose number in possession has reached zero), the second user can increase the number of objects owned by performing a purchase operation through the object purchase screen G3 during game play, and the object can then be selected as an input object.

Of the steps described above, steps S023 to S029 are repeated until the game ends (S030). When the game ends, the second user side flow ends at that point.

[Other embodiments]
Up to this point, the information processing device, the information processing method, and the program of the present invention have been described using specific examples. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and other embodiments are also possible.

In the above embodiment, the server computer (server 10) that executes information processing for game progress functions as the information processing device of the present invention, but is not limited to this. Some of the functions of the server 10 may be provided in the terminals of users who play the game, i.e., the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12.
For example, the first terminal 11 may have a function corresponding to the first reception unit 31, the second terminal 12 may have a function corresponding to the second reception unit 32, and one or both of the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 may have a function corresponding to the display control unit 35. In that case, the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 cooperate to configure the information processing device of the present invention.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the communication method when the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 communicate is a method via the server 10 (client-server method), but it may also be a P2P (peer-to-peer) method that does not involve the server 10. In that case, the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 will cooperate to function as the information processing device of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the second screen G2 showing the whole or part of the field is displayed on the terminal (second terminal 12) of the second user who performs the throw-in operation, but this is not limited to this. Instead of displaying the second screen G2 showing the field, the second terminal 12 may display a screen for throw-in operations (e.g., a selection screen for throw-in objects, etc.). In that case, the second user will only perform a support operation for the first user, i.e., a throw-in operation, without watching the play of the first user.
In addition, when a part of the field is displayed on the second screen G2, the second user may perform an operation to switch (change) the part displayed on the second screen G2 during the field. In this case, a predetermined object (hereinafter, a screen switching object) may be displayed on the second screen G2, and the second user may operate the screen switching object to switch the part displayed on the second screen G2 during the field. The screen switching object is a character with a motif of an aircraft such as a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), and unlike the operated object operated by the first user, it cannot defeat enemies on the field or obtain auxiliary objects or thrown objects, but flies and moves above the field (a virtual space set at a different height from the field) and drops thrown objects.

[summary]
The information processing device of the present invention has a first reception unit that receives a moving operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field, a second reception unit that receives a throw-in operation performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user to throw an object onto the field, and a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the moving operation. When the placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside the part of the field shown on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object (specifically, a display icon) corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen corresponding to the placement position.
According to the above configuration, even if the position of the thrown-in object is outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the first user can easily notice the presence and position of the thrown-in object. This allows the thrown-in object to be effectively used by the first user. As a result, it is possible to encourage the second user to participate in the game by throwing the object, thereby making the game more interesting.

The information processing device of the present invention may further include a game processing unit that progresses a game. In this case, when a plurality of users play a game together, the game processing unit may start playing the game together when the number of first users is equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum number and the number of second users is an arbitrary number.
According to the above configuration, when the number of first users is equal to or greater than the minimum required number, joint play of the game can be started regardless of the number of second users.

Furthermore, the game processing unit may change the parameter value set for the first user when the operated object is acted upon by a specific object on the field, while the parameter value that changes in response to the action may not be set for the second user.
According to the above configuration, the second user can enjoy playing together with the first user without being affected by any particular object on the field.

Furthermore, when the operated object reaches the placement position, the game processing unit may impart an effect corresponding to the type of the thrown-in object placed at the placement position to the first user operating the operated object that has reached the placement position, while the game processing unit may not impart the effect to the second user.
According to the above configuration, the second user does not utilize the effect of the thrown-in object, and therefore does not prevent the effect from being imparted to the first user, and can concentrate on playing to assist the first user.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, while a first user and a second user are playing a game together, a second reception unit may accept an input operation including an operation of selecting an input object from objects possessed by the second user in the game and an operation of specifying a placement position on the field, and an acquisition operation in which the second user pays a fee to acquire an object that the second user does not possess in sufficient numbers to select as an input object.
According to the above configuration, the second user can decide the type of the object to be inserted and its position on the field at his/her own will, which makes the game more interesting for the second user. Also, since an object that is in short supply can be purchased during game play, even if the second user does not have an object that he/she wants to insert onto the field as an object to be inserted, the second user can replenish the object as needed, which makes the game more interesting for the second user.

In the information processing device of the present invention, the display control unit may display the display object in a display mode based on objects that exist within a predetermined range from the placement position on the field.
According to the above configuration, the first user can infer the situation around the placement of the thrown-in object (e.g., the number of enemies appearing around the thrown-in object and the presence of auxiliary objects, etc.) from the display mode of the displayed object, thereby making the game even more interesting.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, when the placement position is outside the part of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit may switch between displaying and hiding the display object based on the distance between the current position of the operated object in the field and the placement position.
According to the above configuration, the first user can know whether the thrown-in object is located near or far from the current position of the operated object by switching between display and non-display of the display object. This allows the thrown-in object to be used more effectively, making it easier to encourage the second user to participate in the game by throwing the object.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, when a plurality of first users and a second user play a game together, the second receiving unit may receive an input operation including an operation of the second user designating one of the plurality of first users. In this case, the display control unit may display a display object at a position corresponding to the arrangement position on the first screen on the first terminal of the first user designated by the second user among the plurality of first users.
According to the above configuration, by displaying a display object on the first screen of a first user designated by a second user among a plurality of first users, the first user can be notified of the existence and location of the thrown-in object. This allows, for example, the second user to cooperate with a specific first user in the game, further increasing the interest of the game.

The information processing device of the present invention may further include a game processing unit that progresses the game. When a plurality of first users and a plurality of second users play the game together, the game processing unit may change parameter values corresponding to each of the first users according to the progress of the game. In this case, it is more preferable that the display control unit displays a display object at a position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen on a first terminal of a first user selected from the plurality of first users based on a parameter value corresponding to the effect of an input object placed at the placement position.
According to the above configuration, the presence and location of an input object can be notified to a first user selected from among a plurality of first users based on a parameter value corresponding to the effect of the input object. This makes it possible to notify, for example, a first user with the smallest current value of stamina that an input object for restoring stamina has been input onto the field. This allows the input object to be used more effectively, making it easier to encourage second users to participate in the game by inputting the object.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, when multiple first users and second users play a game together, the display control unit may display a display object at a display position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen on the first terminal of a first user among the multiple first users who satisfies a predetermined condition, and may also notify information about the second user who inserted the inserted object.
According to the above configuration, a first user who satisfies a predetermined condition can be notified of the second user who threw in the thrown-in object, as well as the presence and location of the thrown-in object, thereby making the game even more interesting.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, the display control unit may display the display object at a display position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen on a first terminal of a first user among a plurality of first users, the first user being located within a predetermined range from the placement position in the field, and may also notify information regarding the second user who input the input object.
According to the above configuration, the throw-in object can be effectively utilized because the first user who operates the operated object near the throw-in object can be notified of the existence and location of the throw-in object. Also, the first user can be notified of the second user who threw in the throw-in object, which makes it easier to build a cooperative relationship between the first user and the second user, thereby making it easier to encourage the second user to participate in the game.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, the display control unit may target only the first terminal of a first user who satisfies a predetermined condition, cause the display object to be displayed at a display position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen, and may also notify information regarding a second user who input the input object.
According to the above configuration, only first users who satisfy specified conditions can be notified of the presence and location of the thrown-in object, as well as the name of the second user who threw in the thrown-in object, making the game even more interesting.

In the information processing device of the present invention, the second reception unit may receive a post-input operation performed by the second user after the input operation. In this case, the display control unit may control the first terminal to change the display mode of the display object according to the number of times the post-input operation has been performed.
According to the above configuration, the display mode of the display object can be changed according to the number of operations (post-throw operations) performed by the second user after the throw-in operation. This change in the display mode draws the first user's attention to the display object, making it easier for the first user to notice the presence and location of the thrown-in object. As a result, the thrown-in object becomes easier to use by the first user, and it is possible to more effectively encourage the second user to participate in the game by throwing the object.

In addition, in the information processing device of the present invention, when a plurality of first users and second users play a game together, the display control unit may, when the operated object of one of the multiple first users approaches the thrown object on the field, display information about one of the first users on the first terminal of each of the other first users together with the display object.
According to the above configuration, the presence of a first user approaching the thrown-in object can be notified to other first users, thereby making it possible to increase the interest of a game played jointly by a plurality of first users.

In addition, the information processing method of the present invention is characterized in that a computer accepts a move operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field, and the computer accepts a throw-in operation performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user to throw an object onto the field, and the computer controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen that shows a portion of the field corresponding to the move operation, and when the placement position of the object to be thrown in determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside the portion of the field shown on the first screen, the computer controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the object to be thrown in at a display position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen.
With the above information processing method, even if the position of the thrown-in object is outside the portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the first user can easily become aware of the presence and position of the thrown-in object.

In addition, the program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to accept a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field, accepts an input operation performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user to input an input object onto the field, controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen that shows a portion of the field in accordance with the movement operation, and, if the position of the input object determined in accordance with the input operation is outside the portion of the field displayed on the first screen, controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the input object at a display position in accordance with the position on the first screen.
By executing the above program on a computer, the first user can easily become aware of the presence and position of the thrown-in object even if the thrown-in object is located outside the part of the field that is displayed on the first screen.

10 Server (information processing device)
11 First terminal 12 Second terminal 14 Communication network 21 Processor 22 Memory 23 Communication interface 24 Storage 25 Bus 31 First reception unit 32 Second reception unit 33 Game processing unit 34 Memory unit 35 Display control unit 41 Area information memory unit 42 User information memory unit 43 Insertion information memory unit 51 First display control unit 52 Second display control unit G1 First screen G2 Second screen G3 Object purchase screen ic Display icon (display object)

Claims (12)

a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
In a case where a plurality of first users and second users play the game together,
the second reception unit receives the input operation including an operation by the second user to designate one of the plurality of first users;
The display control unit displays the display object at a position corresponding to the arrangement position on the first screen on the first terminal of a first user designated by the second user among the multiple first users. a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
The second reception unit receives a post-input operation performed by the second user after the input operation,
The display control unit controls the first terminal to change a display mode of the display object depending on the number of times the post-insertion operation has been performed. a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
In a case where a plurality of first users and second users play the game together,
The display control unit is an information processing device that, when the operated object of one of the multiple first users approaches the input object on the field, displays information about the one first user together with the display object on the first terminal of each of the other first users. the computer receives a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move the operated object on a field;
a computer receives an input operation for inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a computer controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the input object determined in response to the input operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the computer controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the input object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
In a case where a plurality of first users and second users play the game together,
the computer receives the input operation including an operation by the second user to specify one of the plurality of first users;
An information processing method, comprising: a computer causing a first terminal of a first user, the first user being specified by a second user, among the plurality of first users, to display the display object at a position corresponding to the arrangement position on the first screen. the computer receives a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move the operated object on a field;
a computer receives an input operation for inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a computer controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the input object determined in response to the input operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the computer controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the input object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
the computer receives a post-submission operation performed by the second user after the submission operation;
An information processing method, comprising: a computer controlling the first terminal to change a display mode of the display object according to the number of times the post-input operation has been performed. the computer receives a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move the operated object on a field;
a computer receives an input operation for inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a computer controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the input object determined in response to the input operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the computer controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the input object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
An information processing method in which, when a plurality of first users and second users play the game together, a computer displays information about one of the plurality of first users together with the display object on the first terminal of each of the other first users when the operated object of the one first user approaches the thrown-in object on the field. On the computer,
accepting a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move an operated object on a field;
controlling a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a portion of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a second user who is playing the game together with the first user and assisting the first user performs a throw-in operation to throw an object onto the field, and a placement position of the object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the first terminal is controlled to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
When the first user and the second user play the game together, when the second user performs the input operation including an operation of designating the first user, a program controls the first terminal to display the display object at a position corresponding to the placement position on the first screen. On the computer,
accepting a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move an operated object on a field;
controlling a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a portion of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a second user who is playing the game together with the first user and assisting the first user performs a throw-in operation to throw an object onto the field, and a placement position of the object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the first terminal is controlled to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
A program that, when the second user performs a post-input operation after the input operation , controls the first terminal to change the display mode of the display object depending on the number of times the post-input operation is performed. On the computer,
accepting a movement operation performed by a first user in the game to move an operated object on a field;
controlling a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a portion of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a second user who is playing the game together with the first user and assisting the first user performs a throw-in operation to throw an object onto the field, and a placement position of the object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the first terminal is controlled to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
A program for displaying information about the other user together with the display object on the first screen when the first user and another user play the game together and the other user's operated object approaches the thrown-in object on the field. An information processing system having a terminal owned by each of a plurality of users and a server capable of communicating with each of the user's terminals via a network,
The server,
a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
In a case where a plurality of first users and second users play the game together,
the second reception unit receives the input operation including an operation by the second user to designate one of the plurality of first users;
The display control unit displays the display object at a position corresponding to the arrangement position on the first screen on the first terminal of a first user designated by the second user among the multiple first users. An information processing system having a terminal owned by each of a plurality of users and a server capable of communicating with each of the user's terminals via a network,
The server,
a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
The second reception unit receives a post-input operation performed by the second user after the input operation,
The display control unit controls the first terminal to change a display mode of the display object depending on the number of times the post-insertion operation has been performed. An information processing system having a terminal owned by each of a plurality of users and a server capable of communicating with each of the user's terminals via a network,
The server,
a first receiving unit that receives a movement operation performed by a first user in a game to move an operated object on a field;
a second reception unit that receives an input operation of inputting an input object onto the field, the input operation being performed by a second user who plays the game together with the first user and assists the first user;
a display control unit that controls a first terminal of the first user to display a first screen showing a part of the field corresponding to the movement operation;
when a placement position of the thrown-in object determined in response to the throw-in operation is outside a portion of the field that is displayed on the first screen, the display control unit controls the first terminal to display a display object corresponding to the thrown-in object at a display position on the first screen that is in accordance with the placement position;
In a case where a plurality of first users and second users play the game together,
The display control unit of this information processing system displays information about one of the multiple first users together with the display object on the first terminal of each of the other first users when the operated object of the one first user approaches the input object on the field.