JP7770835B2 - Game play streaming management system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game play distribution management system, a program, and a game viewing management method.

Watching images of skilled players playing games is becoming recognized as entertainment comparable to watching sports.

More recently, video streaming services have begun to offer content called "game commentary," in which players play games and provide live commentary on their gameplay, which has become a genre in itself.

In particular, recently, systems have become known that manage the distribution of live game play (hereinafter referred to as "live game play distribution management systems"), which grant bonuses related to the game being broadcast to viewers watching the game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-171283

However, in the game play distribution management system described in Patent Document 1, viewers are given game-related benefits on the premise that they will be provided to the players who play the game live. While this is recognized as having the effect of increasing the appeal of viewing, it cannot be said that it is highly effective in motivating viewers to play the game they are watching.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a game play distribution management system that increases motivation to watch game play and can arouse viewers' interest in the gameplay they are watching, encouraging them to play the game.

(1) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
The configuration includes:

With this configuration, the present invention can motivate viewers of game commentary to watch the game that is the subject of the commentary, and can also arouse viewers' interest in the gameplay of the game they are watching, encouraging them to play the game.

Note that "game viewing information" includes, for example, game images and sounds of the game being streamed as a live broadcast, as well as audio and images of the player streaming the game.

In addition, "Gameplay Information" includes
(A1) Information on parameters that change as the game progresses for an individual player or player character, such as level and experience points (hereinafter referred to as "game variable parameters");
(A2) The presence or absence of indicators or states (hereinafter referred to as "game elements") relating to the game of the player or player character at a given time, such as the cleared stage, task, or level, the currently executed stage, task, or level, or the attributes of the player character, the number and type of items held, or the number of members belonging to the same group and the role (position) of the player, and information on the type of the game elements;
(A3) Information regarding the player's game behavior (hereinafter referred to as "game behavior"), such as whether or not there is a charge, whether or not there is a bonus acquisition option such as a battle pass, whether or not a lottery event has been held and the lottery results, or whether or not a mini-game has been held and the results thereof (hereinafter also referred to as "game behavior information");
These include:

Furthermore, the "viewer viewing situation" includes, for example,
(B1) Viewer's viewing time for the distributed game,
(B2) Content of the game being watched by the viewer (the game stage in which the player being watched is progressing, the battle scene (battle scene, goal scene)), the viewing content showing the mini-game or lottery scene,
(B3) The viewing environment, such as the terminal device or platform used by the viewer,
(B4) The presence, type, and number of viewers' actions regarding the game viewing (hereinafter referred to as "viewer actions"), such as whether or not a fixed or non-fixed comment such as "like" has been provided (however, if the system allows these comments to be registered or recognized on the distribution side), (B5) the number of viewers watching the game being distributed (the number of viewers at the current time, the number of viewers registered to watch, or the total number of viewers who have watched), and
(B6) Viewer attributes (membership type, gender, generation), presence or absence of options (for example, bonus acquisition options), or viewer type such as whether or not there is a charge for viewing and the type based on the amount of the charge,
These include:

In particular, the reward acquisition option is an option called a Battle Pass, which provides an advantageous effect in the game to an option-set player who has the reward acquisition option compared to a non-option-set player who does not have the option, even if the game actions, game processes, and results are the same.

In addition to the above, "benefit awarding related control" may refer to direct control over the awarding of viewer benefits, or, if a device providing a game, such as a game server device, is formed independently, it may refer to instructing the device providing the game to perform control to award the viewer benefits.

(2) The present invention also provides:
The viewing status includes at least one of the viewing time of the game being viewed by the viewer, the viewing content of the game being viewed by the viewer, the viewing environment of the viewer, the number of viewers viewing the distributed game, and the type of viewer.

With this configuration, the present invention can, for example, award viewer rewards to viewers who watch the gameplay for more than an hour, or, if the system is configured to allow viewers to register comments about live play broadcasts, award viewer rewards to viewers who make those comments or who make numerous comments (long comments), or award viewer rewards that are more advantageous than those given to other viewers who have not made as many comments.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to set whether or not viewer benefits are available and their relative merits depending on the viewing situation, allowing game players and broadcasters to guide viewers to the parts and viewing methods they want them to watch, while also motivating viewers to actively watch.

(3) The present invention also provides:
The benefit granting control means
When it is determined that the detected viewing situation satisfies a given condition, control is executed to change the viewer privilege to be granted.

With this configuration, the present invention can determine whether or not viewer benefits are available and their relative merits depending on the viewing situation, allowing game players and broadcasters to guide viewers to the parts and viewing methods they want them to watch, while also motivating viewers to actively watch.

The "given conditions" include, for example,
(C1) Having watched for a certain period of time or more,
(C2) Viewing specific game content such as a specific game stage or battle scene,
(C3) Viewing on a specific platform;
(C4) A predetermined standard comment has been registered;
(C5) The number of viewers has exceeded a certain number, and
(C6) Being a viewer who has made a specific payment;
These include:

(4) The present invention also provides:
The viewer benefit to be given is an item related to the game.

With this configuration, the present invention can grant viewers of a game a viewer benefit that can actually be used in the game, such as a limited item used in the game or an item acquired by a player playing the streamed game, or a viewer benefit that viewers can easily imagine as a viewer benefit.

(5) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
As the viewer benefit to be granted, a game to be distributed that the viewer is watching,
The system is configured to control the game played by the viewer in order to link the game progress.

With this configuration, the present invention allows, for example, a viewer to start playing a game while still playing a portion of a game they have already watched (i.e., a game currently being streamed), or to complete a difficult part by watching a game played by an advanced player.

Therefore, the present invention can provide viewers with an advantageous situation by playing the game, thereby increasing the viewer's interest in the game and easily removing obstacles even in situations where the game is difficult and it is difficult to maintain motivation to continue.

Note that "linking game progress" includes, for example, when a viewer plays the same game as a player playing the game that is the subject of a live play stream, completing the same tasks or stages, having the same player characters or items, or playing the game under the same conditions.

(6) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
As a viewer benefit, when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play that he or she has viewed, a game content change control is executed to change the content of the part of the game that the viewer has viewed.

With this configuration, the present invention allows viewers to change the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play they are watching, thereby eliminating the sense of boredom that comes with watching the game and increasing the interest in the game.

The "game content change control" refers to, for example, when the part of the game that the viewer has watched is played,
(D1) Control to change the difficulty level of that part of the game, or
(D2) Control to change the items and gimmicks of that part of the game,
Shows.

(7) The present invention also provides
7. The game play distribution management system according to claim 6,
The benefit granting control means
The game content change control is configured to execute control for changing the difficulty level of the game that is the subject of the live game play viewed by the viewer.

With this configuration, the present invention allows viewers to change the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play they are watching and provide it to them.

Note that "control to change the difficulty level of the portion of the game viewed by the viewer" refers to controlling the difficulty level, for example, by increasing or decreasing the number of enemy characters on the stage of the viewed portion when the viewer plays the game they viewed, or by increasing or decreasing the level of those enemy characters.

(8) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
The game content change control is configured to execute control to change the game elements of the portion viewed by the viewer when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play that the viewer viewed.

With this configuration, the present invention allows viewers to change the game they watch and provide it to them.

In addition, "game elements" include, for example,
(E1) Appearing items and acquired items,
(E2) enemy characters, and
(E3) Objects that constitute the game space,
Includes:

Furthermore, "control for changing the game elements of the part viewed by the viewer" includes, for example, (F1) adding game elements,
(F2) Changes to game elements,
(F3) Addition of game element actions, and
(F4) Change the action, action timing, and appearance timing of game elements;
These include:

(9) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
As a viewer benefit, when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play that he/she has viewed, a skip control is executed to cause the viewer to skip the content of the game that he/she has viewed.

With this configuration, the present invention can, for example, allow a viewer to skip the portion of the game content they have viewed when playing the game, either at their own discretion or through game processing.

Therefore, the present invention can eliminate elements that make the game viewed less fresh, thereby maintaining the viewer's interest in the game.

(10) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
The control related to the granting of privileges is configured to execute control for granting the determined viewer privilege to the viewer when it is decided to grant the viewer privilege to the viewer and an instruction from the viewer that the viewer agrees to the granting of the viewer privilege is received.

With this configuration, the present invention allows viewers to control the granting of viewer benefits, thereby respecting the viewers' wishes regarding the granting of viewer benefits.

(11) The present invention also provides
a first detection means for executing a game execution detection process for detecting whether the viewer is playing the game that he or she has watched;
a notification control means for controlling a notification to the viewer regarding a viewer benefit granted to the viewer when it is detected by the game execution detection process that the viewer is not playing the game that is the subject of the live play of the game that the viewer has watched;
The present invention has a configuration further comprising:

With this configuration, the present invention can encourage viewers to play the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play based on the viewer benefits granted.

Note that the "game execution detection process" includes detecting whether a viewer has logged in to the game in question, downloaded the game's application, and registered as a user for a service that provides the game in question.

Furthermore, "notification control" includes, for example, notifying information regarding the content of the viewer benefits to be granted.

(12) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
When a viewer benefit is granted to the viewer, the system is configured to execute notification control to notify a player playing the game that is the subject of the live game play that the viewer to whom the viewer benefit has been granted has been granted a viewer benefit, or execute benefit provision control to provide the player with a given benefit as a game viewing information provider benefit.

With this configuration, the present invention can provide game viewing information provider benefits to players playing the game being viewed (i.e., the game being distributed), thereby increasing the player's motivation for distribution and encouraging them to watch the game.

The "game viewing information provider benefit" may be, for example, a benefit related to the same game as the viewer, or a success fee (i.e., money) generated from an affiliate game or the like.

(13) The present invention also provides
The benefit granting control means
The benefit is changed according to information about a player who is playing the game that is the subject of the live game play.

With this configuration, the present invention can change viewer benefits or game viewing information provider benefits, for example, depending on the number of subscribers to the channel of the player playing the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play (i.e., the channel for live play broadcast).

For example, in the present invention, when a channel has a large number of subscribers, the viewer benefits or game viewing information provider benefits may be changed to benefits that have a more advantageous effect on viewers, and when a channel has a small number of subscribers, the viewer benefits or game viewing information provider benefits may be changed to benefits that have a more advantageous effect on viewers.

Therefore, the present invention can increase viewers' motivation to watch games, or players' motivation to broadcast the games they are watching.

In addition, the "information about the player playing the game that is the subject of live streaming play" includes, for example, the number of subscribers to the channel that distributes game viewing information of the player playing the game to be viewed, as well as the type of player and the total number of viewers of the game provided by the player to be viewed.

In particular, "player type" includes, for example, player attributes (membership type, gender, generation).

(14) The present invention also provides
a storage control means for storing game viewing information of the game that is the subject of the game live play in a storage means during the game live play;
a second detection means for executing a viewing timing detection process for detecting a viewing timing of the viewer;
Further provided with
The benefit granting control means
In the viewing timing detection process, when it is detected that the viewer is watching the game that is the subject of the corresponding live game play in real time based on the provided game viewing information, the benefit to be granted when the viewer is watching the game based on the game viewing information stored in the storage means is changed.

With this configuration, the present invention can provide viewers with more advantageous or less advantageous benefits when, for example, they watch a game being streamed live in real time while it is being streamed live (i.e., in the case of live streaming), than when they watch the game after it has already finished and based on stored game viewing information (i.e., in the case of streaming based on an archive).

The present invention therefore allows the benefits to be changed depending on the timing of viewing, so that viewers can be guided to the timing they want to watch based on the player's or distributor's various intentions, such as directing viewers to real-time distribution (i.e., live distribution) or archive distribution (i.e., recorded distribution).

Note that "when watching a game based on game viewing information stored in the storage means" includes not only viewing the stored game viewing information as is (i.e., mirror distribution), but also viewing edited game viewing information (including so-called clipped video distribution).

In particular, "distribution of game viewing information" may refer to cases where the player himself/herself is the primary distributor of the information to viewers, or cases where someone other than the player is the primary distributor of the information to viewers.

(15) In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides:
A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play; and
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
The computer has a configuration that allows the computer to function as a computer.

With this configuration, the present invention can motivate viewers of game commentary to watch the game that is the subject of the commentary, and can also arouse viewers' interest in the gameplay of the game they are watching, encouraging them to play the game.

(16) In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides:
A game play distribution management method for managing distribution of a game play of a specific player from a server device to a terminal device of a viewer connected to the server device via a network, the game play being distributed to the viewer, the viewer being able to view the execution status of the game being played by the specific player, the game play management method comprising:
The server device:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
When equipped with
receiving the game viewing information distributed from the server device;
providing information about the viewing status of the viewer to the server device;
The information relating to the provision of the special benefit is received from the server device.

With this configuration, the present invention can motivate viewers of game commentary to watch the game that is the subject of the commentary, and can also arouse viewers' interest in the gameplay of the game they are watching, encouraging them to play the game.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration showing a configuration of a game commentary distribution system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a game server device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a game commentary distribution server device according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining game commentary distribution control management that controls and manages distribution based on game commentary in one embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a game commentary distribution control management that controls and manages distribution based on a game commentary executed in a game commentary distribution server device according to an embodiment.

The present embodiment will be described below. Note that the present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention as set forth in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in this embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[1] Game Commentary Distribution System First, an overview and a general configuration of a game commentary distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration showing the configuration of the game commentary distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game commentary distribution system 1 of this embodiment is configured to be connectable to the Internet (an example of a network) and includes a game server device 10 that provides game services, terminal devices 20 (e.g., terminal devices 20A, 20B, 20C), and a game commentary distribution server device 30 that distributes the execution status of games played by players (i.e., the content of the game commentary) to viewers.

By accessing the game server device 10 from a terminal device 20, users (i.e., players or viewers) can play games transmitted from the game server device 10 via the Internet. By accessing the game server device 10 from a terminal device 20, users can also communicate with other users. Furthermore, by accessing the game live streaming server device 30 from a terminal device 20, users can watch live game play in which a specific player plays a specific game while providing live commentary of the specific game being played.

The game server device 10 is an information processing device capable of providing a service that allows users to play games using terminal devices 20 connected for communication via the Internet. The game server device 10 may also function as an SNS server that provides communication-type services. Here, the SNS server may be an information processing device that provides a service that allows communication between multiple users.

Furthermore, when the game server device 10 functions as an SNS server, for example, it is capable of providing games known as social games that are executed using the operating environment (APIs (application programming interfaces), platforms, etc.) of the SNS it provides.

The game server device 10 may provide browser games that are run on the web browser of the terminal device 20, or may provide online games that are run on a dedicated platform.

In particular, when providing browser games, the game server device 10 is capable of providing games (games that can be launched simply by opening the installation site in a web browser) created in a variety of languages, including HTML, FLASH, CGI, PHP, shockwave, Java (registered trademark) applets, and JavaScript (registered trademark).

Unlike existing online games, social games include games that do not require dedicated client software and can be played with just a web browser and a social networking account.

In addition, when providing online games, the game server device 10 is configured to connect to other users' terminal devices (smartphones, personal computers, game consoles, etc.) 20 via a network, enabling the game progress to be shared online.

On the other hand, the game server device 10 may be composed of one (device, processor) or multiple (devices, processors).

In addition, information such as billing information and game information stored in the memory area of the game server device 10 (the memory unit 140 described below) may be stored in a database (broadly speaking, a storage device or memory) connected via a network (an intranet or the Internet), or, when functioning as an SNS server, information such as that stored in the player information storage unit 146 in the memory area may be stored in a database (broadly speaking, a storage device or memory) connected via a network (an intranet or the Internet).

Specifically, the game server device 10 of this embodiment receives input information based on operations by the user of the terminal device 20 (i.e., the player executing the game), and performs game processing based on the received input information. The game server device 10 then transmits the game processing results to the terminal device 20, and the terminal device 20 performs various processes to provide the game processing results received from the game server device 10 to the terminal device 20 so that they can be viewed by the user.

The terminal device 20 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, mobile phone, PHS, computer, game device, PDA, portable game console, or image generation device, and is a device that can be connected to the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30 via a network such as the Internet (WAN) or LAN. The communication line between the terminal device 20 and the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30 may be wired or wireless.

The terminal device 20 also has a web browser capable of viewing web pages (HTML data). In other words, the terminal device 20 has a communication control function for communicating with the game server device 10, and performs display control using data received from the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30 (web data, data created in HTML format, etc.).

The terminal device 20 is equipped with a web browser function that transmits user operation data to the game server device 10 or the game commentary distribution server device 30, and executes various processes to provide the user with game screens or screens related to the distributed game commentary, allowing the user to play the game or watch the game commentary. However, the terminal device 20 may also acquire game play information provided by the game server device 10, execute predetermined game processing, and run a game based on the game processing.

Specifically, when the terminal device 20 makes a request to the game server device 10 to play a predetermined game, it connects to the game site of the game server device 10 and the game begins. In particular, the terminal device 20 is configured to use an API as necessary to cause the game server device 10, which functions as an SNS server, to perform predetermined processing, or to retrieve the player information storage unit 146 managed by the game server device 10, which functions as an SNS server, and run the game.

In particular, the terminal device 20 is configured to use an API as needed to cause the game server device 10 functioning as an SNS server to perform specified processing, or to retrieve the player information storage unit 146 managed by the game server device 10 functioning as an SNS server, thereby executing the game.

On the other hand, when the terminal device 20 makes a request to the game commentary distribution server device 30 to watch a live game commentary of a specific game played by a specific player, the terminal device 20 is connected to the viewing site of the game commentary distribution server device 30.

Then, when viewing of the game commentary begins, the terminal device 20 executes various processes such as sending and receiving information to allow the user, who is the viewer, to view the game commentary.

The game commentary distribution server device 30 is an information processing device that executes a game commentary distribution control management process that controls and manages distribution based on game commentary, including various distribution control processes (hereinafter referred to as "distribution control processes") that allow viewers to view the execution status of a game played by a specific player via a terminal device 20 connected to the Internet.

In particular, the game commentary distribution server device 30 acquires various game play information currently being played, including operation information of a specific player, from the game server device 10, as well as image, audio, or both information of the specific player when commenting on the game from the game server device 10, the specific player's terminal device 20, or both (hereinafter referred to as "commentary content information").

The game commentary distribution server device 30 also has the function of generating game viewing information for viewing game play information and commentary content information based on instructions from a specific player or in accordance with a distribution program, and distributing the generated game viewing information to the corresponding terminal device 20.

Note that the game live streaming server device 30 may consist of one (device, processor) or multiple (devices, processors).

In addition, the game viewing information stored in the memory area (memory unit 340, described below) of the game live streaming server device 30 may be stored in a database (broadly speaking, a storage device, memory) connected via a network (intranet or the Internet), and information such as the streaming program stored in the memory area may be stored in a database (broadly speaking, a storage device, memory) connected via a network (intranet or the Internet).

[2] Game Server Device Next, the game server device 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the game server device 10 of this embodiment. Furthermore, the game server device 10 of this embodiment may have a configuration in which some of the components (each unit) of Fig. 2 are omitted.

The game server device 10 includes an input unit 120 used for administrator and other input, a display unit 130 for displaying predetermined information, an information storage medium 180 storing predetermined information, a communication unit 196 for communicating with terminal devices 20 and others, a processing unit 100 that mainly executes processing related to the game to be provided, and a storage unit 140 that mainly stores various data used in the game.

The input unit 120 is used by a system administrator or the like to input game-related settings and other necessary settings and data. For example, in this embodiment, the input unit 120 is configured with a mouse, keyboard, etc.

The display unit 130 displays an operation screen for the system administrator. For example, in this embodiment, the display unit 130 is configured as a liquid crystal display or the like.

The information storage medium 180 (computer-readable medium) stores programs, data, etc., and its functions are realized by optical disks (CDs, DVDs), magneto-optical disks (MOs), magnetic disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, or memory (ROMs).

The communication unit 196 performs various controls for communicating with the outside (e.g., terminals, other servers, or other network systems), and its functions are configured by hardware such as various processors or communication ASICs, programs, etc.

The memory unit 140 serves as a work area for the processing unit 100, communication unit 196, etc., and its functions are realized by RAM (VRAM), etc. The information stored in the memory unit 140 may be managed in a database.

In addition to the main memory 142, the memory unit 140 of this embodiment also includes:
(A1) a game data storage unit 144 in which game information indicating information related to a game is stored;
(A2) a player information storage unit 146 that stores player information indicating information about each player and information about the player's game (hereinafter referred to as "player-related information");
(A3) a benefit information storage unit 148 that stores benefit information related to benefits to be given to players;
It has the following characteristics.

The game data storage unit 144 stores information about the game field on which the game is played, condition information used for various judgments, information about each object on the game field, information for changing each object, various table information, information about each player's player character, and information about each item used in the game.

The player information storage unit 146 stores the following player-related information for each player:
(B1) The player's nickname, player ID, and if the player belongs to a team, the name of the team and its ID (hereinafter referred to as "affiliation information");
(B2) Information regarding individual and team performance, such as current level (player level), score, experience value, energy parameter value (life energy value, stamina value, and power value), earned rewards, or game time (hereinafter also referred to as "performance information");
(B3) Information on the characteristics (presence or absence of abilities and parameters defining each ability) and attributes (including level) of the player character (if there are multiple player characters, information on the characteristics and attributes of each character);
(B4) Information regarding charges, such as charge history and charge amount,
(B5) Item-related information including information on items held by the player character (hereinafter referred to as "item information") and information on items held in the past;
(B6) Information regarding login (access) history (hereinafter referred to as "access history information")
(B7) Information on acquired benefits (hereinafter also referred to as "acquired benefit information");
(B8) Information about the team to which the player belongs (hereinafter referred to as "team information"), and
(B9) Information about other players with whom you have a certain relationship, such as registered friends or followers (hereinafter also referred to as "related players") (hereinafter referred to as "related player information");
etc. are stored.

The bonus information storage unit 148 stores bonus information related to bonuses to be given to viewers who watch a live game play broadcast when that broadcast is performed.

The processing unit 100 performs various processes using a main memory unit 142 in the memory unit 140 as a work area. The functions of the processing unit 100 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.) and ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), or by programs.

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

For example, the processing unit 100 (processor) controls the entire game server device 10 based on a program stored on an information storage medium, and performs various processes such as controlling the transfer of data between each unit. It also performs processes to provide various services in response to requests from the terminal device 20.

Specifically, the processing unit 100 of this embodiment has at least a communication control unit 101, a web processing unit 102, a game management unit 103, a player management unit 104, a bonus control unit 108, a timer management unit 109, and an information provision unit 110.

The communication control unit 101 performs processing to send and receive data to and from the terminal device 20 via the network. In other words, the game server device 10 performs various processing based on information received from the terminal device 20, etc. by the communication control unit 101.

In particular, the communication control unit 101 of this embodiment performs processing to transmit a game screen to a player's terminal device 20 based on a request from that player's terminal device 20.

The communication control unit 101 also performs various processes to accept player instructions input to the terminal device 20.

The web processing unit 102 functions as a web server. For example, the web processing unit 102 performs processing to send data in response to a request from a web browser 211 installed on the terminal device 20, and processing to receive data sent by the web browser 211 of the terminal device 20, via a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

In this embodiment, the game server device 10 is described as having the functionality of an SNS server, but the game server device 10 may be configured as a separate server for the game and a separate server for the SNS. Furthermore, the game processing of this embodiment may be performed in part or in whole by the game server device 10, or in part by the terminal device 20.

The game management unit 103 works in conjunction with the terminal device 20 to create a game space as a virtual space, and executes various game processes related to various competitive games such as battle games, action games, RPGs, sound games, or sports games in which multiple players compete against each other in battles or combat, based on player operations input via the terminal device 20.

The game management unit 103 also executes various game processes based on player instructions sent from the terminal device 20.

In particular, the game management unit 103 controls the movement within the game space of the player character operated by each player and their actions in the game in response to player operation inputs entered into the terminal device 20, while also executing the actions of other related characters and objects and various game processes.

In addition, for option-setting players for whom a bonus acquisition option has been set, the game management unit 103 progresses various games based on the operation instructions and bonus acquisition option information of the option-setting player.

The game management unit 103 may execute various game processes for a single player character based on instructions from a single player, or may execute various game processes for multiple player characters.

The player management unit 104 registers and manages the items owned by the player and the benefits acquired by the player as player-related information in the player information storage unit 146, and also manages the player character set by the player during the game or the deck on which that character is set.

When a live game play is broadcast, the reward control unit 108 executes a reward control process that grants a given reward to viewers (i.e., players) who watch the game play status that is the subject of the live game play.

The timer management unit 109 has a timer function and is used to manage the progress of the game. In particular, the timer management unit 109 works in conjunction with the game management unit 103 to output the current time and preset times to each unit. The timer management unit 109 is also used to synchronize with each terminal device.

The information provider 110 generates various game control information to enable the terminal device 20 to process the game and provides it to the corresponding terminal device 20.

In addition, when live game play distribution is performed, the information providing unit 110 provides the game live play distribution server device 30 with information generated based on the game control information, or game play information generated or used in the process of generating the game control information.

Gameplay information is available at
(A1) Information on parameters that change as the game progresses for an individual player or player character, such as level and experience points (hereinafter referred to as "game variable parameters");
(A2) The presence or absence of indicators or states (hereinafter referred to as "game elements") relating to the game of the player or player character at a given time, such as the cleared stage, task, or level, the currently executed stage, task, or level, or the attributes of the player character, the number and type of items held, or the number of members belonging to the same group and the role (position) of the player, and information on the type of the game elements;
(A3) Information regarding the player's game behavior (hereinafter referred to as "game behavior"), such as whether or not there is a charge, whether or not there is a bonus acquisition option such as a battle pass, whether or not a lottery event has been held and the lottery results, or whether or not a mini-game has been held and the results thereof (hereinafter also referred to as "game behavior information");
These include:

[3] Terminal Device Next, the terminal device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the terminal device 20 of this embodiment. The terminal device 20 of this embodiment may have a configuration in which some of the components (each unit) of Fig. 2 are omitted.

The input unit 260 is a device for inputting input information from the player and outputs the player's input information to the processing unit 200. In this embodiment, the input unit 260 includes a detection unit 262 that detects the player's input information (input signal). Examples of the input unit 260 include a lever, buttons, a steering wheel, a microphone, a touch panel display, a keyboard, and a mouse.

The memory unit 270 serves as a work area for the processing unit 200, communication unit 296, etc., and its functions can be realized by RAM (VRAM), etc. In this embodiment, the memory unit 270 includes a main memory unit 271 used as a work area, and an image buffer 272 in which the final display image, etc. is stored. Note that some of these components may be omitted.

The information storage medium 280 (computer-readable medium) stores programs, data, etc., and its functions can be realized by optical disks (CDs, DVDs), magneto-optical disks (MOs), magnetic disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, or memory (ROMs), etc.

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

In this embodiment, programs and game data for causing a computer to function as each part of this embodiment, which are stored in the information storage medium 180 and memory unit 140 of the game server device 10 and the game live streaming server device 30, are received via a network, and the received programs and data are stored in the information storage medium 280. Programs and data received from the game server device 10 and the game live streaming server device 30 may also be stored in the memory unit 270. Receiving programs and data in this way to function a network system is also included within the scope of the present invention.

The display unit 290 outputs the image generated by this embodiment, and its function can be realized by a CRT, LCD, touch panel display, HMD (head-mounted display), or the like. The sound output unit 292 outputs the sound generated by this embodiment, and its function can be realized by a speaker, headphones, or the like. Note that, for example, the display unit 290 constitutes the display means of the present invention.

The communication unit 296 performs various controls for communicating with external devices (e.g., other terminals, servers), and its functions can be realized by hardware such as various processors or communication ASICs, or by programs.

The processing unit 200 (processor) acquires information about the game (i.e., game control information) from the game server device 10 via the communication unit 296, and performs processing such as game processing, display control, image generation processing, or sound generation processing based on input information from the input unit 260 or a program, etc.

In addition, the processing unit 200 performs processing to allow a player to view the content of a specific game commentary using a specific game by a specific player, based on game viewing information obtained from the game commentary distribution server device 30 via the communication unit 296.

The processing unit 200 performs various processes using a main memory unit 271 in the memory unit 270 as a work area. The functions of the processing unit 200 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.) and ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), or by programs.

The processing unit 200 includes a communication control unit 210, a web browser 211, a game processing unit 212, a display control unit 213, a drawing unit 220, and a sound processing unit 230. Note that some of these may be omitted.

The communication control unit 210 performs processing to send and receive data to and from each of the game server device 10 and the game live streaming server device 30. The communication control unit 210 also performs processing to store data received from the game server device 10 and the game live streaming server device 30 in the storage unit 270, to analyze the received data, and to control other processing related to the sending and receiving of data.

The communication control unit 210 may store and manage server destination information (IP address, port number) in the information storage medium 280. The communication control unit 210 may then communicate with the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30 when it receives input information from the player to start communication.

In particular, the communication control unit 210 transmits player identification information and operation information to the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30, and receives information about the game (player information, game card information, the player's web page, game screen, etc.) and information about the live game play from the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30.

The communication control unit 210 may transmit and receive data to and from the game server device 10 or the game live broadcasting server device 30 at a predetermined interval, or may transmit and receive data to and from the game server device 10 or the game live broadcasting server device 30 when input information is received from the input unit 260. In particular, the communication control unit 210 of this embodiment performs processing to receive game screens and game live play screens from the game server device 10 or the game live broadcasting server device 30.

The web browser 211 is an application program for viewing web pages (game screens and game live play screens). It downloads HTML files, image files, etc. from the web server (game server device 10 or game live play distribution server device 30), analyzes the layout, and controls the display. The web browser 211 also sends data to the web server (game server device 10 or game live play distribution server device 30) using input forms (links, buttons, text boxes, etc.).

The web browser 211 of this embodiment can enable viewing of browser games or game commentary. For example, the web browser 211 may execute programs written in JavaScript (registered trademark), FLASH, Java (registered trademark), etc. received from a web server (game server device 10 or game commentary distribution server device 30).

The terminal device 20 can use the web browser 211 to display information from a web server specified by a URL via the Internet. For example, the terminal device 20 can use the web browser 211 to display a game screen (data such as HTML) or a game play screen received from the game server device 10 or the game live streaming server device 30.

The game processing unit 212 performs various game calculation processes. For example, it processes the game when a game start condition is met, the game execution, and the game termination when a game termination condition is met.

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

Here, object space refers to a virtual space, and includes both two-dimensional space and three-dimensional space. Two-dimensional space is a space in which objects are placed using two-dimensional coordinates (X, Y), for example, and three-dimensional space is a space in which objects are placed using three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z), for example.

The game processing unit 212 also controls the sending and receiving of various information at login, executes game processing based on player operations when the game is executed in real time in conjunction with the game server device 10, and executes game processing including replaying received automatic calculation data when the game is executed by automatic calculation.

The display control unit 213 also performs processing to display on the display unit 290. For example, the display control unit 213 may display using the web browser 211.

The drawing unit 220 performs drawing processing based on various processes (e.g., game processing) performed by the processing unit 200, thereby generating an image, which is then output to the display unit 290 by the display control unit 213. The image generated by the drawing unit 220 may be a so-called two-dimensional image or a so-called three-dimensional image.

The sound processing unit 230 performs sound processing based on the results of various processes performed by the processing unit 200, generates game sounds such as background music, sound effects, or voice, and outputs them to the sound output unit 292.

[4] Game commentary distribution server device Next, the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment. Furthermore, the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment may have a configuration in which some of the components (each unit) of Fig. 4 are omitted.

The game commentary distribution server device 30 includes an input unit 320 used for administrator and other input, a display unit 330 for displaying predetermined information, an information storage medium 380 storing predetermined information, a communication unit 396 for communicating with terminal devices 20 and others, a processing unit 300 that mainly executes processes related to the distribution of game commentary play, and a memory unit 340 that mainly stores various data used when distributing game commentary play.

The input unit 320 is used by a system administrator or the like to input settings related to live game play and other necessary settings and data. For example, in this embodiment, the input unit 320 is configured with a mouse, keyboard, etc.

The display unit 330 displays an operation screen for the system administrator. For example, in this embodiment, the display unit 330 is configured as a liquid crystal display or the like.

The information storage medium 380 (computer-readable medium) stores programs, data, etc., and its functions are realized by optical disks (CDs, DVDs), magneto-optical disks (MOs), magnetic disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, or memory (ROM), etc.

The communication unit 396 performs various controls for communicating with the outside (e.g., terminals, other servers, or other network systems), and its functions are configured using hardware such as various processors or communication ASICs, as well as programs.

The memory unit 340 serves as a work area for the processing unit 300, communication unit 396, etc., and its functions are realized by RAM (VRAM), etc. The information stored in the memory unit 340 may be managed in a database.

In addition to the main memory 342, the memory unit 340 of this embodiment also includes:
(A1) a game viewing information storage unit 344 that stores game viewing information to be distributed to a viewer's terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a "viewer terminal device") 20 when each game is broadcast live;
(A2) a viewer management information storage unit 346 for storing information for managing viewers and game commentary players, including information regarding benefits to be given to viewers and game commentary players (hereinafter referred to as "benefit management information");
and constitutes the storage means of the present invention.

Game viewing information is stored in association with a game commentary ID assigned to each game commentary play. Each game viewing information may also be stored in association with game play information (original information not processed for commentary) for playing the game used to generate the game viewing information, and commentary content information such as audio and images used for the game commentary transmitted from the player commenting on the game (hereinafter referred to as the "game commentary player").

The bonus management information is formed from table data that defines the viewer status and the game status identified by the game play information, in association with a bonus ID that identifies the bonus to be granted to the viewer, etc.

The processing unit 300 performs various processes using the main memory unit 342 in the memory unit 340 as a work area. The functions of the processing unit 300 can be realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.) and ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), or by programs.

The processing unit 300 performs various processes of this embodiment based on programs (data) stored in the information storage medium 380. That is, the information storage medium 180 stores programs for causing a computer to function as each unit of this embodiment (programs for causing a computer to execute the processing of each unit).

For example, the processing unit 300 (processor) controls the entire game commentary distribution server device 30 based on a program stored in an information storage medium, and performs various processes such as controlling the transfer of data between each unit. It also performs processes to provide various game commentary distribution services in response to requests from the terminal device 20.

Specifically, the processing unit 300 of this embodiment has at least a communication control unit 301, a web processing unit 302, a game commentary distribution management unit 303, a viewer management unit 304, a timer management unit 309, and a distribution control unit 310.

For example, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 of this embodiment constitutes the management means, bonus granting control means, and storage control means of the present invention, and the viewer management unit 304 constitutes the viewer status detection means, first detection means, second detection means, and notification control means of the present invention. Also, for example, the distribution control unit 310 of this embodiment constitutes the distribution control means of the present invention.

The communication control unit 301 performs processing to send and receive data to and from the terminal device 20 via the network. In other words, the game commentary distribution server device 30 performs various processing based on information received from the terminal device 20, etc. by the communication control unit 301.

In particular, the communication control unit 301 of this embodiment performs processing to transmit a game commentary screen to a player's terminal device 20 based on a request from the player's terminal device 20.

The communication control unit 301 also performs various processes to accept player instructions input to the terminal device 20.

The web processing unit 302 functions as a web server. For example, the web processing unit 302 performs processing to send data in response to a request from the web browser 211 installed on the terminal device 20, and processing to receive data sent by the web browser 211 of the terminal device 20, via a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

The game commentary distribution management unit 303 works in conjunction with the game server device 10 and the terminal device 20 to manage distribution of game commentary for games provided by the game server device 10 for each player who wishes to receive distribution.

The viewer management unit 304 manages the viewers who watch each game commentary for each game commentary that is distributed.

The timer management unit 309 has a timer function and is used to manage the distribution status of live game commentary. In particular, the timer management unit 109 works in conjunction with the game management unit 103 to output the current time and preset times to each unit. The timer management unit 109 is also used to synchronize with each terminal device 20.

The distribution control unit 310 controls the distribution of game play commentary to provide game viewing information that allows viewers to watch the corresponding game commentary.

[5] Method of this embodiment [5.1] Overview Next, an overview of game commentary distribution control and management for controlling distribution based on game commentary according to this embodiment and managing the distribution will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating game commentary distribution control management, which controls and manages distribution based on game commentary in this embodiment.

The game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment is a server device that operates in conjunction with the game server device 10, the viewer's terminal device (hereinafter referred to as the "viewer terminal device") 20, and the game commentary player's terminal device (hereinafter referred to as the "game commentary player terminal device") 20, and performs game commentary distribution management, which manages the distribution of game commentary plays of games provided by the game server device 10.

In other words, the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment executes game commentary distribution control management to distribute the execution status of the provided game played by the game commentary player so that viewers can watch the provided game played by the game commentary player.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the game commentary distribution server device 30
(A1) performing a process for controlling distribution of a live game play (i.e., a distribution control process) that provides game viewing information for allowing viewers to view a game being played by a player;
(A2) Manage information about a game that is the target of live game play distribution (hereinafter also referred to as a “game to be live-played”) based on the player’s operation as game play information (for example, obtain it from the game live-play player terminal device 20);
(A3) A process for detecting the viewing status of viewers watching the game play-by-play (hereinafter referred to as a "viewing status detection process") is executed;
(A4) Based on the game play information of the game to be streamed live and the detected viewing status of the viewers watching the game to be streamed live, a control (hereinafter referred to as "control related to granting of privileges") is executed to grant privileges to viewers to be used in the game as viewer privileges (hereinafter referred to as "control related to granting of privileges").
It has the following structure.

Note that Figure 5 shows an example of the flow of information when a viewer benefit is awarded to a viewer who is watching a game play-by-play broadcast.

In particular, Figure 5 shows the relationship between Phase 1, which shows the flow of various information for generating and distributing game viewing information to viewers; Phase 2, which shows the flow of information for distributing game viewing information to viewers and detecting the viewing status of those viewers; Phase 3, which shows the flow of information when the game server device 10 acquires a viewer's new game registration request and game operation instructions after the bonus granting-related control process has been executed; and the control of game viewing information distribution and bonus granting-related control (including the granting of viewer bonuses).

The game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment and the game commentary distribution system 1 including it can motivate viewers of game commentary to watch the game that is the subject of the game commentary, and can also arouse viewers' interest in the gameplay of the game they are watching, encouraging them to play the game.

[5.2] Distribution Control Processing Including Game Viewing Information Generation Processing Next, a distribution control processing including game viewing information generation processing executed by the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

Under the management of the game live streaming management unit 303, the distribution control unit 310 executes a game live play distribution control process to allow viewers to watch the game being played by the game live player (i.e., the provided game provided by the game server device 10).

In particular, the distribution control unit 310 executes a game viewing information generation process that generates game viewing information consisting of game images of the provided game that is the subject of the game commentary being distributed, game sounds including background music, sound effects, character voices, etc., and the voices and images of the player distributing the game.

Then, the distribution control unit 310 executes a distribution control process to distribute the game viewing information generated by the game viewing information generation process to the corresponding viewer's terminal device (i.e., viewer terminal device) 20.

Specifically, under the control of the game live streaming management unit 303, the distribution control unit 310 acquires game play information of the provided game based on the operation information of the game live streaming player from the game server device 10 via the communication control unit 301.

In addition, under the control of the game live streaming management unit 303, the distribution control unit 310 acquires live content information such as images and audio of specific players from the terminal device 20 of the game live streaming player via the communication control unit 301.

Then, the distribution control unit 310 executes a game viewing information generation process that generates game viewing information based on the acquired game play information and live content information until the live game play ends.

For example, in the game viewing information generation process, the distribution control unit 310 divides one screen into two, generates an image for displaying a moving image of the provided game being played on one screen and a moving image of the upper body or face of the game live streaming player on the other screen, and mixes and edits the game sounds of the provided game and the audio of the game live streaming player to generate streaming game viewing information that can be displayed on the viewer terminal device 20 and that can simultaneously output the game sounds of the provided game and the audio of the game live streaming player.

The distribution control unit 310 also performs distribution control processing to distribute game viewing information generated in a predetermined format, such as streaming format, to one or more pre-registered viewer terminal devices 20, or to viewer terminal devices 20 that have made a viewing request during live game play.

[5.3] Viewer Management Including Viewing Status Detection Processing Next, viewer management including viewing status detection processing executed by the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

Under the management of the game live streaming management unit 303, the viewer management unit 304 manages the viewers watching each live game play using a viewer ID for each live game play that is streamed.

In particular, when each viewer watches a game play-by-play, the viewer management unit 304 registers the viewer ID of that viewer in association with the game play-by-play ID assigned to that game play-by-play.

For example, when the viewer management unit 304 receives a request to view a specific game play-by-play from the viewer terminal device 20 following a new login to a specific website or a login using an already registered account, the viewer management unit 304 assigns a new viewer ID or identifies a viewer ID from among the IDs already registered based on the login.

The viewer management unit 304 then associates the newly assigned viewer ID and the identified viewer ID with the game play ID and registers them in the viewer management information storage unit 346 to manage each viewer.

Meanwhile, the viewer management unit 304 works in conjunction with the viewer terminal device 20 to perform a viewing status detection process that detects the viewing status of each viewer for each live game play.

The viewer management unit 304 then associates the detected viewing status with the corresponding viewer ID and registers it in the viewer management information storage unit 346.

Specifically, while the viewer is watching a live game play, the viewer management unit 304 collects, as the viewing status, (B1) the viewer's viewing time for the game provided by the game server device 10 being distributed;
(B2) Content of the game being watched by the viewer (the game stage in which the player being watched is progressing, the battle scene (battle scene, goal scene)), the viewing content showing the mini-game or lottery scene,
(B3) The viewing environment, such as the terminal device or platform used by the viewer,
(B4) The presence, type, and number of viewers' actions regarding the game viewing (hereinafter referred to as "viewer actions"), such as whether or not a fixed or non-fixed comment such as "like" has been provided (however, if the system allows these comments to be registered or recognized on the distribution side), (B5) the number of viewers watching the game being distributed (the number of viewers at the current time, the number of viewers registered to watch, or the total number of viewers who have watched), and
(B6) Viewer attributes (membership type, gender, generation), presence or absence of options (for example, bonus acquisition options), or viewer type such as whether or not there is a charge for viewing and the type based on the amount of the charge,
Detects etc.

For example, when detecting viewing time as a viewing status, the viewer management unit 304 acquires from the viewer terminal device 20 the viewing start timing or the start timing of the game play-by-play based on the viewer's operation, and the viewing end timing or the end timing of the game play-by-play based on the viewer's operation, and calculates (i.e., detects) the viewing time based on each acquired timing.

Furthermore, for example, when detecting viewing content as viewing status, the viewer management unit 304 detects the viewing start time and viewing end time, and also detects and associates events that occurred between the viewing start time and viewing end time of the game play-by-play.

The bonus acquisition option is an option called a Battle Pass, which provides an option-set player who has the bonus acquisition option with a more advantageous effect in the game than a non-option-set player who does not have the option, even if the game actions, game processes, and results are the same.

[5.4] Management of Game Play Information Next, management of game play information in the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

For each game play that is distributed, the game live streaming management unit 303 associates information about the game that is the subject of the game play distribution and that is based on the player's operations with a game live play ID and manages it as game play information.

In particular, in this embodiment, the game live streaming management unit 303 acquires game play information from the game server device 10, the terminal device 20 of the corresponding game live streaming player, or both, for each live game play, and registers and manages the acquired game play information in the viewer management information storage unit 346.

In addition, if the game play information specifies time information indicating the time during the game play, the game live distribution management unit 303 registers the game play information, including the time information, in the viewer management information storage unit 346.

In addition, the game play information of this embodiment includes:
(A1) Information on parameters that change as the game progresses for an individual player or player character, such as level and experience points (hereinafter referred to as "game variable parameters");
(A2) The presence or absence of indicators or states (hereinafter referred to as "game elements") relating to the game of the player or player character at a given time, such as the cleared stage, task, or level, the currently executed stage, task, or level, or the attributes of the player character, the number and type of items held, or the number of members belonging to the same group and the role (position) of the player, and information on the type of the game elements;
(A3) Information regarding the player's game behavior (hereinafter referred to as "game behavior"), such as whether or not there is a charge, whether or not there is a bonus acquisition option such as a battle pass, whether or not a lottery event has been held and the lottery results, or whether or not a mini-game has been held and the results thereof (hereinafter also referred to as "game behavior information");
These include:

[5.5] Control Process Related to Granting of Benefit Next, the management of viewers, including the viewing situation detection process executed by the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment, will be described.

(Basic principles of reward granting related control processing)
The game live streaming management unit 303 executes a bonus-granting-related control process for each live game play to be streamed and for each viewer, which executes a bonus-granting-related control to grant a bonus to be used in the game to the viewer as a viewer bonus, based on game play information and the detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game.

Specifically, the game live streaming management unit 303 references table data that associates combinations of game play information and viewing status with the reward IDs of viewer rewards, and identifies the viewer reward (i.e., reward ID) associated with the detected combination of game play information and viewing status.

Then, the game live streaming management unit 303 associates the reward ID of the identified viewer reward with the viewer ID and provides it to the game server device 10 so that the viewer reward can be granted to the viewer who has logged in to the game server device 10.

In particular, the game live streaming management unit 303 works in conjunction with the game server device 10 to register the bonus ID associated with the viewer ID as bonus information in the bonus information storage unit 148 within the game server device 10.

At this time, when granting a bonus to a player playing a provided game using a viewer ID, the game live streaming management unit 303 may also register as bonus information a password (which may be set automatically or arbitrarily by the viewer) for verifying the player's identity as a viewer.

When providing a game, the game server device 10 will grant an item based on the bonus ID to a player who has a player ID that is the same as the viewer ID, or to a player who has logged in using that viewer ID (or to a player who has been authenticated if a password or other information is provided).

(Viewer Benefit 1: Item)
The game live distribution management unit 303 provides, as a viewer benefit, an item related to the game provided by the game server device 10 to the player character used in the provided game.

For example, items include characters such as player characters and equipment such as weapons that each character possesses, as well as in-game currency, life energy, passes (rights) that have specific effects, etc.

(Viewer Benefit 2: Game Link)
As a viewer benefit, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 may execute control to link the game progress between the game commentary game being distributed and the game being played by the viewer.

In other words, as a viewer benefit, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 may execute control such as allowing a viewer to start viewing a portion of a provided game that they have already viewed in the same state when playing the provided game themselves, or allowing a viewer to complete a difficult part of the game by watching a game played by an advanced player.

In this case, the game live streaming management unit 303 registers a bonus ID that specifies the control information for performing the control in association with the viewer ID on the game server device 10.

For example, in this case, when a viewer plays the same game as the player playing the provided game that is the subject of the live game play, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 registers in the game server device 10 a bonus ID that specifies control information for playing the game under the same conditions, such as when the viewer is playing the same game as the player playing the provided game that is the subject of the live game play and has completed the same task or stage, or when the viewer has the same player character or item.

(Viewer Benefit 3: Changes to the game content of the viewing portion)
As a viewer benefit, the game live distribution management unit 303 may execute game content change control to change the content of the part of the game viewed by the viewer when executing the provided game that is the subject of the live distribution play viewed by the viewer.

In other words, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 may, as a viewer benefit, execute game content change control to change the difficulty level of the portion viewed by the viewer (hereinafter referred to as the "viewed portion") or the content of the game, such as changing items or gimmicks, in order to eliminate boredom in the provided game caused by viewing and increase interest in the game.

For example, when changing the difficulty level of the viewing portion, the game live streaming management unit 303 registers, as a viewer benefit, a benefit ID in the game server device 10, which specifies control information for controlling the difficulty level, such as increasing or decreasing the number of enemy characters on the stage of the viewing portion, or increasing or decreasing the level of those enemy characters.

Furthermore, for example, when changing the items or gimmicks of the viewed portion, the game live streaming management unit 303 registers, as a viewer benefit, a benefit ID in the game server device 10, which specifies control information for executing control to change the game elements of the viewed portion.

In particular, when changing the items or gimmicks of the viewing portion, the game live distribution management unit 303 may change the following game elements:
(B1) Appearing items and acquired items,
(B2) enemy characters, and
(B3) Objects that constitute the game space,
is used.

Then, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 performs the following control to change the game elements of the viewing portion:
(C1) Addition of game elements,
(C2) Changes to game elements,
(C3) Adding game element actions, and
(C4) Changes to the actions, action timing, and appearance timing of game elements;
A privilege ID in which control information for executing the above control is defined is registered in the game server device 10.

(Viewer Benefit 4: Skip Control)
As a viewer benefit, the game live distribution management unit 303 may execute skip control to skip the content of the game viewed by the viewer when executing the provided game that is the subject of the live distribution play viewed by the viewer.

For example, based on the viewer's instructions as a player, or when the game server device 10 detects that the player is a viewer, the game live distribution management unit 303 registers with the game server device 10 a bonus ID that specifies control information for executing skip control to skip the content of the game viewed by the viewer.

(Changes to viewer benefits based on the judgment process)
The game live streaming management unit 303 executes a determination process to determine whether the viewing situation satisfies given conditions, and if it is determined that the viewing situation detected by the determination process satisfies the given conditions, it may execute control to change the viewer benefits to be granted.

In other words, in this case, the game live streaming management unit 303 determines whether or not viewer benefits are available and their relative merits based on the viewing situation, and changes the viewer benefits based on this determination process in order to guide the game player or streamer to the parts and viewing methods they want viewers to watch.

Specifically, in this case, the game commentary distribution management unit 303:
(D1) Having watched for a certain period of time or more,
(D2) Viewing specific game content such as a specific game stage or battle scene,
(D3) Viewing on a specific platform;
(D4) A predetermined standard comment has been registered;
(D5) The number of viewers has exceeded a certain number, and
(D6) Being a viewer who has made a specific payment;
When the above given conditions are met, the grade of the viewer privilege to be granted is changed.

In particular, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 of this embodiment may, when certain conditions are met, modify the viewer benefits to be granted, such as by increasing the grade of the benefit, thereby providing a beneficial effect to the player, or may modify the viewer benefits to be granted, such as by lowering the grade of the benefit, thereby providing a detrimental effect to the player.

[5.6] Modifications Next, modifications of this embodiment will be described.

(Modification 1: Another Configuration Example of the Server Device)
In the game live distribution system 1 of this embodiment, the game server device 10 and the game live distribution server device 30 are separate and independent from each other, but they may also be realized by a single server device that has the functions of both.

(Modification 2: Introduction of consent processing)
In this embodiment, when a viewer privilege is granted, control may be performed to execute a process for receiving consent from the viewer to whom the viewer privilege is granted (hereinafter also referred to as "approval process").

In other words, in this case, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 executes control related to the granting of rewards, in the event that it has decided to grant a reward to a viewer and has received an instruction from that viewer indicating that the viewer agrees to the granting of the reward, to grant the determined reward to that viewer.

For example, when granting a viewer benefit, such as during a live game play or after the live play has been completed and a benefit ID is registered in the game server device 10 in association with the viewer ID, the game live distribution management unit 303 inquires of the viewer terminal device 20 as to whether or not the viewer agrees to the granting of the viewer benefit.

Then, when the game live streaming management unit 303 receives an instruction from the viewer indicating consent to the granting of a viewer benefit, it registers a benefit ID in the game server device 10 in association with the viewer ID.

In addition, the game live streaming management unit 303 may also control the execution of the consent process when a viewer accesses the game server device 10 using a viewer ID and starts a provided game, as when granting a viewer benefit.

For example, in this case, when the game live streaming management unit 303 registers a reward ID in association with a viewer ID on the game server device 10, it executes an acceptance process when the viewer accesses the game server device 10 using the viewer ID and starts the provided game, and also registers information for executing control to grant the viewer reward if the game server device 10 receives an instruction from the viewer indicating that the viewer agrees to the granting of the viewer reward.

(Variation 3: Viewer Notification Control)
In this embodiment, if the provided game that the viewer has viewed has not been played after the viewer benefit has been awarded to the viewer, notification control regarding the awarded viewer benefit may be executed.

Specifically, in this case, the game commentary distribution management unit 303:
(A1) after granting a viewer benefit to the viewer, a game execution detection process is executed to detect whether the viewer is able to execute the provided game that the viewer has viewed;
(A2) When the game execution detection process detects that the viewer is not playing the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play that he or she watched, notification control is executed for the viewer regarding the viewer benefits granted to the viewer.

For example, if the game server device 10 detects that a game has not been played (no login) using the same ID as the viewer ID during a live game play or during a certain period after the live play has been performed and a bonus ID has been registered on the game server device 10 in association with the viewer ID, the game live distribution management unit 303 provides the terminal device 20 of the viewer who was granted the corresponding viewer bonus with information regarding the content of the granted viewer bonus and information regarding the offered game that can be used as a bonus.

The game execution detection process includes not only detecting that the viewer has logged in to the provided game, but also that the viewer has downloaded the application for the provided game and registered as a user for the service that provides the provided game.

(Variation 4: Notification Control and Benefit Provision Control for Game Commentary Players and Viewers)
In this embodiment, when a viewer benefit is granted to a viewer, notification control may be performed to notify the game commentary player that the viewer benefit has been granted, or benefit provision control may be performed to provide the player with a given benefit as a game viewing information provider benefit.

When a viewer benefit is granted to a viewer, the game commentary distribution management unit 303 may notify the terminal device 20 of the game commentary player that the viewer benefit has been granted to the viewer.

In addition, when a viewer benefit is granted to a viewer, the game live distribution management unit 303 may execute control to provide the given benefit to the player as a game viewing information provider benefit.

The reward for providing game viewing information may be, for example, a reward related to the same game as the viewer, or a success fee (i.e., money) earned in an affiliate game or the like.

(Variation 5: Change in benefits from viewers of game commentary players)
In this embodiment, the viewer benefit may be changed according to information about the game commentary distribution player who executes the game that is the subject of the game commentary play.

Specifically, the game live streaming management unit 303 may change the viewer benefits or game viewing information provider benefits depending on the information about the player who is providing the game for live play, such as the number of subscribers to the channel that distributes the game viewing information of the player who is playing the game to be viewed, the type of player, and the total number of viewers of the games provided by the player to be viewed.

In addition, instead of the number of channel subscribers, the game live streaming management unit 303 uses the player's attributes (membership type, gender, generation, etc.), the type of game live streaming player, or the total number of viewers of the games provided by the game live streaming player as viewing targets.

(Variation 6: Notification Control and Benefit Provision Control for Game Commentary Players and Viewers)
In this embodiment, an example has been described in which a live game play is viewed in real time, but it is also possible to realize non-real-time viewing (hereinafter also referred to as "archive viewing") by storing the distributed game viewing information in the game viewing information storage unit 344 and distributing the stored game viewing information.

In addition, in this embodiment, in addition to being able to view either real-time or archived content, the viewer may also select either viewing method depending on the viewing timing.

Specifically, the game commentary distribution management unit 303:
(B1) storing game viewing information of the provided game that is the subject of the game live play in a given storage location during the game live play;
(B2) executes a viewing timing detection process for detecting the viewing timing of the viewer;
(B3) In the viewing timing detection process, when it is detected that the viewer is viewing the game that is the subject of the corresponding live play in real time based on the provided game viewing information, a viewer benefit to be granted when the viewer is viewing the game based on the stored game viewing information is changed.

[6] Operation in this embodiment Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the operation of game commentary distribution control management for controlling and managing distribution based on game commentary executed in the game commentary distribution server device 30 of this embodiment will be described.

Note that Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the game commentary distribution control management, which controls and manages distribution based on game commentary executed by the game commentary distribution server device 30.

In this operation, it is assumed that the terminal device 20 of the game live streaming player is already running a game in conjunction with the game server device 10, and that the game server device 10 and the game live streaming server device 30 are connected and linked via a communication line.

In addition, in this operation, it is assumed that the terminal devices 20 that distribute game viewing information have already been registered (i.e., viewers watching live game play have been registered in association with viewer IDs), and that a communication line has already been connected to each terminal device 20.

First, when the game live streaming management unit 303 receives an instruction to start live game play transmitted from the game live streaming player's terminal device (i.e., live streaming player terminal device) 20 via the communication control unit 101 in a game provided by the game server device 10 (step S101), the distribution control unit 310 starts a game viewing information generation process to generate game viewing information for viewers to view the game live play, and a distribution control process to distribute the generated game viewing information (step S102).

Specifically, in the processing of step S102, the game live streaming management unit 303 works in conjunction with the game server device 10 to begin receiving game play information for a specific game based on operation information from the game live streaming player from the game server device 10, and also begins receiving live content information from the terminal device 20 of the game live streaming player.

The distribution control unit 310 then generates game viewing information based on the received game play information and live content information until the live game play ends.

In addition, once the distribution control unit 310 starts distributing game viewing information, it distributes the game viewing information to the terminal device 20 of the corresponding viewer until the live game play ends.

In addition, after the distribution of game viewing information has begun, if the distribution control unit 310 receives a request for distribution of game viewing information from a viewer's terminal device 20 that has not yet been registered for distribution, it will register the viewer's terminal device 20 as a distribution-enabled terminal device and begin distributing the game viewing information from the time the distribution request is received.

Next, the viewer management unit 304 works in conjunction with each viewer's viewer terminal device 20 to execute a viewing situation detection process to detect each viewer's viewing situation (step S103).

Next, the game live streaming management unit 303 identifies the benefits to be granted to each viewer based on the received game play information and the viewing status detected by the viewing status detection process for each viewer, based on the benefit management information stored in the viewer management information storage unit 346 (step S104).

Finally, when each viewer is identified as the viewer and logs in to the game server device 10, the game live streaming management unit 303 executes a benefit granting-related control process to register viewer benefit information for each viewer, in which the viewer ID is associated with a benefit ID for the benefit to be granted to the viewer identified by the viewer ID, on the game server device 10 in order to grant the corresponding benefit (step S105), and then terminates this operation.

The game live streaming management unit 303 continues streaming the game live play until it receives an instruction from the game live player to end streaming control. However, if the game live streaming management unit 303 receives an instruction from a viewer to end viewing while streaming the game live play, it will end the streaming only for that viewer.

[7] Others The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, terms cited in the specification or drawings as broadly defined or synonymous terms can be replaced with broadly defined or synonymous terms in other descriptions in the specification or drawings.

In this embodiment, each game may be provided to a terminal device 20 by a single game server device 10, or multiple game server devices 10 may be linked to form a server system and each game may be provided to a terminal device.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the game provided by the game server device 10 is executed by the terminal device 20, but with the exception of operational input, the functions of the processing unit 200 of the terminal device 20 and the execution of the game program may be executed by the game server device 10, and the terminal device 20 may realize the game by executing operational input and image display via streaming.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the game server device 10 may be realized by a single game device equipped with its functions, i.e., a device that operates independently (standalone) without relying on other devices such as a server device. In this case, multiple input terminal devices are sufficient.

Furthermore, it is possible to connect multiple such game terminal devices via wired or wireless connections, with one game device functioning as a game server device 10, and to realize a system using multiple game devices.

In addition, in this embodiment, the game commentary distribution system of the present invention is applied to a game server device 10 that operates in conjunction with a terminal device 20 via a network, but it can also be applied to a tablet-type information terminal device, a personal computer, or a game device installed in an amusement park.

The present invention includes configurations that are substantially identical to the configurations described in the embodiments (for example, configurations with the same function, method, and result, or configurations with the same purpose and effect). The present invention also includes configurations in which non-essential parts of the configurations described in the embodiments are replaced. The present invention also includes configurations that achieve the same effects or purposes as the configurations described in the embodiments. The present invention also includes configurations in which publicly known technology is added to the configurations described in the embodiments.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novel features and advantages of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

1: Game commentary distribution system 10: Game server device 20: Terminal device 30: Game commentary distribution server device 100: Processing unit 101: Communication control unit 102: Web processing unit 103: Game management unit 104: Player management unit 108: Benefit control unit 109: Timer management unit 110: Information providing unit 120: Input unit 130: Display unit 140: Storage unit 142: Main storage unit 144: Game data storage unit 146: Player information storage unit 148: Benefit information storage unit 180: Information storage medium 196: Communication unit 200: Processing unit 210: Communication control unit 211: Web browser 212: Game processing unit 213: Display control unit 220: Drawing unit 230: Sound processing unit 260: Input unit 262: Detection unit 270: Storage unit 271 : Main memory unit 272 : Image buffer 280 : Information storage medium 290 : Display unit 292 : Sound output unit 296 : Communication unit 300 : Processing unit 301 : Communication control unit 302 : Web processing unit 303 : Game commentary distribution management unit 304 : Viewer management unit 309 : Timer management unit 310 : Distribution control unit 320 : Input unit 330 : Display unit 340 : Storage unit 342 : Main memory unit 344 : Game viewing information storage unit 346 : Viewer management information storage unit 380 : Information storage medium 396 : Communication unit

Claims (17)

A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
Equipped with
The benefit granting control means
A game play-by-play distribution management system characterized in that, as a viewer benefit, when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play that he or she has viewed, control is executed to change the difficulty level of the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play of the part that the viewer has viewed, as game content change control to change the content of the part of the game that the viewer has viewed . A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
Equipped with
The benefit granting control means
A game live play distribution management system characterized in that, when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the live play distribution play that he or she has viewed, control to change the game elements of the portion that the viewer has viewed is executed as game content change control to change the content of the portion of the game that the viewer has viewed . A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
Equipped with
The benefit granting control means
A game play-by-play distribution management system characterized in that, as a viewer benefit provided, when the viewer plays a game identical to the game being distributed and viewed, (a) control is exercised to progress the same game in a state in which the game parts up to the viewing part already viewed by the viewer have been completed, or (b) control is exercised to progress the same game in a state in which the game parts already viewed by the viewer have been completed . A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game;
Equipped with
The benefit granting control means
As a viewer benefit, the game live play distribution management system is characterized in that when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the live play distribution play that he or she has viewed, skip control is executed to cause the viewer to skip the game progress in the game part that he or she has viewed . A game play distribution management system that manages distribution of a game play that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for controlling distribution of a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer who is watching the game ;
a storage control means for storing game viewing information of the game that is the subject of the game live play in a storage means during the game live play;
a second detection means for executing a viewing timing detection process for detecting a viewing timing of the viewer;
Equipped with
The benefit granting control means
A game live play distribution management system characterized in that, in the viewing timing detection process, when it is detected that the viewer is watching the game that is the subject of the corresponding game live play in real time based on the provided game viewing information, the bonus to be granted when the viewer is watching the game based on the game viewing information stored in the storage means is changed . The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A game play-by-play distribution management system, wherein the viewing status includes at least one of the viewing time for the game being viewed by the viewer, the viewing content of the game being viewed by the viewer, the viewing environment of the viewer, the number of viewers viewing the distributed game, and the type of viewer. The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The benefit granting control means
A game play distribution management system that executes control to change the viewer benefits to be granted when it is determined that the detected viewing situation satisfies given conditions. In the game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A game play-by-play distribution management system, wherein the viewer benefit to be granted is an item related to the game. The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
The benefit granting control means
A game play-by-play distribution management system that, as the benefit-granting related control, executes control to grant the determined viewer benefit to the viewer when it is decided to grant the viewer benefit to the viewer and an instruction is received from the viewer that the viewer agrees to the granting of the viewer benefit. The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
a first detection means for executing a game execution detection process for detecting whether or not the game being viewed by the viewer is being executed;
a notification control means for controlling a notification to the viewer regarding a viewer benefit granted to the viewer when it is detected by the game execution detection process that the viewer is not playing the game that is the subject of the live play of the game that the viewer has watched;
A game play streaming management system that also includes: The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
The benefit granting control means
A game live play distribution management system that, when a viewer benefit is granted to the viewer, performs notification control to notify a player playing the game that is the subject of the game live play that the viewer to whom the viewer benefit has been granted has been granted a viewer benefit, or performs benefit provision control to provide the player with a given benefit as a game viewing information provider benefit. The game play distribution management system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
The benefit granting control means
A game play-by-play distribution management system that changes the benefit according to information about a player who plays the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play. A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play; and
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
and function as a computer.
The benefit granting control means
As a viewer benefit, when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play that he or she has viewed, the program executes control to change the difficulty level of the game that is the subject of the game play-by-play of the part that the viewer has viewed as game content change control to change the content of the part of the game that the viewer has viewed . A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play; and
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
and function as a computer.
The benefit granting control means
A program characterized by executing control to change the game elements of the portion viewed by the viewer when the viewer plays the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play that the viewer viewed, as game content change control to change the content of the portion of the game that the viewer viewed . A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play; and
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
and function as a computer.
The benefit granting control means
A program characterized in that, as the viewer benefit granted, when the viewer plays a game identical to the distributed game that the viewer has viewed, (a) control is performed to progress the same game in a state where the game part up to the viewing part already viewed by the viewer has been executed, or (b) control is performed to progress the same game in a state where the game part that is the same as the game part that the viewer has already cleared has been cleared . A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer who is viewing the game play-by-play; and
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
and function as a computer.
The benefit granting control means
As a viewer benefit, the program executes skip control to cause the viewer to skip the game progress in the game part that the viewer has viewed when playing the game that is the subject of the live broadcast play that the viewer has viewed . A program for managing live game play distribution that distributes a game execution status of a player so that viewers can view the game executed by the player, comprising:
a distribution control means for performing a live game play that provides game viewing information for allowing the viewers to view the game being played by the player;
a management means for managing information about the game that is the target of the live game play distribution and that is based on the player's operation as game play information;
a viewing status detection means for detecting a viewing status of the viewer viewing the live play of the game ;
a reward-granting control means for executing, as a reward-granting-related control, control for granting a reward to be used in the game as a viewer reward to the viewer, based on game play information of the game being distributed based on the live play of the game and a detected viewing status of the viewer watching the game;
a storage control means for storing game viewing information of the game that is the subject of the game live play in a storage means during the game live play; and
a second detection means for executing a viewing timing detection process for detecting a viewing timing of the viewer;
and function as a computer.
The benefit granting control means
A program characterized in that, in the viewing timing detection process, when it is detected that the viewer is watching the game that is the subject of the corresponding live game play in real time based on the provided game viewing information, the program changes the benefit to be granted when the viewer is watching the game based on the game viewing information stored in the storage means .