Information processing system capable of promoting communication between users, information processing apparatus, non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable program, and method of controlling information processing apparatus

An information processing system, in which a plurality of terminals can communicate data through a server, comprising:

• a first terminal, among the plurality of terminals, having processing circuitry configured to:
• execute a question event to have question information and at least one virtual character, captured by a virtual camera positioned in a virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the question information, displayed to a user who operates the first terminal, the virtual character being based on information associated with the virtual character designated by the server,
• accept input of answer information to the question information from the user, and
• transmit the answer information to the server, the answer information including the information associated with the virtual character, and
• a second terminal, among the plurality of terminals, having processing circuitry configured to:
• receive the answer information from the server, and
• execute an answer event to have the answer information and the virtual character, captured by the virtual camera positioned in the virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the answer information, displayed to a user who operates the second terminal, the virtual character being based on the information associated with the virtual character and included in the answer information.

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating data with another information processing apparatus through a server, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to:
• execute a question event to have question information and at least one virtual character, captured by a virtual camera positioned in a virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the question information, displayed to a user who operates the information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on information associated with the virtual character designated by the server;
• accept input of answer information to the question information from the user;
• transmit the answer information to the server, the answer information including the information associated with the virtual character;
• receive answer information transmitted from another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• execute an answer event to have the answer information and the virtual character, captured by the virtual camera positioned in the virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the answer information, displayed to a user who operates the another information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on the information associated with the virtual character and included in the answer information.

A non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer readable program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus capable of communicating data with another information processing apparatus through a server, the program causing the computer of the information processing apparatus to provide execution comprising:

• executing a question event to have question information and at least one virtual character, captured by a virtual camera positioned in a virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the question information, displayed to a user who operates the information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on information associated with the virtual character designated by the server;
• accepting input of answer information to the question information from the user;
• transmitting the answer information to the server, the answer information including the information associated with the virtual character;
• receiving answer information transmitted from another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• executing an answer event to have the answer information and the virtual character, captured by the virtual camera positioned in the virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the answer information, displayed to a user who operates the another information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on the information associated with the virtual character and included in the answer information.

A method of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating data with another information processing apparatus through a server, the method comprising:

• executing a question event to have question information and at least one virtual character, captured by a virtual camera positioned in a virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the question information, displayed to a user who operates the information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on information associated with the virtual character designated by the server;
• accepting input of answer information to the question information from the user;
• transmitting the accepted answer information to the server, the answer information including the information associated with the virtual character;
• receiving answer information transmitted from another information processing apparatus from the server;
• and
• executing an answer event to have the answer information and the virtual character, captured by the virtual camera positioned in the virtual three-dimensional space, the at least one virtual character animated to appear as entering the virtual three-dimensional space and convey the answer information, displayed to a user who operates the another information processing apparatus, the virtual character being based on the information associated with the virtual character and included in the answer information.