JP2015119997A - Game managing device, game system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game managing device capable of achieving a highly amusing game by adapting current position information of a user to the game.SOLUTION: Reference area storage control means 71 stores a reference area of a user into a storage device. Position acquisition means 72 acquires position information of an actual world of the user. Movement detection means 73 detects movement of the user from the reference area, based on the position information of the user acquired by the position acquisition means 72. Display control means preferentially displays another user using an area of a movement destination of the user as the reference area as an opponent candidate when the movement detection means detects that the user has moved to an area differing from the reference area.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game management device, a game system, a game management method, and a program for managing a game.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game system in which a user can receive various game services provided from a game server by connecting the user's terminal device (personal computer, mobile phone terminal, etc.) to a game server installed on the Internet. (Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a technique that receives a signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, acquires current position information, and uses it for a game (Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).

JP 2011-030892 A JP 2002-273034 A JP 2004-261217 A

  As described above, games using GPS have been proposed, but it is expected that a game with higher interest will be realized by applying the current position information of the user to the game.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a game management device, a game system, a game management method, and a program capable of realizing a highly interesting game by applying the current position information of a user to a game. Is to provide.

  1) A game management device (1, 2, 101 to 103, 301 to 303) according to one aspect of the present invention manages a game, and includes a reference area storage control means (71) for storing a user's reference area in a storage device. A position acquisition means (72) for acquiring the real-world position information of the user, and a movement for detecting the movement of the user from the reference area based on the user position information acquired by the position acquisition means (72) When it is detected by the detection means (73) and the movement detection means (73) that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area, acquisition of area limited items corresponding to the user's destination area is acquired. Item management means (74) for enabling the user to automatically obtain area-limited items, and for the user who has acquired the area-limited items, When performing interact with other users that the corresponding area and a reference area, and a, and the effect variation means for generating different effects (75) and if not acquired the area-limited items.

  The game management device having this configuration can be configured by an information processing device (computer) such as a server capable of communicating with each user's game terminal (terminal device), for example, various games such as online games and social games. Etc. can be managed. Or this game management apparatus can also be comprised by the information processing apparatus as a game terminal. Or this game management apparatus can also be comprised by the some information processing apparatus (a server, a game terminal) which mutually communicates.

  The game management device includes reference area storage control means for storing a user's reference area in a storage device. For example, if the user registers the home address (prefecture, etc.) at the start of the game, this is stored in the storage device as the reference area. The registration of the “reference area” may be an area based on a prefecture, or an area based on other administrative divisions (state, county, city, town, village, etc.). In addition, an area that does not depend on the administrative division can be used as a reference area. For example, a predetermined area including the user's home (such as an area having a radius of 1 km around the home) may be used as the reference area.

  Further, the position acquisition means acquires the real world position information of the user. Here, as an example of acquiring position information, GPS positioning information using a GPS (Global Positioning System) function of a user's terminal device, or a radio wave transmitted from a wireless base station of mobile communication (cell phone, PHS, etc.) It is conceivable to acquire position information included in the.

  Further, based on the user position information acquired by the position acquisition means, the movement detection means detects the movement of the user from the reference area. When the movement detection unit detects that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area, the item management unit enables acquisition of area-limited items corresponding to the user's destination area. . For example, when the user moves from the reference area to Aomori Prefecture, the local item “Ringo” (area limited item) in Aomori Prefecture can be purchased by consuming the in-game currency held by the user. Or it is good also as what acquires an area limited item automatically, when it is detected that the user moved to the area different from the said reference | standard area.

  Note that the same area-limited item may be acquired a plurality of times by moving to the corresponding area a plurality of times, or may be acquired only once even if moved to the corresponding area a plurality of times. For example, the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture may be acquired as many times as you visit the corresponding area, Aomori Prefecture, or once you acquire the local item “apple”. Then, even if you visit Aomori Prefecture in the corresponding area, you may not be able to acquire the same item “Apple”. Instead, another local item “scallop” may be acquired. In other words, there are “apples”, “scallops”, “nebuta”, etc. as local items that can be acquired by visiting Aomori Prefecture. The first item that can be acquired is “apples”, and the second item that can be acquired next. Each time you visit Aomori Prefecture, “Scallops” and then “Nebuta”… etc., different local items will be presented in order, allowing the user to consume and purchase in-game currency (or Allowing automatic acquisition without in-game currency consumption). In this case, when the acquired local item is different, the effect (described later) generated thereby may be different. As described above, in addition to the sequential presentation of local items that can be acquired, a plurality of local item options having different effects are provided in advance (for example, “apple”, “scallop”, “Nebuta”,... Are displayed on the screen as selectable items), and a desired item may be selected by the user. Thus, when it is set as the structure which a user can select arbitrarily, according to the effect set to the item, you may make it change the magnitude | size of the game currency required for purchase. For example, the in-game currency may be increased for a local item having a larger effect.

  And in this structure, when the user who has acquired the area-limited item does not acquire the area-limited item when interacting with other users who use the area corresponding to the area-limited item as a reference area It produces a different effect.

  Here, as an example of “exchange with other users”, there is a battle in a game. For example, when the opponent (other users) at the time of the battle uses the area corresponding to the area limited item acquired by the user as the reference area (in the above example, the reference area of the opponent is Aomori Prefecture) ), The effect of “local capture bonus” is activated, and the ability of the user character is improved. If the user has not acquired an area limited item corresponding to the reference area of the opponent, the “local capture bonus” is not activated. In this case, when the user selects an opponent, a strategy is created in which a battle is selected by selecting another user whose reference area is the area corresponding to the area-limited item owned by the user from the battle list. .

  In addition, when the competing users have an area limited item corresponding to the opponent's reference area, the effect (local capture bonus etc.) by the area limited item is offset. However, if a user in A prefecture moves a large distance and acquires an area limited item in B prefecture, the user in B prefecture is unlikely to move to A prefecture. If you select an opponent who is far from the reference area, you will be able to play a strategic advantage.

  As another example of “exchange with other users”, there is a case where a user constructs a friendship with another user. For example, when a user searches for a new friend, if he / she selects another user who uses the area corresponding to the area-limited item that he / she has acquired as a reference area from the friend candidate list, The effect that the intimacy with the opponent is set higher than when the area limited item is not acquired, or the points that can be acquired when becoming a friend becomes higher than when the area limited item is not acquired Arise.

  The “exchange with other users” is not limited to the above example, and various other exchanges such as greetings, message transmissions, gifts, chats, and the like can be applied. For example, if exchanges such as greetings with other users who use the area corresponding to the area limited item acquired by the user as a reference area, points and items that can be acquired by the exchange are more than those without the area limited item The effect of increasing.

  Moreover, when a user acquires an area limited item, not only a merit is produced for a user but a demerit may be produced. For example, a lottery is executed when the user moves outside the reference area and acquires an area-limited item, and an area-limited item that produces a merit if it wins the lottery can be obtained, but if it falls outside the lottery, an area-limited that produces a disadvantage You can also get items. When an area-limited item that causes disadvantages is acquired, for example, when the opponent (another user) at the time of the battle uses the area corresponding to the area-limited item as a reference area, the user's character ability decreases and the battle Will be disadvantaged. In this case, when the user selects an opponent, the other player who does not use the area corresponding to the area-limited item (disadvantage) that he owns as a reference area is selected from the competition list. This creates a strategy that avoids disadvantages.

  As described above, the game management device enables acquisition of an area-limited item in accordance with the movement of the user, and fluctuates the effect of exchange with other users whose reference area is the area corresponding to the area-limited item. Thus, a highly entertaining game can be realized.

  2) In the above configuration, it is desirable that the effect varying means (75) increases the effect as the number of area-limited item acquisitions corresponding to the same area increases.

  In this configuration, if the same area (for example, the same prefecture) is visited a plurality of times, area-limited items for that area can be obtained a plurality of times. Here, when the user visits the same area multiple times and acquires a plurality of area limited items corresponding to the area, the number of items owned by the user may be increased. You may make it the level of the item improve though it does not increase. For example, if the user acquires the area-limited item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture twice, the number of “apple” items is two, or the level of the “apple” item is improved to Lv2.

  And in this structure, the said effect by the said item is enlarged, so that the acquisition count of the same area limited item increases. For example, when the opponent (another user) at the time of the battle uses the area corresponding to the area-limited item acquired by the user as the reference area, the more the number of acquisition of the item, the more the ability of the user character improves. In addition, even if the users who compete are possessing area-limited items corresponding to the opponent's reference area, the effect is not offset if there is a difference in the number of acquisition of both items, The user on the side where the number of times of item acquisition is large is more advantageous.

  In addition, when a user searches for a new friend, if he / she selects another user who uses the area corresponding to the area-limited item that he / she has acquired as a reference area from the candidate list, The greater the number of acquisitions of the area limited item, the higher the closeness with the partner may be set.

  Or, if you exchange greetings with other users who use the area corresponding to the area-limited item acquired by the user as a reference area, the more acquisitions of the area-limited item, the more points and items that can be acquired through the exchange It may be made to become.

  As described above, in this configuration, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game by varying the effect according to the number of acquisitions of area-limited items corresponding to the same area.

  3) In the configuration of 1) or 2), it is preferable that the effect changing means (75) varies the effect for each area limited item corresponding to each area.

Here, a baseball game will be described as an example. It is assumed that parameters (attributes) of abilities such as meet, power, running power, catching, throwing, and defensive are set for the user character. And the effect at the time of the battle | competition with the other party which uses the area corresponding to an area limited item as a reference | standard area differs so that it may illustrate next for every area limited item of each area.
Hokkaido: +4 points for defensive suitability (+2 points for other abilities)
Kanto prefectures: Meet +3 points (other abilities +2 points)
Kyushu prefectures: +5 points for power (+2 points for other abilities)

  In this case, for example, the user has acquired area-limited items in Hokkaido and Kanto prefectures, and the user's team has a weak point in defense (the character's defense ability in the team is low compared to the batting ability) For example, if you select other users who are based in Hokkaido as your opponent, you will be able to cover the weak points of your team.

  With this configuration, if the user moves to various areas, various area-limited items with different effects can be acquired, and the fun of the game can be further enhanced.

  4) In any one of 1) to 3) above, the effect changing means (75) increases the effect as the distance from the reference area of the area corresponding to the area limited item increases. It is desirable to do.

  For example, when the user who uses the area A as the reference area moves to the area B and acquires the area-limited item B, the area B becomes the reference area as the distance from the user's reference area A in the area B increases. The ability of the user's character is further improved during the battle with the opponent. Specifically, when the user's reference area A is Tokyo, the case where the user moves to Okinawa and acquires the area-limited items in Osaka is better than the case where the user moves to Okinawa and acquires the area-limited items in Osaka. Increases the effects of area-limited items (such as a character's ability improvement effect during a match). Thereby, the user can move to an area farther from his / her reference area, acquire an area-limited item, select a partner in that area, and play a strategy that makes the battle more advantageous.

  As another example, when a user searches for a new friend, he / she selects another user in an area farther from his reference area from among the areas corresponding to the area-limited items he / she acquires. If it becomes, the intimacy with the partner is set higher, or the points that can be obtained when becoming a friend become higher.

  As described above, in this configuration, the effect of area-limited items corresponding to the destination area (attributes of area-limited items, etc.) is varied depending on the relationship between the user's reference area and the destination area (the user's reference area and The greater the distance from the destination area, the greater the effect). Thereby, the interest property of a game can be improved more.

  5) In any one of the constitutions 1) to 4), it is desirable to further include an expiration date setting means (77) for setting an expiration date for the area limited item.

  In this configuration, the area-limited item is provided with an expiration date such as 6 months from acquisition. Thereby, in order to enjoy the merit of acquiring the area limited item, the user is motivated to actively interact with other users whose reference area is the area corresponding to the area limited item within the expiration date. Is given. For example, if it is before a predetermined period before the expiration date (such as 10 days before), the user may be notified of this and the interest in the game may be aroused.

  Further, even when the user acquires an area-limited item that causes a disadvantage, the area-limited item is provided with an expiration date, so that it is possible to prevent the risk of the disadvantage from becoming steady.

  6) In the configuration of any one of 1) to 5), it is preferable that the item management means (74) limits a period during which the area limited item can be acquired.

  For example, the area-limited items that can be acquired when moving to Aomori Prefecture are “Nebuta” from April to September and “Apple” from October to March. Also, this year's “apples” and next year ’s “apples” may be different (effects different). In this way, by limiting the period during which the area-limited item can be acquired and preventing the target item from being acquired unless the area-limited item is reached within that period, the value of the area-limited item is increased. And when a user acquires the area limited item, in order to use it effectively, it is expected to actively interact with a user who uses the area corresponding to the area limited item as a reference area. .

  7) In the configuration of any one of 1) to 6) above, the item management means (74) is configured such that the user moves to the same area outside the reference area, and the area limited item corresponding to the user by the user moves to the area. It is desirable to limit the number of times that can be obtained within a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period.

  For example, in the case of registering the reference area in units of prefectures, users in prefectures with different homes and commuting destinations will have the A prefecture at home before work and the night after returning home, and the commute at daytime. It will exist in B prefecture. Therefore, for example, when either A prefecture or B prefecture is registered as a reference area and the other is outside the reference area, it is possible to move outside the reference area any number of times.

  Acquisition of the same area-limited item is not a problem if you can acquire it only once even if you move to the corresponding area multiple times, but you can acquire the same area-limited item as many times as you move to the corresponding area Only a specific user whose home and commuting destination are different can acquire a large number of local items in a specific area.

  Therefore, in this configuration, the number of times that the user can acquire the area limited item corresponding to the area when the user moves into the same area outside the reference area is limited to a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period. For example, the acquisition of the local item of the prefecture by movement to the same prefecture is limited to a predetermined number of times (for example, once) within a predetermined period (for example, one month). Thereby, the situation where the area limited item of a specific area can be acquired many times by daily movement (movement between a home and a commuting destination etc.) can be avoided effectively.

  Of course, the above limitation can be arbitrarily set according to game characteristics. For example, a user who intends to use a round trip between his / her home and work place for a game may be allowed to some extent, for example, to allow obtaining area-limited items in the same area up to twice a week. .

  8) A game system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a server (1, 2, 101 to 103) and a terminal device (3, 301 to 305) that communicates with the server (1, 2, 101 to 103). A reference area storage control means (71) for storing a user reference area in a storage device, a position acquisition means (72) for acquiring user real-world position information, and the position acquisition means (72) The movement detection means (73) for detecting the movement of the user from the reference area based on the position information of the user acquired by the above, the user has moved to an area different from the reference area by the movement detection means (73) If it is detected, the item management means (74), which makes it possible to acquire an area-limited item corresponding to the area to which the user is moving or to automatically acquire an area-limited item, When a user who has acquired a rear-limited item interacts with other users who use the area corresponding to the area-limited item as a reference area, an effect different from the case in which the user has not acquired the area-limited item occurs. One of the server (1, 2, 101 to 103) and the terminal device (3, 301 to 303) is provided with the effect varying means (75).

  9) A game management method according to another aspect of the present invention is a game management method in a computer that manages a game, wherein the computer stores a reference area of the user in a storage device; A position acquisition step for acquiring real-world position information, a movement detection step for detecting movement of the user from the reference area based on the position information of the user acquired by the position acquisition step, and a computer However, when it is detected by the movement detection step that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area, an area-limited item corresponding to the user's destination area can be acquired or an area-limited item can be obtained. Item management step to be automatically acquired by the user and computer When the user who has acquired the area limited item interacts with other users who use the area corresponding to the area limited item as a reference area, the effect is different from the case of not acquiring the area limited item. And an effect changing step for generating.

  10) A program according to still another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to operate as a game management device (1, 2, 101 to 103, 301 to 303) that manages a game. Based on the reference area storage control means (71) for storing the area in the storage device, the position acquisition means (72) for acquiring the real world position information of the user, and the user position information acquired by the position acquisition means (72) The movement detection means (73) for detecting the movement of the user from the reference area, and the movement detection means (73) detect that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area. Item management means that enables acquisition of area-limited items corresponding to the destination area or allows the user to automatically acquire area-limited items 74) When a user who has acquired the area-limited item interacts with other users who use the area corresponding to the area-limited item as a reference area, This is a program for functioning as an effect changing means (75) for generating different effects.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a highly interesting game is realizable by applying a user's present position information to a game.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the game system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a game management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a terminal device. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the basic functional structure of a game management apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the information regarding a user's game. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an item database. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a user's positional information. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the main screen of a game. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the main screen of a game. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen where the opponent candidate list | wrist was displayed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the screen where the opponent candidate list was displayed. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen where the friend candidate list was displayed. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a game system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the game server which enables acquisition of the local item of a movement destination. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a game server when a user battles with other users. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the screen where the opponent candidate list was displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of operation | movement of the game server when a user battle | competes with another user. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of an item database. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of operation | movement of the game server when a user battle | competes with another user. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of operation | movement of the game server when a user battle | competes with another user. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a battle | competition start screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a helper selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the battle start screen in which the assistant was set. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the game server which fluctuates the relationship with a friend by the local item which the user acquired. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of a game server in case a user performs a battle | competition by asking a friend for a helper. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of main functional structures of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of a functional structure of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of a functional structure of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of a functional structure of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of a functional structure of a game management apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other example of a functional structure of a game management apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a game management device, a game system, a game management method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Outline of the game system]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a game system in which a game management device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. As shown in the figure, this game system includes a game server 1 installed on a network 4 such as the Internet, a database server 2 connected to be communicable with the game server 1, and a game server via the network 4. 1 and the terminal device 3 of each user that can be communicably connected.

  The network 4 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the Internet. For example, as long as the game server 1 and the terminal device 3 of each user can be connected to each other so as to communicate with each other, for example, a dedicated line, a public line, etc. It may be a line (telephone line, mobile communication line, etc.), wired LAN (Local Area Network), wireless LAN, or the like, or a combination of the Internet and these.

  In this example of the game system, a game management device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured from a game server 1 and a database server 2. The game server 1 receives access from the terminal device 3 of each user who receives the game service via the network 4 and stores and manages game information of each user in the database server 2 (storage device). A game service is provided via the network 4.

  As a form of providing a game service by the game server 1, a game program (application software) is installed in the game server 1, and a game operation is not performed on the terminal device 3 but on the terminal device 3. There is a form in which a game is executed on the game server 1 in response to an input, and the execution result is transmitted to the terminal device 3 of each user. For example, the game server 1 provides a so-called browser game in which a game can be played by a web browser installed in the terminal device 3 of each user. Alternatively, the game server 1 provides a so-called cloud gaming service in which a game video as a result of executing a game on the game server 1 is transmitted to the terminal device 3 in, for example, a streaming format.

  Alternatively, as will be described later, a game system in which part or all of the game execution program is installed on the user's terminal device 3 side and the game execution processing is also performed on the terminal device 3 can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a browser game is provided will be described as one form of game service provided by the game server 1. In the service form for providing the browser game, it is not necessary to download or install software dedicated to the game on the user's terminal device 3, and the user can easily connect to the game server anywhere as long as the terminal device 3 can be connected to the network 4. The game service provided from 1 can be enjoyed.

  In this game system, the game server 1 executes arithmetic processing and data processing for progressing the game in response to an input operation on the terminal device 3 of each user. Then, the game server 1 updates the game information of each user in the database server 2 based on the execution result of the arithmetic processing and the like, and web page information for displaying the execution result on the screen of the user terminal device 3 (Game screen data) is transmitted to the terminal device 3 of each user.

  Each user's terminal device 3 is equipped with a web browser having a website browsing function as a user agent so that the web page information transmitted from the game server 1 can be displayed on the screen of the terminal device 3. It has become. Examples of the terminal device 3 include a mobile phone terminal, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a smartphone that is a mobile terminal in which a mobile phone and a mobile information terminal are integrated. Various terminals such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”), tablet computers, game devices having communication functions, etc. that can be connected to the game server 1 via the network 4 and receive game services can be applied. it can.

  In addition, the game provided in the present embodiment can have a so-called social game element that allows the user to play while interacting with other users who are receiving game services. For example, by incorporating the game server 1 and the database server 2 of the present embodiment into a social networking service (SNS) system, a game system that provides a social game service as one of the SNS services can be obtained. In this way, a game service can be provided to the user by a game system operating on the SNS platform, but the game server 1 and the database server 2 can be constructed as independent game systems without being incorporated into the SNS system. Good.

  Examples of games provided by the game management device include baseball, soccer, tennis, American football, basketball, volleyball, golf, boxing, horse racing, car racing and other sports / racing games, simulation games, and training games. Various games such as role-playing games and quiz games can be used regardless of the game format and genre. As an example, in the present embodiment, an example in which the game server 1 manages a baseball game will be mainly described below.

  The game management device according to the present embodiment targets a game played on the portable terminal device 3 and has a function of changing game content and game characteristics depending on items obtained based on the movement of the user in the real world. . For example, each user registers a reference area at the start of the game or the like (for example, the home address is registered in units of prefectures), and the fact that the user has moved from the reference area indicates that the user's terminal device 3 GPS Detect using functions. When the user moves out of the reference area (other than the home prefecture), the local item (area limited item) unique to the destination area can be purchased by consuming in-game currency. Or the local item is automatically acquired by the user. When a user who has acquired a local item interacts with another user whose home is in the area corresponding to the local item, an effect different from that in the case of not acquiring the local item occurs. Let For example, if the opponent at the time of the match is an opponent whose home is the area of the local item owned by the user, the “local capture bonus” is activated, and the ability of the user's character at the match is improves. Below, the detail of a structure of the game management apparatus (game server 1 grade | etc.,) Which concerns on this Embodiment which implement | achieves this is demonstrated.

[Configuration of game management device]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the game management device includes the game server 1 and the database server 2. FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the game server 1. As shown in the figure, the game server 1 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 as a main storage device, and an auxiliary storage device 14. The communication control unit 15 and the input / output control unit 16 are connected to each other via a bus line 17 including an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. Note that an interface circuit is interposed between the bus line 17 and each component as necessary, but the illustration of the interface circuit is omitted here.

  The CPU 11 interprets and executes instructions of application software such as system software and game programs, and controls the game server 1 as a whole. The ROM 12 stores a program and the like necessary for basic operation control of the game management device 1. The RAM 13 stores various programs and data, and secures a work area for the CPU 11.

  The auxiliary storage device 14 is a storage device that stores application software such as a game program, various data, and the like. For example, a hard disk drive can be used as the auxiliary storage device 14. The program according to the present embodiment for causing the game server 1 (computer) to operate as a game management device is also stored in the auxiliary storage device 14, and the program is transferred from the auxiliary storage device 14 to the bus line when the game server 1 is started. 17 is loaded into the RAM 13 via the CPU 17 and executed by the CPU 11.

  The communication control unit 15 includes a communication interface 15 a connected to the network 4, and controls communication with each user terminal device 3 via the network 4. The communication control unit 15 also controls communication with a server (not shown) connected to the network 4. For example, when it is set as the system configuration which incorporated the game server 1 in SNS, the communication control part 15 of the game server 1 controls communication between SNS servers.

  The input / output control unit 16 is connected to the database server 2 in a communicable manner, and is a database interface that performs input / output control when the CPU 11 executes reading / writing of data (records) with respect to the database server 2.

  The database server 2 includes a large-capacity hard disk device having a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) configuration, for example, as a storage device having an area for storing game information of each user managed by the game server 1. The database server 2 stores various game information (user name, level, in-game points, possessed items, etc.) of each user in association with identification information (user ID) for uniquely identifying each user, for example. It can be constructed as a database, an object database, an object relational database, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the game management device is configured by the game server 1 and the database server 2 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the game server 1 can have the function of the database server 2 and the game management device can be configured only by the game server 1. Further, the game server 1 can be configured as a plurality of servers by distributing the functions of the game server 1 to a plurality of servers. For example, when a user operates the terminal device 3 to access the game server 1, an authentication server having an authentication function for determining whether the user is a legitimate user is provided separately from the main server of the game server 1, The game server 1 may be composed of a main server and an authentication server. As another configuration example, a billing management server that performs billing management when a user purchases an item to be billed in a game is provided separately from the main server of the game server 1, and the main server, authentication server, and billing management The game server 1 may be configured by a server.

  In addition, when the number of users who use this game service reaches several hundred thousand, millions, or more, it is required to construct a server system that can withstand huge access from the terminal device 3 of many users. Therefore, by providing a plurality of game servers 1 on the network 4 for redundancy (multiplexing), a load distribution type system configuration may be adopted. In this case, it is desirable to provide a load balancer for adjusting the load among the plurality of game servers 1.

  Next, the configuration of the terminal device 3 of the user who accesses the game server 1 according to the present embodiment and receives a game service will be described.

[Configuration of terminal device]
As the terminal device 3 operated by the user, various terminals having a website browsing function as described above can be applied. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the portable terminal will be described as an example. Note that the terminal device 3 other than the mobile terminal is also required for playing a game, such as displaying a game screen using a website browsing function or performing an input operation for executing the game. The configuration is the same as that of the mobile terminal.

  A mobile terminal having a website browsing function or the like is also called a feature phone, a smart phone, or the like, and its configuration example is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 3 mainly includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32 and a RAM 33 as main storage devices, an image processing unit 34, a display unit 35, a sound processing unit 36, and an audio input unit 37. , An audio output unit 38, an auxiliary storage device 39, an operation input unit 40, a communication control unit 41, and a GPS positioning unit 42, and the components 31 to 34, 36 and 39 to 42 are bus lines 43. Are connected to each other. An interface circuit is interposed between the bus line 43 and each component as necessary, but the interface circuit is not shown here.

  The CPU 31 interprets and executes instructions of various programs including the web browser, and controls the entire terminal device 3. The ROM 32 stores a program and the like necessary for basic operation control of the terminal device 3. The RAM 33 stores various programs and data loaded from the ROM 32 or the auxiliary storage device 39, and secures a work area for the CPU 31. A web browser that displays game screen data described in HTML or the like is stored in the ROM 32 or the auxiliary storage device 39, loaded into the RAM 33, and executed by the CPU 31. Various plug-in software for extending the browser function of the web browser may be stored in the ROM 32 or the auxiliary storage device 39 together with the web browser.

  The image processing unit 34 drives the display unit 35 based on an image display command from the CPU 31 and displays an image on the screen of the display unit 35. Various known display devices such as a liquid crystal display or an organic LE (Electro-Luminescence) display can be applied to the display unit 35.

  The sound processing unit 36 converts an analog audio signal into a digital audio signal when audio is input from the audio input unit 37, generates an analog audio signal based on a sound generation instruction from the CPU 31, and outputs it to the audio output unit 38. Output. The voice input unit 37 includes a microphone built in the terminal device 3 and is used for telephone communication or recording. The voice output unit 38 is composed of a speaker that outputs a reception speaker at the time of telephone communication and a telephone ringtone or a sound effect at the time of game execution.

  The auxiliary storage device 39 is a storage device that stores various programs and data. As the auxiliary storage device 39, for example, a flash memory drive or the like can be used as the internal memory of the mobile phone terminal, and a memory card reader / writer or the like can be used as the external memory of the mobile phone terminal.

  The operation input unit 40 receives a user operation input and outputs an input signal corresponding to the operation input to the CPU 31 via the bus line 43. Examples of the operation input unit 40 include physical buttons such as a direction instruction button, a determination button, and an alphanumeric character input button provided on the main body of the terminal device 3. Further, in the case of the terminal device 3 in which the display unit 35 is configured as a so-called touch screen by mounting a touch panel (contact input type interface) on the screen of the display unit 35, the touch panel also becomes the operation input unit 40.

  The communication control unit 41 includes a communication interface 41a, and has a communication control function for performing data communication during game operation and the like, a communication control function for transmitting and receiving voice data as a mobile phone terminal, and the like. Here, for the communication control function for data communication, for example, a wireless LAN connection function, an Internet connection function via a wireless LAN or a cellular phone network, a predetermined frequency band (for example, a 2.4 GHz frequency band) is used. Includes short-range wireless communication functions. The communication control unit 41 transmits a connection signal for connecting the terminal device 3 to a wireless LAN, the Internet, or the like based on a command from the CPU 31 and receives information transmitted from the communication partner side and supplies it to the CPU 31. To do.

  The GPS positioning unit 42 includes a GPS signal receiving circuit, receives a positioning radio signal from a GPS satellite, and measures the latitude and longitude of the current position. In addition, although the GPS positioning part 42 is not an essential component, in the case of the terminal device 3 provided with the GPS positioning part 42, the user's current position information can be acquired using the function as described later. .

  In the terminal device 3 configured as described above, a user who wants to receive a game service performs an operation of starting a web browser and accessing a game site managed by the game server 1. When this access is authenticated by the game server 1, the communication control unit 41 of the terminal device 3 receives game screen data described in HTML or the like transmitted from the game server 1, and the CPU 31 executes the web browser. A game screen is displayed on the display unit 35. Here, the user selects and inputs selectable button objects and hyperlinks displayed on the game screen by operating the operation input unit 40. In response to this selection input, the game server 1 advances the game and transmits new game screen data to the terminal device 3. Then, this new game screen is displayed on the display unit 35 of the terminal device 3. Hereinafter, similarly, the user can select a button object or the like that can be selected on the game screen displayed on the display unit 35 by an operation. A game provided by the game server 1 can be played.

[Game description]
Next, an example of the baseball game of this embodiment will be described. In this baseball game, a user owns player characters in the game, registers a single player from the player characters, and forms his own original team. Then, the user can lead his team as a director and play against other users' teams to compete for rankings and the like. The player character possessed by the user can be in a card format in which the form of the player character is visible on the screen of the terminal device 3. That is, the player character is managed as a digital player card by the game server 1 and the database server 2 and is displayed on the screen of the user terminal device 3. Further, the player character may be drawn by three-dimensional computer graphics in a game or the like in the game. Further, a player character, a ball object, or the like may be displayed as a moving image in a streaming format or the like.

  At the start of the game, the user registers the user name, team, home address (prefecture) as a reference area, and the like. The information on the prefecture registered as the home address is used to determine the occurrence of the expedition described later. In the following, “prefecture” is simply referred to as “prefecture”.

  In the baseball game, various games such as an optional game (practice game / expedition game), an automatic game (official game), special training, a player scout, and a lottery are provided.

  The arbitrary game is a game in which the user can select another user's team and play against an arbitrary opponent at an arbitrary timing. In the present embodiment, a predetermined number (for example, 6) of “game tickets” items are distributed from the game server 1 to each user who accesses the game at least once a day. If this “game ticket” is owned, an arbitrary game can be executed once per piece. In the present embodiment, the rankings in the game are tabulated based on the result of each user's arbitrary game executed on that day (for example, the previous day ranking tabulation is executed at midnight every day). And you may give a privilege to a ranking high rank person.

  Arbitrary games include a practice game mode (first game mode) and an expedition game mode (second game mode) in which game contents are different. In principle, while the user is in the home prefecture (reference area), the practice game mode is applied in any game, while if the user moves outside the home prefecture, the practice game mode is applied in any game Is done. In the present embodiment, if the date changes outside the prefecture registered as the home as a result of the user moving with his / her terminal device 3 in the real world, an expedition has occurred and the next day, the normal “practice game mode” "Changes to" Expedition game mode ".

  In the practice game mode, when an arbitrary opponent is selected from the opponent candidate list and the user executes the game, the experience value of the player character of the team of the user who participated in the game is improved by a predetermined value (for example, 1 point). On the other hand, the physical strength of the player character decreases by a predetermined value (for example, 1 point).

  Each time the player character reaches the reference value, the ability level is improved by one step. Therefore, a player character can be made to grow when a user plays an arbitrary game.

  Each player character has a physical strength parameter of 0 to 6 (maximum). When a player character participates in a game and the player character's physical strength becomes 0, the player character cannot participate in the game. In addition, even if one army is registered, the physical strength may not be reduced unless the player participates in the game. In order to recover the reduced physical strength of the player character, for example, one player registration of the player character is removed and the player character is moved to a reserve frame and an arbitrary game is played. For the player character in the reserve frame, the stamina recovers by 1 point each time an arbitrary game is played. Alternatively, the reduced physical strength of the player character may be recovered over time (for example, the physical strength recovers one point every two hours). Alternatively, the physical strength of the player character may be fully recovered to the maximum value by consuming the recovery item owned by the user.

  In the practice game mode, as shown in FIG. 11, opponent candidate teams in various prefectures are randomly displayed in the opponent candidate list, and the user can play against users in any prefecture. .

  On the other hand, if it moves to areas other than a home prefecture and it becomes an expedition game mode, it will battle | compete with the other user who has the destination area (prefecture) as a home preferentially. That is, in the expedition game mode, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the game server 1 causes the other users who are home to the user's destination area to be given priority as an opponent candidate list (for example, higher in the display order). Listed. In the expedition game mode, it may be possible to play only with other users whose home is the user's destination area. In the expedition game mode, when the user executes the game, the experience value accumulated in the player character who participated in the game is improved by n times (for example, 2 times) compared to the case of the practice game mode. . As a specific example, the experience value per game accumulated in the player character is 2 points in the expedition game mode compared to 1 point in the practice game mode. Therefore, in the expedition game mode, the character's ability can be improved with a speed twice that of the normal (practice game mode).

  On the other hand, in the expedition game mode, the physical strength consumption of the player character is m times (for example, twice) that of the practice game mode. As a specific example, the physical strength consumption per game of the player character is 2 points in the expedition game mode, compared to 1 point in the practice game mode. Note that the physical strength consumption of the player character in the expedition game mode may be the same as in the practice game mode.

  In addition, the user can acquire in-game currency (coins) according to the winning / losing, the strength of the opponent, etc. by playing an arbitrary game (practice game mode or expedition game mode). Here, even when winning (or losing) under the same conditions, the coins that can be acquired can be different between the practice game mode and the expedition game mode. For example, when winning a match with an opponent of the same level, 100 coins can be obtained in the practice game mode, while 200 coins, which is twice as much, can be obtained in the expedition game mode.

  As described above, even in the same arbitrary game, the game content is different between the practice game mode and the expedition game mode, and the user moves from the area (prefecture) of his / her home in the real world and travels. For example, it is possible to enjoy an arbitrary game with special game contents different from usual.

  Furthermore, in the game of the present embodiment, when the location information of the user's terminal device 3 is changed to a prefecture B different from the prefecture A of the user's home, the local item unique to the prefecture B is changed to the in-game currency. Can be obtained by consuming. For example, when a user who is home in Tokyo moves to Aomori Prefecture, the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture is purchased by consuming a predetermined amount (for example, 1000 coins) of the in-game currency held by the user. it can.

  As a variation, when the location information of the user's terminal device 3 is changed to a prefecture B different from the prefecture A of the user's home, the game server 1 gives the user an item in the game (in-game currency, etc.) The user may automatically acquire the local item without consuming the item.

  Further, the acquisition of the same local item may be acquired a plurality of times if it is moved to the corresponding area a plurality of times, or may be acquired only once even if it is moved a plurality of times to the corresponding area. For example, the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture may be acquired as many times as you visit the corresponding area, Aomori Prefecture, or once you acquire the local item “apple”. Then, even if you visit Aomori Prefecture in the corresponding area, you may not be able to acquire the same item “Apple”. Instead, another local item “scallop” may be acquired. In other words, there are “apples”, “scallops”, “nebuta”, etc. as local items that can be acquired by visiting Aomori Prefecture. The first item that can be acquired is “apples”, and the second item that can be acquired next. Every time you visit Aomori Prefecture, “scallops” and then “nebuta”… and so on, different local items are presented on the screen of the terminal device 3 in order, and the user consumes the in-game currency and purchases them. Be able to (or automatically get without in-game currency consumption). In this case, when the acquired local item is different, the effect (described later) generated thereby may be different. Also, as described above, if you do not acquire “apple”, you cannot acquire “scallop”, and if you do not acquire “scallop”, you cannot acquire “nebuta”. “Apple” <“scallop” <“nebuta”.

  Further, as described above, in addition to sequentially presenting local items that can be acquired, options for a plurality of local items having different effects are provided in advance, and a desired item can be selected as desired by the user. You may do it. For example, when the user moves to Aomori Prefecture, “apples”, “scallops”, “nebuta”,... Are displayed on the screen of the terminal device 3 as selectable items. You can select and purchase any. Thus, when it is set as the structure which a user can select arbitrarily, according to the effect set to the item, you may make it change the magnitude | size of the game currency required for purchase. For example, the in-game currency may be increased for a local item having a larger effect.

  And if a user owns a local item, in the case of a battle | competition (exchange) with another user, it will become advantageous as follows. That is, when the opponent at the time of the above-mentioned arbitrary game is a local resident of the local item owned by the user (other users whose home is the prefecture corresponding to the local item) “Local capture bonus” is activated. When the “local capture bonus” is activated, the ability of the player character of the team of the user who owns the local item is improved as compared to the case where the local item is not owned, and the battle becomes advantageous. For example, the player character is provided with ability parameters such as meet, power, running ability, catching, throwing, and defensive suitability. Then, by the activation of the “local strategy bonus”, there is an effect of improving the ability value, for example, meet + 2, power + 2, running power + 2, catching ball + 2, throwing ball + 2, all defense appropriateness + 2.

  Therefore, when selecting an opponent, a strategy is created in which an opponent having a prefecture home corresponding to the local item owned by him / her is selected from the opponent candidate list.

  However, if the competing users have local items from each other's prefectures, the “local capture bonus” will be activated for both parties, effectively offsetting the effects of the local items. The Or, if the users who compete with each other have local items in each other's prefecture, the effects of both will be offset, so that both will not trigger the “local capture bonus”. May be.

  Here, if a user in A prefecture travels a large distance and acquires a local item in B prefecture, it is unlikely that a user in B prefecture will move to A prefecture. If you choose an opponent who is far from the home prefecture of your home, a strategy is born that makes it easier for the battle to be advantageous.

  Moreover, the automatic game (official game) in a game means that a user's team automatically plays a game with another user's team matched by the game server 1 (for example, 6 games are executed per day). It is a mode to raise.

  The special training in the game is a mode in which the player character can be specially trained by consuming a predetermined in-game currency (for example, 300 coins) and one point of physical strength of the player character at a time. The experience value of the player character can be improved by special training. For example, in the normal mode in which the user is in the prefecture of the home, the player's experience value accumulated by special training per operation or processing is 1 point, but the user moves outside the home prefecture In the expedition mode, the player character experience value accumulated by special training per operation or per process is improved to 2 points. That is, the game content varies depending on the movement of the user in the real world.

  In addition, in-game player scouting means that in a normal mode, a predetermined amount of in-game currency (for example, 1000 coins) is consumed per action (per operation or per process). It is a game in which player characters can be acquired by scouting. For example, in the normal mode in which the user is in the prefecture of the home, the scouting area in the game is all over Japan, but if the user moves outside the prefecture of the home and enters the expedition mode, The scout target area is limited to the movement destination area (movement destination prefecture) or a specific area including the movement destination area. That is, the game content varies depending on the movement of the user in the real world. For example, when a user whose home is Tokyo moves to Kyoto and enters the expedition mode, the scouting area in the game is limited to the Kyoto or Kinki area. In this way, in the expedition mode, the area for scouting in the game is limited to the Kyoto prefecture (or Kinki area), etc. from all over Japan, so the consumption of in-game currency per action is also smaller than in normal mode. Become. For example, in the normal mode, the consumption amount of the in-game currency per action is 1000 coins. In the expedition mode, the consumption amount of the in-game currency per action is halved to 500 coins. That is, if the same amount of in-game currency is consumed, more scout processing can be executed in the expedition mode than in the normal mode (more player characters can be acquired).

  Further, in-game lottery means that a single player character can be obtained by lottery by consuming a predetermined amount of in-game points (interaction point 200P described later) per operation or per process in the normal mode. It is a game. For example, one of the five rare levels (rareness) of 1 to 5 is set for the player character, and the lottery probability is lower as the rare degree is higher. For example, in the normal mode in which the user is in the prefecture of the home, the lottery probability of a player character with a rarity level of 3 or higher is 5%, but when the user moves to a prefecture other than the home prefecture and enters the expedition mode The lottery probability of a player character with a rarity of 3 or higher increases to 10%. That is, the game content varies depending on the movement of the user in the real world.

[Functional configuration of game management device]
Next, an example of a functional configuration of the game management device that realizes the baseball game will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration of a game management device (game server 1 and database server 2) that communicates with the terminal device 3.

  The game management apparatus according to the present embodiment includes user information storage control means 60, reception means 61, game execution means 62, screen generation means 63, transmission means 64, access management means 65, and the like. Each of these means is realized by the CPU 11 of the game server 1 executing the program according to the present embodiment.

  The user information storage control means 60 stores and manages information related to each user's game in the database server 2. FIG. 5 shows an example of information relating to the user's game stored in the database server 2 by the user information storage control means 60 (in this example, information for one user ID = 000001).

  The user information storage control means 60 associates basic information about each user such as a login ID, password, user name (nickname used in the game), team, etc. The data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the server 2. Here, the login ID and password are used for login authentication when each user operates the terminal device 3 to access the game server 1. The user name and the team are arbitrary information set by the user when the user registers to use the game service or when the game is executed for the first time. The user name and team are displayed on the game screen as necessary. Further, the user information storage control means 60 stores the address (reference area) of the user's home in a predetermined storage area of the database server 2 in association with the user ID.

  Further, the user information storage control means 60 associates the user ID with information on the user's game level (the user's supervisor level in the game of the present embodiment, so that the user's supervisor level). Is stored in the storage area. In this baseball game, the game level is improved each time the number of times the user has won an arbitrary game or an automatic game reaches the reference number.

  In addition, the user information storage control means 60 associates the user ID with the player character information (player ID for uniquely identifying the player character) acquired and held in the game by the database server. 2 in a predetermined storage area. Each player character held by the user is provided with parameters (attributes) such as individual ability, physical strength, experience value, player level, etc., and these parameters are also associated with the user ID and player ID in the database server. 2 is stored. As described above, the individual ability of the player character includes meet, power, running ability, catching, throwing, and defensive suitability.

  Further, the database server 2 stores a player database (player DB) in which image data of player characters, player names, positions, belonging teams, ability values (unenhanced initial values) and the like are stored in association with player IDs. ) And the game server 1 can acquire the image data of the player character corresponding to the player ID based on the player ID stored by the user information storage control means 60.

  Further, the user information storage control means 60 associates the user ID with various points owned by the user in the game (including values corresponding to the points) in the database server 2 for each user ID. Store in the area. In this game, in addition to the above-mentioned in-game currency (coins), the user can acquire exchanges with other users (user's friends, etc.) through exchanges such as greetings, message transmissions, gifts, battle cooperation, chats, etc. There are points.

  Further, the user information storage control means 60 stores items acquired by the user in the game in association with the user ID in a predetermined storage area of the database server 2 for each user ID. As shown in FIG. 5, examples of items include the above-mentioned local items, recovery items, and game tickets. Other examples of items include special bats, spikes, gloves and the like that can be improved in ability by being attached to a player character.

  Item IDs for uniquely identifying the local items corresponding to each prefecture are set and managed by the item IDs in the game system. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the database server 2 has an item database in which the area of the local item, the item name, the image data, and the like are stored in association with the item ID. The game server 1 can acquire image data and the like of the local item corresponding to the item ID based on the item ID owned by the user, which is stored by the user information storage control means 60. .

  Moreover, the user information storage control means 60 has the function of the fellow information storage control means 81 described later, and stores the fellow user ID in a predetermined area of the database server 2 in association with the user ID.

  Next, the reception means 61, game execution means 62, screen generation means 63, and transmission means 64 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The reception unit 61 and the transmission unit 64 are functions realized by the CPU 11 and the communication control unit 15 of the game server 1.

  When the game screen is displayed by the web browser of the user's terminal device 3, when the user performs an input operation to select a selectable button object or a character string with a hyperlink on the game screen, Information regarding the input (game screen request or the like) is transmitted to the game server 1 by the web browser of the terminal device 3. In the game server 1, when the receiving means 61 receives the information related to the input, the game executing means 62 executes the game by reading out information related to the user's game in accordance with the information and performing calculations and data processing.

  For example, in the case where the user performs an input operation to play against another user's team in an arbitrary game, the game execution means 62 is a player of both teams corresponding to the user IDs of both users who are playing the battle. Information on the characters (characters participating in the game) is read from the database server 2. Then, the game execution means 62 executes a baseball game simulation based on parameters such as the ability of the player characters of both teams by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) program or the like, and determines the outcome of the game.

  Next, the screen generation means 63 will be described. The screen generation unit 63 generates game screen data composed of, for example, HTML data in accordance with the execution result of the game execution unit 62. The HTML data may include image data such as characters read from the database server 2. Moreover, the script (program) which operate | moves by the plug-in of the web browser of the terminal device 3 may be embedded in HTML data. When the script provided from the game server 1 is executed by the terminal device 3, the game screen displayed on the terminal device 3 can be a moving image. Alternatively, the screen generation unit 63 may generate a video in a streaming format.

  In addition, the transmission unit 64 uses the screen data (HTML data, streaming format video data, etc.) generated by the screen generation unit 63 as a response to the request for the game screen or as an execution result by the game execution unit 62. It transmits to the terminal device 3. In the terminal device 3 of the user who has received the game screen data, the game screen is displayed on the display unit 35 by a web browser and its plug-in.

  Next, the access management means 65 will be described. When a user who wants to receive a game service operates the terminal device 3 to access (log in) the game server 1, the access management means 65 determines whether or not the user has a game participation qualification and performs login authentication. Do. An example of this authentication is authentication based on a login ID and password associated with a user ID. In addition, an individual identification number of a mobile phone or a smartphone that is the terminal device 3 (a terminal different from the telephone number is uniquely assigned so that the user does not have to input a login ID and a password each time the user accesses the game server 1. Identification information) or contractor's unique ID (information that uniquely identifies the contractor of the terminal and does not change as long as the contractor is the same even if the model is changed) Authentication may be performed.

  Next, the main functional configuration of the game management device (game server 1 and database server 2) will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. The game server 1 as a game management device mainly includes reference area storage control means 71, position acquisition means 72, movement detection means 73, item management means 74, and effect fluctuation means 75. Each of these means is realized by the CPU 11 of the game server 1 executing the program according to the present embodiment.

  The reference area storage control means 71 has a function of storing a user's reference area in a storage device (such as the database server 2). This reference area storage control means 71 is one of the functions of the above-mentioned user information storage control means 60. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The storage control to be stored is executed.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the reference area is a prefecture unit is shown, but an area having other administrative divisions (state, county, city, town, village, etc.) as a unit may be used. In addition, an area that does not depend on the administrative division can be used as a reference area. For example, a predetermined area including the user's home (such as an area having a radius of 1 km around the home) may be used as the reference area.

  The position acquisition unit 72 has a function of acquiring real-world position information of the user. Here, as an example of the position information, GPS positioning information using the GPS function of the user terminal device 3 can be used. The position acquisition unit 72 communicates with the user's terminal device 3 and acquires position information (such as latitude and longitude information of the current position) measured by the GPS positioning unit 42 (see FIG. 3) of the terminal device 3. Since the user operates the terminal device 3 to access the game server 1 to play the game, the GPS positioning information acquired from the user's terminal device 3 is considered as the current position information of the user in the real world.

  As another example of the position information, position information included in a radio wave transmitted from a radio base station for mobile communication (mobile phone, PHS, etc.) can be used. That is, each mobile phone or PHS base station is arranged in a cell shape with a predetermined communication area, and has location information (including base station identification information) included in radio waves received from each base station. It can be seen that the terminal device 3 exists in the communication area of the base station. Therefore, although the accuracy as the position information is lower than the latitude and longitude information by GPS positioning, it is also possible to use the position information that can be acquired from the radio base station as the position information of the user carrying the terminal device 3. is there. In this case, the position acquisition means 72 communicates with the user's terminal device 3 and acquires the position information obtained by the terminal device 3 from the radio wave of the radio base station.

  Another example of the position information will be described next. For example, when the terminal device 3 is provided with a wireless LAN communication function such as Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity, registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance), the wireless communication master (wireless LAN access point or router) is identified. Information (for example, MAC (Media Access Control) address or IP (Internet Protocol) address) can also be used as position information. That is, there are cases where a wireless communication master unit (one or a plurality of wireless LAN access points or routers) for a wireless LAN connection service is installed in a real-world station or commercial facility. When the user accesses the terminal device 3 to a wireless communication master such as a wireless LAN access point, the terminal device 3 acquires the identification information of the wireless communication master as position information. For example, identification information of a wireless communication master set installed at a certain station can be used as position information indicating that the user's terminal device 3 exists in a wireless communication area near the station. In this case, the position acquisition unit 72 communicates with the user's terminal device 3 and acquires the position information (identification information of the wireless communication parent device) obtained by the terminal device 3 from the radio wave of the wireless communication parent device.

  The game server 1 stores the history of the user position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 72 in a storage device such as the database server 2. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the location information (prefecture) of the user and the time information when the location information is acquired are stored in the database server 2 in association with the user ID. For example, when the user terminal device 3 accesses the game (logs in to the game server 1), the game server 1 acquires position information from the user terminal device 3 and adds the position information to the user access log. A history of user location information can be recorded.

  When the game server 1 stores user location information in the database server 2, GPS positioning information (latitude and longitude information) may be stored as it is. However, in this embodiment, the location information is other than the home prefecture. Since it is used to determine whether or not it has moved to, GPS positioning information and the like are converted into prefecture information and stored.

  In addition, when the user always connects the terminal device 3 to the game server 1, whenever the user's location information changes in a predetermined area unit (in this embodiment, the prefecture changes), A history of changes in position information may be stored in the database server 2.

  Next, the movement detection means 73 will be described. The movement detection unit 73 has a function of detecting the movement of the user from the home prefecture (reference area) of the user based on the user position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 72. That is, the movement detection unit 73 determines that the user's location information (prefecture) acquired by the position acquisition unit 72 is different from the user's home prefecture stored by the reference area storage control unit 71. Judge that it has moved from the home area.

  In addition, when the movement detecting unit 73 detects that the user has moved to a prefecture different from the home prefecture, the item managing unit 74 can acquire local items corresponding to the user's destination prefecture. It has the function to do. For example, when the user moves from his home prefecture (for example, Tokyo) to Aomori prefecture, the item management means 74 consumes the in-game currency held by the user for the local item “apple” in Aomori prefecture. To make it available for purchase.

  When it is detected by the movement detection means 73 that the user has moved to a prefecture different from the home prefecture, a notification is made on the main screen of the game illustrated in FIG. 9 that the local item can be purchased. . For example, in the text display area 154 of the main screen, a message “Move away from home and expedition to Aomori Prefecture! If you press the enhancement fee button, you can purchase local items in Aomori Prefecture!” Is displayed. Here, when the user operates the terminal device 3 and presses the strengthening cost button 161 on the main screen, the game enters the virtual shop in the game (not shown) and the user owns the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture. For example, 1000 coins can be purchased from the local currency. In this case, whether or not to purchase the local item depends on the intention of the user. Also, even if the user wants to purchase a local item, the purchase cannot be made if the in-game currency is insufficient. However, even if the in-game currency is insufficient, the local item may be made available by charging.

  Further, as described above, the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture may be purchased any number of times each time a user whose home is located in a prefecture other than Aomori Prefecture moves to Aomori Prefecture. It may be possible to purchase only once.

  As a variation, when the movement detection unit 73 detects that the user has moved to a prefecture different from the home prefecture, the item management unit 74 automatically selects the local item corresponding to the user's destination prefecture. You may make it acquire. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 10, notification that the user has acquired the local item is made in the text display area 154 of the main screen. For example, in the text display area 154 of the main screen, “I am moving from home and am exploring Aomori Prefecture! I have acquired the local item“ Apple ”in Aomori Prefecture! Is displayed. Also in this case, for example, the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture may be acquired any number of times each time a user who is home in a prefecture other than Aomori Prefecture moves to Aomori Prefecture. It may be possible to obtain only.

  As another variation, when the movement detecting means 73 detects that the user has moved to the prefecture B different from the home prefecture A, the item management means 74 may change the currency of the in-game currency at the first movement to the prefecture B. The user may automatically acquire the local item B without consumption, and when moving to the prefecture B after the second time, the user may arbitrarily purchase the local item B by consuming in-game currency. . On the contrary, when moving to the prefecture B from the first to the nth time, the in-game currency is consumed so that the user can arbitrarily purchase the local item B, and when moving to the prefecture B after the n + 1th time, The user may automatically acquire the local item B without consuming currency.

  Next, the effect variation means 75 will be described. The effect changing means 75 acquires the local item when the user who has acquired the local item interacts with another user whose home is the area (prefecture) corresponding to the local item. It has a function to generate an effect different from the case where it is not.

  Here, as an example of “exchange with other users”, there is a battle in the game (the above-mentioned arbitrary game). For example, when the opponent (other user) at the time of battle uses the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user as the home reference area, the above-mentioned effect of “local capture bonus” is activated, and the user character Improve your ability. On the other hand, if the user has not acquired a local item corresponding to the home prefecture of the opponent, the “local capture bonus” is not activated.

  As another example of “exchange with other users”, there is a case where a user constructs a friendship with another user. A user who is looking for a new friend performs input for displaying a friend candidate list on his / her terminal device 3. The game server 1 executes processing for extracting fellow candidate users in accordance with information related to the input by the user, and displays the fellow candidate list illustrated in FIG. 13 on the screen of the user terminal device 3. A predetermined number (three in FIG. 13) of fellow candidate display areas 181 is provided on the fellow candidate list screen. Each friend candidate display area 181 displays a friend candidate's avatar (or photo), name, game level, home prefecture, team strength, team name, and the like. The user looks for a friend candidate's home prefecture or the like displayed in the friend candidate list and searches for a partner to apply for a friend. If the partner that the user wants to become a friend is not included in the friend candidate list, the update button 183 may be pressed. Thereby, the game server 1 extracts a fellow candidate again, and updates a fellow candidate list.

  Here, when a user becomes a friend by selecting another user whose home item is the prefecture of the local item he / she has acquired from the candidate list, the intimacy with that partner There is an effect that the point set higher than the case where the local item is not acquired or the points which can be acquired when becoming a friend becomes higher than the case where the local item is not acquired. Details thereof will be described later.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, “GO” is displayed on the opponent candidate list screen so that the partner who finds the prefecture whose home item is owned by the user can be found and the friend application can be smoothly performed. A “local item acquisition area limited” button 184 may be provided. If the user presses the “local item acquisition area limited” button 184, the game server 1 extracts fellow candidates only for other users who are home in the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user, Display on the buddy list screen. For example, when the user has acquired local items in three prefectures of Aomori Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, and Kanagawa Prefecture, only other users who are home to these three prefectures are displayed on the fellow candidate list screen.

  “Exchange with other users” is not limited to the above example, and other various exchanges (greeting, message transmission, present, chat, etc.) can be applied. For example, when a user acquires a local item, if he / she interacts with another user whose home is the prefecture of the local item, points and items that can be earned by the exchange will be greater than if he / she does not have the local item The effect of increasing.

[Game system operation]
With the above configuration, a basic operation example of the game system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 14 shows a processing flow of the terminal device 3 and the game server 1 when the user operates the terminal device 3 to access the game server 1 and receive a game service.

  When the user receives a game service, first, the web browser is activated by operating the operation input unit 40 of the terminal device 3 (S11). Thereafter, the user performs an operation of accessing a game site managed by the game server 1, and an access request is transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the game server 1 (S12). At this time, the game server 1 performs login authentication for access from the terminal device 3 (S21), and confirms that the access is from a user who is registered for use of the game service. At this time, position information such as GPS positioning information is transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the game server 1, and the game server 1 stores the user's position information in the database server 2 together with the access log.

  Thereafter, the game server 1 transmits screen data such as a main screen described in HTML or the like to the terminal device 3 (S22). If there is a game top screen different from the main screen, the top screen may be transmitted first. Further, a screen of a predetermined game mode may be transmitted directly without going through the main screen. And in the terminal device 3 which received screen data, a web browser or its plug-in interprets the said data, and displays a screen on the display part 35 (S13).

  An example of the main screen (user's My Page) of the game according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The main screen includes user game information 151 (user's photo or avatar, user level, etc.), a button group 152 for selecting various game modes, a player character 153 set by the user as a team order, A text display area 154 for displaying an explanation of the operation being executed and various notifications is displayed.

  Here, when the user performs an operation of selecting an object such as a selectable button or a hyperlink displayed on the main screen or other screens, a screen request corresponding to the operation is sent from the terminal device 3 to the game server 1. (S14). Receiving this request, the game server 1 executes the game by performing arithmetic processing and data processing according to the user's operation (S23). Further, the game server 1 transmits screen data reflecting the game execution result to the terminal device 3 (S24). And in the terminal device 3 which received screen data, a web browser interprets the said data, and displays (updates) the game screen on the display part 35 (S15).

  Thereafter, the above-described S14 and S15 are repeated in the user terminal device 3, and the above-described S23 to S24 are repeated in the game server 1, whereby the selectable items displayed on the screen of the terminal device 3 can be selected. Each time the user selects a button or the like, the game screen of the terminal device 3 is switched one after another, and the game can be advanced.

  Thereafter, when the user operates the terminal device 3 to close the game screen (S16), the game server 1 performs logout processing (S25). For example, when the user closes the web browser, the game server 1 performs logout processing after a session timeout.

[Operation of game management device]
Next, an operation example of the game management device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. FIG. 15 shows a processing example of the game server 1 that makes it possible to acquire the destination local item only once when the user moves to a prefecture other than the home prefecture. This processing example is a processing flow for one user, and the game server 1 executes the same processing for each user registered in the game service.

  When there is an access (login) from the user's terminal device 3 (Y in S51), the game server 1 communicates with the terminal device 3 to acquire the user's position information (S52). For example, the game server 1 receives GPS position information obtained by the GPS positioning unit 42 of the terminal device 3. In this case, when the terminal device 3 accesses the game server 1, the terminal device 3 may be set in advance so as to transmit the position information to the game server 1, or the terminal device 3 that the game server 1 has accessed. The terminal device 3 may send a position information response to the game server 1 in response to the request.

  Thereafter, the game server 1 determines whether or not the user has moved to a prefecture other than the home prefecture based on the acquired position information (S53). Here, when it is determined that the user exists in the prefecture of the home (NO in S53), the local item cannot be purchased, and the process ends. On the other hand, when the user has moved to a place other than the home prefecture (YES in S53), the game server 1 determines whether or not the user has already acquired the local item at the destination (S54). If the user has already acquired the destination local item in the past (YES in S54), the same local item cannot be purchased again, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the user has not yet acquired the destination local item (NO in S54), the local item purchase mode is set in which the local item can be purchased in the in-game currency owned by the user. . This mode is continued for a predetermined period, and if the user consumes the currency in the game and purchases the destination local item (YES in S56), the item ID of the local item is associated with the user ID. And stored in the database server 2 (S57). Thereby, the user can acquire the local item of a movement destination.

  For example, the local item purchase possible mode can be continued until the user logs out of the game after shifting to the mode. Alternatively, the local item purchase possibility mode can be continued during the day of moving to the destination (until midnight the next day). Alternatively, the local item purchase possibility mode may be continued for a certain time (for example, 1 hour) after moving to the destination. Alternatively, the local item purchase enable mode may be continued until the user leaves the target destination prefecture. In this case, the game server 1 periodically communicates with the accessing terminal device 3 (for example, every 5 minutes) to acquire the user's current position information, and the user's position information is transferred from the destination prefecture to another prefecture. Monitor changing conditions. However, in any case, when a local item is purchased during the local item purchase available mode, the mode ends at that point.

  The local item acquired by the user can be confirmed on the game screen at any time. For example, a virtual user's lifestyle may be displayed on the main screen of the game, and the acquired local item may be displayed in the My Room in the game.

  Alternatively, the local item acquired by the user may be placed in a virtual storage called an item holder, and all the acquired local items may be confirmed by calling a screen of the item holder.

  Next, a processing example of the game server 1 when the user plays a match with another user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  If the user presses the arbitrary game button 162 on the main screen illustrated in FIG. 9, the game server 1 extracts the opponent candidates based on the user's game level and the like, and plays the game screen as illustrated in FIG. 11. A partner candidate list is displayed (S61). A predetermined number (three in FIG. 11) of opponent candidate display areas 171 are provided on the opponent candidate list screen. Each opponent candidate display area 171 displays the avatar (or photo) of the opponent user, name, game level, home prefecture, team strength of one army, team name, and the like. Each opponent candidate display area 171 is provided with a battle button 172. If the user selects the battle button 172 of the opponent that the user wants to battle, it is possible to play against that opponent.

  If the opponent that the user wants to play is not included in the opponent candidate list, the update button 173 may be pressed. Thereby, the game server 1 extracts an opponent candidate again, and updates an opponent candidate list.

  Here, if the user selects any opponent (YES in S62), the game server 1 determines whether or not the user has a local item in the prefecture of the opponent's home (S63). Here, if the user has a local item in the prefecture of the opponent's home (YES in S63), the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the user (S64). Thereby, the ability of all the player characters in the user's team is improved (for example, meet +2, power +2, running power +2, catching ball +2, throwing ball +2, all defensive suitability +2). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S65.

  On the other hand, if the user does not have a local item in the prefecture of the opponent's home in step S63 (YES in S63), the local capture bonus for the user is not activated and the process proceeds to step S65.

  In step S65, the game server 1 determines whether or not the opponent possesses the local item in the prefecture of the user's home (S65). Here, when the opponent possesses a local item in the user's home prefecture (YES in S65), the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the opponent (S66). As a result, the ability of all player characters in the opponent's team is improved (for example, meet +2, power +2, running power +2, catching +2, throwing +2, and defensive +2).

  On the other hand, if the opponent does not have a local item in the prefecture of the user's home in step S65 (YES in S65), the local capture bonus for the opponent is not activated.

  In Steps S64 and S66, the target whose ability is improved by the activation of the local capture bonus is not all the player characters in the team, but a part of the team (for example, the 4th batter character and the starting pitcher) Character only). In addition, when a local capture bonus is activated, for example, at the start of a match, the local capture bonus was activated by causing the player character of the bonus activation team to emit light or changing the color or facial expression of the player character. May be notified to the user.

  Thereafter, the game server 1 executes a battle (S67), and a game screen as the execution result is displayed on the user terminal device 3.

  According to this configuration, when the user selects an opponent in step S62, from the opponent candidate list, if he selects an opponent whose home is the prefecture corresponding to the local item he owns, Strategies such as local strategy bonuses are activated and become advantageous. However, if the opponent also owns a local item in the user's home prefecture, the local capture bonus is also activated for the opponent. Therefore, if the two opponents hold local items of the opponent's prefecture, the effect of the local capture bonus is substantially offset. Here, if the user moves with a partner of the prefecture of the local item acquired by moving a large distance, it is unlikely that the opponent will move to the prefecture of the user's home. If you choose an opponent who is far away from you, a strategy is born that the match is likely to be advantageous.

  In the above, it is not limited to this demonstrated centering on the example which makes "exchange with other users" "match". As mentioned above, another example of “interaction with other users” is that the user establishes a fellowship relationship with another user (for that purpose, other users apply for fellows or other users). To approve fellow applications from When a user searches for a new friend, he selects a partner (other user) whose home item is the prefecture of the local item he / she is acquiring from the friend candidate list illustrated in FIG. Can do. As a result, when the user becomes a friend with the partner, the closeness with the partner is set higher than when the local item of the partner is not acquired.

  Here, the familiarity will be described. Intimacy indicates the intimacy of two users, and can also be expressed as the degree of friendship between two people, the depth of friendship, the depth of bonds, and the like. For example, there are five ranks of intimacy: rank 1 = acquaintance, rank 2 = friend, rank 3 = best friend, rank 4 = friend, rank 5 = friend. As the intimacy is higher, there is an advantage that more points in the game (the exchange points) that can be obtained by exchanges such as greetings and presents between the two are obtained.

  In principle, rank 1 = familiarity of acquaintance is set for the first two people who became friends. The closeness of the two people varies depending on the number and frequency of exchanges (greetings, message transmissions, presents, battle cooperation, chats, etc.) between the two since becoming friends. For example, an intimacy point of a predetermined value (for example, 1 point) is given each time an AC process is executed between two users who are in a fellowship. The above greeting is a general term for simple exchanges that can be performed virtually in the game, for example, just pressing the greeting button, sending ale (cheering), sending guts (winning), winking , Smiling, waving hands, and other simple exchanges using other expressions. In addition, you may change the value of the close point given to two persons according to the content of the exchange performed between friends. For example, the greeting may be 1 point, the message transmission may be 2 points, the present, the battle cooperation, and the chat may be 3 points. And, for example, the intimacy points accumulated by two people are 0-24 points, rank 1 = acquaintance, 25-49 points, rank 2 = friends, 50-74 points, rank 3 = best friends, 75-99 points 4 = Partner, 100 points or more, Rank 5 = Friends. The intimacy points are given to two people in a fellowship relationship, and are points for determining the rank of the intimacy of the two people. The above-mentioned exchange points (points given to individual users) and Are different.

  And if the user does not own the local item of the other party to whom the friend applied, the familiarity of the first two people who became friends with that partner is set to rank 1 = acquaintance as a rule. That is, the intimacy point = 0 is started. On the other hand, when the user owns the local item of the partner to whom the user applied, the closeness of the initial two people who became friends with the partner is suddenly set to rank 2 = friend. That is, it starts from intimacy point = 25. The effect fluctuation due to the presence or absence of the partner's local item depends on the function of the effect fluctuation means 75.

  In addition, if the user owns the local item of the partner to whom the user applied, and the partner also owns the local item of the user, the intimacy of the original two people who became friends with that partner, Suddenly, rank 3 may be set as a best friend.

  Further, when two users become friends, in-game points and items are given to the two as bonuses. Here, if the user does not own the local item of the partner to whom the friend applied, the bonus point given to the user when the user becomes a friend with the partner is P1 (for example, 1000 points). If you own a local item of a partner who applied for a friend, bonus points given to the user when you become a friend with that partner may be P2 (for example, 2000 points) greater than P1. .

  Furthermore, the “exchange with other users” may be various exchanges such as greetings, message transmission, gifts, and chat. When a user acquires a local item, if he / she interacts with another user whose home is the prefecture of the local item, more points and items can be earned by the exchange than when he / she does not have the local item . For example, when a user who does not have the local item of the other party (another user) greets the other party, the exchange point that can be acquired is “1 point”, but the user has the local item of the other party. In this case, you can earn “2 points” exchange points.

  As described above, the game management apparatus according to the present embodiment mainly includes the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, the movement detection means 73, the item management means 74, and the effect fluctuation means 75 as shown in FIG. It is possible to acquire the local item of the destination according to the movement of the user, and to change the effect of the exchange (competition etc.) with other users whose home is the prefecture of the local item. A high-quality game can be realized.

  By the way, when the practice game mode is applied without the user moving from the home prefecture, the opponent candidate team having various prefectures as homes is included in the opponent candidate list in step S61 of FIG. Are displayed at random (see FIG. 11). Here, due to restrictions on screen space and the like, the number of opponent candidates displayed on the screen is about 3 to 10 (three in the example of FIG. 11). Therefore, in the practice game mode, the opponent candidate who is home in the prefecture of the local item owned by the user may not be included in the opponent candidate list. Therefore, the user repeatedly presses the update button 173 in FIG. 11 repeatedly to update the opponent candidate list until the opponent candidate whose home item is the prefecture of the local item owned by the user is displayed. It may be necessary.

  On the other hand, when the user moves from the prefecture of the home and enters the expedition game mode, as illustrated in FIG. Listed preferentially as a list. FIG. 12 shows an example of the opponent candidate list screen when the user moves to Aomori Prefecture and enters the expedition game mode. While the expedition game mode is being applied, the expedition display area 174 displays, for example, “exploring in Aomori Prefecture”. In this case, the opponent candidate list having Aomori Prefecture as the home is listed in the opponent candidate list with priority over those having other prefectures as the home.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the game server 1 further includes game content changing means 76 that changes the game contents based on the detection result by the movement detecting means 73. When the movement detecting means 73 detects that the user has moved to a prefecture other than the home prefecture, the game content changing means 76 changes the game mode from “practice game mode” to “expedition game mode”. It has a function of preferentially presenting other users who are home to the destination area (prefecture) as opponent candidates during a battle.

  Thus, for example, if the user moves from the home prefecture to Aomori prefecture, the local item of Aomori prefecture is first acquired, and the battle (arbitrary game) is played while in the expedition game mode by moving to Aomori prefecture. If you do, opponent candidates with Aomori Prefecture as the home will be preferentially displayed in the opponent candidate list, so you can play smoothly with opponents who are home to the prefecture of the local item you own Can do. Further, in the expedition game mode, there is a merit that the experience value accumulated in the player characters who participated in the game is improved by, for example, twice as compared with the practice game mode. That is, the user can enjoy the advantages of the local capture bonus and the advantages of the expedition game mode. Accordingly, when the user moves to a prefecture different from the home prefecture, the user can be motivated to actively acquire the local item at the destination and play the battle.

  The variation of the game content by the game content variation means 76 is not limited to the content described above as long as the game specifications, rules, display mode, and the like are changed. Other examples of changes in game content include points that can be earned per operation or per process, etc., for a predetermined period, lottery probability for rare items, for a predetermined period, points per operation or per process, etc. Various things can be considered, such as a reduction in consumption for a predetermined period. In addition, the game content may be changed by changing the character's ability, form, age, school year, title, equipment, and the like. In other words, after the user moves out of the reference area, the ability may be improved as the experience and experience of the character increase virtually, the character form may be increased, the age, grade, It may be raised or equipped with a lot of equipment, weapons, and tools. Furthermore, when the character's stamina or team ’s strength, which has been reduced or zero, revives over time, the speed of the resurgence should be increased after movement. Also good.

  In the practice game mode, as shown in FIG. 18, the battle is performed so that the battle with the opponent whose home item is owned by the user can be performed smoothly. A “local item acquisition area limited” button 175 may be provided on the partner candidate list screen. When the user presses the “local item acquisition area limited” button 175, the game server 1 extracts opponent candidates only for other users whose home is the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user. , Display it on the opponent candidate list screen. For example, when the user has acquired local items of three prefectures of Aomori Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, and Kanagawa Prefecture, only other users who are home to these three prefectures are displayed on the opponent candidate list screen. Alternatively, a “local item acquisition area priority” button (not shown) is provided on the opponent candidate list screen, and if the user presses this button, the game server 1 sets the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user as the home. You may make it extract the other user to preferentially as an opponent candidate. Here, “preferential” means that if there is another user whose home is the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user, the other user is extracted and displayed on the opponent candidate list screen. When there is no target person, it means that a person who is home in another prefecture is extracted and displayed on the opponent candidate list screen.

  By the way, as mentioned above, no matter how many times you visit the same prefecture, you can only get local items for that prefecture once. An item may be acquired a plurality of times. Below, the preferable structural example in case the same local item can be acquired in multiple times is demonstrated.

  The effect changing means 75 of the game management device according to the present embodiment increases the effect (local capture bonus) when a local item is acquired as the number of acquisitions of the local item corresponding to the same area (prefecture) increases. And the like.

  If the user visits the same prefecture different from the home prefecture multiple times and acquires multiple local items for that prefecture, the number of local items owned by the user may increase. Although the number of local items does not increase, the level of the local items may be improved. For example, if the user visits Aomori Prefecture twice and acquires the local item “apple” twice, the number of “apple” items becomes two, or the level of the “apple” item becomes Lv2. Hereinafter, for convenience, the description will be continued assuming that the number of times of acquisition of the local item is reflected as the number of acquisitions of the local item.

  The effect variation means 75 increases the effect of the local item as the number of acquisitions of the same local item increases. For example, if the opponent at the time of battle is using the prefecture B of the local item acquired by the user as the home, the local capture bonus is activated. At this time, the local item of the prefecture B acquired by the user The greater the number of, the more the player character's ability of the user's team is improved.

  For example, if the number of local item "Apple" is 1, the player character's ability improvement of meet +2, power +2, running power +2, catching ball +2, throwing ball +2, all defensive +2 by activating the local strategy bonus An effect is produced. And if the number of local items “apples” is two, each individual ability of the player character, such as meat +3, power +3, running power +3, catching +3, throwing +3, defensive +3, It improves by +1 compared to the case of “Apple”. Similarly, if the number of local items “apples” reaches n, meet + (2 + n), power + (2 + n), running power + (2 + n), catch ball + (2 + n), throw + (2 + n), All defenses will be + (2 + n).

  Next, an example of the operation of the game server 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the same step number is attached to the process similar to the flowchart of FIG. 16, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The processing from step S61 to S63 is common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S63, when the user has a local item in the prefecture of the opponent's home (YES in S63), the game server 1 determines the local location for the user according to the number of the local item possessed by the user. The effect when the capture bonus is activated is determined (S71). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the user (S64).

  The subsequent steps S64 and S65 are also common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S65, when the opponent possesses a local item in the user's home prefecture (YES in S65), the game server 1 responds to the opponent according to the number of the local item possessed by the opponent. The effect when the local capture bonus is activated is determined (S72). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the opponent (S66).

  In this configuration, even if the competing users have local items in the partner's home prefecture, the effect is offset if there is a difference in the number of local items acquired by the other party. Instead, the user on the side where the acquisition number of the local item of the other party is large is more advantageous.

  In addition, when a user searches for a new friend, if he / she selects another user whose home item is the prefecture of the local item he / she has acquired from the list of candidate candidates, The greater the number of items acquired, the higher the familiarity with the other party may be set.

  Or, if you exchange greetings with other users who are home in the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user, the more points you acquire, the more points and items you can acquire May be.

  As described above, in this configuration, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game by changing the effect according to the number of acquisitions of local items corresponding to the same area.

  Next, as a variation, a description will be given of a configuration in which the effect changing means 75 changes the effect for each local item corresponding to each area.

As shown in FIG. 20, the item database of the database server 2 stores the effect (attribute) for each local item when the local capture bonus is activated in association with the item ID. The effect varies depending on the corresponding area as exemplified below.
Hokkaido: Defensive +4 (other abilities +2)
Tohoku prefectures: Running power +5 (other abilities +2)
Kanto prefectures: Meet +3 (other abilities are +2)
Chubu Prefecture: catching ball +3, throwing ball +3 (other abilities are +2)
Kansai Prefecture: Power +3 (other abilities are +2)
Shikoku, China: Running power +3, catching ball +3 (other abilities are +2)
Kyushu prefectures: Power +5 points (other abilities are +2)
Okinawa: Meet +3, Power +3, Running +3 (other abilities are +2)

  The effect variation means 75, when competing with another user whose home is the prefecture of the local item owned by the user, based on the effect of the local item stored in the item database, the local capture Activate the bonus.

  Next, an example of the operation of the game server 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the same step number is attached to the process similar to the flowchart of FIG. 16, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The processing from step S61 to S63 is common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S63, when the user has a local item in the prefecture of the opponent's home (YES in S63), the game server 1 refers to the item database illustrated in FIG. Is determined (S81). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the user (S64).

  The subsequent steps S64 and S65 are also common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S65, when the opponent possesses a local item in the user's home prefecture (YES in S65), the game server 1 refers to the item database and determines the effect of the local item (S82). ). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the opponent (S66).

  In this case, for example, the user has acquired local items in Hokkaido and Kanto prefectures, and the user's team has a weak point in defense (the defensive ability of player characters in the team is low compared to the batting ability, etc.) If that is the case, if you choose another user who is home in Hokkaido as your opponent, you will be able to cover the weak points of your team.

  With this configuration, if the user moves to various areas, various local items having different effects can be acquired, and the fun of the game can be further enhanced.

  Next, as a variation, a configuration will be described in which the effect of the local item acquired at the destination (such as the attribute of the local item) is varied depending on the relationship between the user's home prefecture and the destination prefecture.

  The effect changing means 75 of the game management device according to the present embodiment provides the above-described effects (such as the effects of local capture bonuses) according to the local items according to the distance between the local item prefecture and the user's home prefecture. Fluctuate. That is, the effect variation means 75 has a function of increasing the effect of the local item as the distance from the reference area of the area (prefecture) corresponding to the local item increases.

  For example, if the distance between the prefecture of the local item and the prefecture of the user's home is less than 100 km, 100 km or more, less than 1000 km, or 1000 km or more, the player character ability improvement amount by the local capture bonus is +1, +2, +3. Here, +1 indicates that each individual ability (power, running ability, catching, throwing, defensive appropriateness) of the player character is all +1.

  Next, an operation example of the game server 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the same step number is attached to the process similar to the flowchart of FIG. 16, and the description is omitted.

  The processing from step S61 to S63 is common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S63, when the user possesses the local item of the opponent's home prefecture (YES in S63), the game server 1 responds to the distance between the local item prefecture and the user's home prefecture. Then, the effect of the local item is determined (S91). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the user (S64).

  The subsequent steps S64 and S65 are also common to the processing flow of FIG. In step S65, if the opponent has a local item in the prefecture of the user's home (YES in S65), the game server 1 determines the distance between the prefecture of the local item and the prefecture of the opponent's home. Accordingly, the effect of the local item is determined (S92). Thereafter, the game server 1 activates a local capture bonus to the opponent (S66).

  In this configuration, when the user of the prefecture A moves to the prefecture B and acquires the local item B, as the distance between the prefecture A and the prefecture B increases, During the battle, the ability of the user's player character is further improved. Specifically, it is more appropriate if you move to Okinawa and get a local item in Okinawa than if a user in Tokyo moved to Osaka and get a local item in Osaka. Increases the effects of local items (such as improving the ability of a character during a match). Thereby, if the user moves to a prefecture farther away from the prefecture of his / her home, acquires a local item, and selects a partner in the prefecture to play a battle, a strategy that the battle becomes more advantageous is created.

  As another example, when a user searches for a new friend, he / she selects another user in the prefecture farther away from his / her home prefecture from among the prefectures of the local item he / she has acquired. If it becomes, the intimacy with the partner is set higher, or the points that can be acquired when becoming a friend become higher.

  Or, if you exchange greetings with other users who use the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user as the home, you can earn by exchange as the distance between your home prefecture and the prefecture of the local item is more distant You may make it increase points and items.

  As described above, in this configuration, the effect of the local item corresponding to the destination area is changed according to the relationship between the home prefecture (reference area) and the destination area (the prefecture of the home and the local item prefecture). The greater the distance, the greater the effect). Thereby, the interest property of a game can be improved more.

  Next, the structure which provides an expiration date for the local item as a variation is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 23, the game server 1 having this configuration includes expiration date setting means 77. This expiry date setting means 77 has a function of setting an expiry date capable of generating the effect (local capture bonus) for the area limited item acquired by the user.

  When the user acquires a local item, the item ID of the local item is stored in the database server 2 in association with the user ID. At this time, acquisition time information (such as the date of acquisition of the local item) is also stored together with the item ID, and an expiration date of, for example, six months from acquisition is provided. In this way, in order to enjoy the merit of acquiring the local item, the user is motivated to actively interact (match, etc.) with other users who are home in the prefecture of the local item within the expiration date. Given a date.

  Moreover, if it becomes before the predetermined period (for example, 10 days ago) before the expiration date set for the local item acquired by the user expires, the game server 1 notifies the user's terminal device 3 to that effect and is interested in the game. Arouse.

  Next, as a variation, a description will be given of a configuration in which the item management unit 74 limits a period during which a local item can be acquired.

  For example, local items that can be acquired when moving to Aomori Prefecture are “Nebuta” from April to September, and “Apple” from October to March. Also, this year's “apples” and next year ’s “apples” may be different (effects different).

  As an event in the game, a specific area is designated as a bonus area for a certain period of time (for example, Kyoto is designated for the month with the Gion Festival), and users who move to that bonus area will receive special local items (than usual) You may be able to obtain local items that are highly effective.

  In this way, by limiting the period in which the local item can be acquired and making it impossible to acquire the target local item without going to the area within that period, the value of the local item is increased. And when a user acquires the local item, in order to use it effectively, it is anticipated that it will try to actively interact with the user who makes the prefecture of the local item home.

  By the way, for example, a user in a prefecture where the home and the commuting destination (or the school destination) are different exists in the A prefecture at home before morning and the night after returning home, and in the B prefecture at commuting. So, for example, if you register one of prefectures A and B as your home prefecture and the other as a prefecture that is not your home, you can move to other than your home prefecture as many times as you like by commuting every day. It becomes like this.

  Acquiring the same local item is not a problem if you can acquire it only once even if you move to the corresponding area multiple times, but if you can acquire the same local item as many times as you move to the corresponding area Only a specific user whose home and commuting destination are different can acquire many local items in a specific prefecture.

  Therefore, in this configuration, the item management means 74 determines the number of times that the user can acquire the local item of the prefecture B by the user moving in the same prefecture B other than the home prefecture A within a predetermined period. Limit to within times. For example, the acquisition of the local item of the prefecture B by the movement to the same prefecture B is limited to once per month. Thereby, the situation where the area limited item of a specific area can be acquired many times by daily movement (movement between a home and a commuting destination etc.) can be avoided effectively.

  Of course, the above limitation can be arbitrarily set according to game characteristics. For example, a user who intends to use a round trip between his / her home and work place for a game may be allowed to some extent, for example, to allow obtaining area-limited items in the same area up to twice a week. .

[Another configuration example of the game management device]
Another configuration example of the game management device will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. In addition, the same member number is attached | subjected about the structure similar to the structure shown in previous drawing, The description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The game server 1 as the game management device of the present embodiment mainly includes a reference area storage control means 71, a position acquisition means 72, a movement detection means 73, an item management means 74, a fellow information storage control means 81, and fellow relation fluctuations. Means 82 are provided. Each of these means is realized by the CPU 11 of the game server 1 executing the program according to the present embodiment.

  Here, the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, the movement detection means 73, and the item management means 74 have already been described in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, below, the fellow information storage control means 81 and the fellow relation change means 82 will be mainly described.

  As described above, in the game, users can virtually build a friendship. As one form for a user to establish a friendship relationship with another user, either one of the two users makes a friend application to the other user via the game server 1 and receives the application. An application made between the two users and an operation of the approval for approving that the user becomes a friend through the game server 1 can be mentioned. As another form, when a user who is already registered in the game invites an unregistered user to the game and the invited user registers in the game, the two who are the invited side There is also a form in which the user is a friend.

  The fellow information storage control means 81 has a function of storing user fellow information in the database server 2 as a storage device. Here, friendship is a generic term for virtual relationships between users built in the game, cheering party, supporters, acquaintances, friends, friends, classmates, partners, relatives, family, brothers, sisters , Including various in-game relationships, such as company or organization colleagues. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the fellow information storage control unit 81 stores the fellow user ID in a predetermined area of the database server 2 in association with the user ID.

  When the user acquires a local item, the fellow relationship changing means 82 has an effect caused by a relationship with a friend whose home is an area (prefecture) corresponding to the local item or a relationship with the fellow. It has a function that makes it different from the case where the local item is not acquired.

  As an example in which the friend relationship changing means 82 changes the relationship between the user and the friend, when the user acquires the local item “apple” of his / her friend's home prefecture, for example, Aomori prefecture, the parent with the friend For example, the density may be changed to be higher than when the local item “apple” is not provided. Specific examples are shown below.

  For example, it is assumed that user A who is home in Tokyo has a friend B who is home in Aomori Prefecture. As described above, there are five levels of intimacy, rank 1 = acquaintance, rank 2 = friend, rank 3 = best friend, rank 4 = friend, rank 5 = friend, user A and friend B Assume that the current closeness of rank 2 is a friend. At this time, it is assumed that the user A has not acquired the local item “apple” in Aomori Prefecture. And when user A moves to Aomori Prefecture and acquires the local item “apple”, the intimacy between user A and friend B of Aomori Prefecture is the level before user A acquires the local item “apple”. From rank 2 = friend, rank 3 = best friend. The friendship variation means 82 executes this familiarity variation process.

  In addition, although the effect variation means 75 of the above-mentioned embodiment can also have a function to vary the intimacy, it differs from the fellow relationship variation means 82 of the present embodiment in the following points. That is, the fellow relationship changing means 82 of the present embodiment is intended for the case where the fellow relation has already been established, but the effect changing means 75 of the above-described embodiment is the previous stage (the user In the case of making new friends).

  As an example in which the friend relationship changing means 82 changes the effect caused by the relationship between the user and the friend, the user A has a local prefecture “apple” in his / her friend B's home prefecture, for example, Aomori prefecture. In this case, by requesting the companion B as an “assistant” at the time of the battle, it is possible to change the battle strength to be higher than when the local item “apple” is not held. That is, when the user owns a local item in the prefecture of the home of the friend B who is requested as the “helper”, the “helper effect” is higher than when the user does not have the local item.

  This can be configured such that the relationship with friends changes due to possession of the local item (intimacy is improved as described above), and as a result, the battle or the like becomes advantageous. In other words, the fighting ability is improved in relation to friends.

  A specific example is shown below. In the opponent candidate list screen illustrated in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, if the user selects an opponent who wants to battle and presses the battle button 172, the screen shifts to the battle start screen illustrated in FIG. The battle start screen is provided with an opponent team information display area 185 and an own team information display area 186. In the opponent team information display area 185, for example, the avatar, name, game level, home prefecture, team strength of one army, team name, etc. of the opponent user are displayed. In the own team information display area 186, the user's own avatar, name, game level, home prefecture, team strength of one army, team name, and the like are displayed.

  In addition, a button 187 for calling an assistant is displayed on the battle start screen, and an arbitrary friend (or a friend character) can be requested as an assistant. When the user selects a button 187 for calling a helper, the screen shifts to a helper selection screen illustrated in FIG. In this assistant selection screen, a plurality of fellow information display areas 191 are provided, and fellows who are in a fellow relation with the user are listed and displayed. Each friend information display area 191 displays a friend's avatar, name, game level, home prefecture, team strength of one army, team name, and the like. In addition, about the information of the fellow who cannot be displayed on the screen, the game server 1 can be requested to scroll the screen or the second page or later of the assistant selection screen can be displayed as a separate screen.

  Each friend information display area 191 may be provided with a “local item acquisition area limited” button 192. When the user presses the button 192, the game server 1 displays only the friends whose home is the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user on the assistant selection screen. Thereby, a user becomes easy to select the friend who makes the prefecture of the local item which he owns a home as a helper.

  Each friend information display area 191 is provided with a determination button 193. The user selects a friend to request as an assistant while referring to the listed prefectures of the friend's homes, and presses the friend's decision button 193. Thereby, it changes to the battle | competition start screen illustrated in FIG. 27, and the friend which the user selected is set to the assistant setting area | region 189 as an assistant. Note that an assistant change button (not shown) may be provided, and by pressing the button, the screen shown in FIG. 26 may be returned to select a friend who requests as an assistant again.

  When the user presses the battle start button on the battle start screen of FIG. 25 or 27, a battle command is transmitted from the user terminal device 3 to the game server 1, and the game server 1 executes a battle process. Here, as shown in the screen of FIG. 27, when the user's associate is set as a helper, the helper effect sets the help force of the user's team according to the ability of the player character of the associate. Better than if not. Furthermore, when the prefecture of the friend's home which the user has set as an assistant matches the prefecture of the local item owned by the user, the assistant effect is further enhanced, and the team strength of the user is further improved.

Here, the original strength value of the user's team (the strength value without the assistant) is P0, the strength value of the team that is improved by the assistant effect is Peffect, and the strength value of the user's team including the assistant is Puser. And when a user does not have the local item of the friend's home prefecture which the user set as a helper, the strength value Puser of the user's team including a helper becomes like the following Formula (1).
Puser = P0 + Peffect (1)

On the other hand, when the user has a local item in the prefecture of the friend's home that the user has set as a helper, the strength value Puser of the user's team including the helper is expressed by the following equation (2): become.
Puser = P0 + a × Peffect (2)
Here, the variable a in the above formula (2) is 1 <a. For example, if a = 1.5 and the user chooses a helper, the ability improvement by the helper is 1.5 times higher than usual if he / she chooses a friend whose home item is the prefecture of his / her local item. There is an advantage of improving.

  The improvement of the helper effect by the local item mentioned above will occur as a result of the improvement of the relationship (intimacy) between the user and the friend whose home is the prefecture of the local item by acquiring the local item. Also good.

  As another example in which the friend relationship changing means 82 changes the effect caused by the relationship between the user and the friend, the effect changes when the user interacts with the friend (greeting, message transmission, present, battle cooperation, chat, etc.). Is mentioned. For example, when a user acquires a local item, if the exchange of greetings etc. with a friend whose home is the prefecture of the local item, two intimate points can be obtained compared to the case where the local item is not held. The points and items that can be earned through exchanges increase. This may also occur as a result of an improvement in the relationship (intimacy) between the user and the friend whose home is the prefecture of the local item by acquiring the local item.

  Next, an example of the operation of the game management device shown in FIG. 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 28 shows an example of the operation of the game server 1 that changes the relationship with friends depending on the local item acquired by the user. This processing example is a processing flow for one user, and the game server 1 executes the same processing for each user registered in the game service.

  The operation when the user moves from a home prefecture to a different prefecture and acquires a local item has already been described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 and the like, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. As shown in FIG. 28, when the user moves from the home prefecture to a different prefecture (YES in S101) and acquires a local item in the destination prefecture (YES in S102), the game server 1 It is determined whether there is a friend whose home is the prefecture of the item (S103). Here, when there is a friend whose home is the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user (YES in S103), the friend relationship changing means 82 of the game server 1 sets the relationship of closeness between the user and the friend as 1 Improve your rank. For example, when the familiarity between the user and his associate before the user obtains the local item is “rank 2 = friend”, the familiarity of the two is obtained by obtaining the local item. Improve to "Rank 3 = Best Friend".

  In this way, the closeness of the two people is improved only for the friends whose home item is the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user, and if there is no such friend (NO in S103), the local item Even if you acquire, you will not improve the intimacy with other friends (for example, if you move to Aomori Prefecture and acquire the local item "Apple", for example, the intimacy with friends who are home in Aomori Prefecture However, the intimacy with friends who are home in Chiba, for example, does not improve.

  In addition, the relationship with the friend fluctuate | varied with a local item is good also as relationships, such as not only the said familiarity but friendship degree, reliability, love degree, the depth of a bond. For example, if the user and his / her companion have a virtual family relationship in the game, the degree of affection or the depth of bond between the two may vary. If the user and his / her companion are virtually in the game with a company colleague (or boss and subordinate), the reliability of the two may vary.

  Next, an example of the operation of the game server 1 that varies the effect caused by the relationship with the friends depending on the local item acquired by the user will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the game server 1 when a user performs a battle by asking a friend for a helper.

  If the user performs an operation to call a helper during the battle (YES in S111), the game server 1 displays a friend list for selecting a helper on the screen of the terminal device 3 (S112). For example, the user's associates are displayed in a list on the assistant selection screen illustrated in FIG. In this buddy list, information on the prefecture of the home of each buddy is also displayed, so it is possible to consider which buddy will be a helper by referring to the information. Thereafter, if the user selects a friend to be a helper (YES in S113), the selected friend (or friend character) is set as a helper as shown in the screen example of FIG. 27 (S114).

  In addition, a battle | competition can also be started, without setting a helper (it is NO at S111). If the user performs an operation for starting a battle (such as an operation of pressing the battle start button 188 in FIG. 25 or 27) (YES in S115), the game server 1 determines whether or not an assistant is set (S116). . If a helper is set (YES in S116), the game server 1 determines whether the user has a local item in the prefecture of the home of the friend who is the helper (S117). For example, when the prefecture of the home of the friend who is the assistant is Aomori Prefecture, if the user does not have the local item in Aomori Prefecture (NO in S117), the normal assistant effect is applied (S118). In this case, for example, the formula (1) is applied to determine the team strength of the user team including the assistant. On the other hand, if the user possesses a local item in the prefecture “Aomori Prefecture” of the friend's home who is the assistant (YES in S117), the assistant effect is improved more than in the case of step S118 (S119). In this case, for example, the above formula (2) is applied, and the strength of the team of the user including the assistant is improved as compared with the case of step S118.

  Thereafter, the game server 1 executes a battle (S120), and a game screen as a result of the execution is displayed on the user terminal device 3.

  As described above, the game management apparatus according to the present embodiment mainly has the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, the movement detection means 73, the item management means 74, and the fellow information storage control as shown in FIG. Means 81 and fellow relation changing means 82 are provided, and it is possible to acquire the local item of the destination according to the movement of the user, and it is caused by the relation with the fellow whose home is the prefecture of the local item or the relation with the fellow. By changing the effect, a highly interesting game can be realized.

  By the way, even in this embodiment, no matter how many times you visit the same prefecture, you can get the local item only once, or if you visit the same prefecture multiple times, Although the local item may be acquired a plurality of times, a preferable configuration example in the case where the same local item can be acquired a plurality of times will be described below.

  The friend relationship changing means 82 of the game management device according to the present embodiment increases the effect (helper effect, etc.) caused by the relationship with the friend as the number of acquisitions of the local item corresponding to the same area (prefecture) increases. It has the function to do. As mentioned above, if you acquire multiple local items in a prefecture, you may increase the number of local items in that prefecture, or improve the level of local items in that prefecture. Also good.

For example, when a friend who requested a helper at the time of battle has a prefecture of the local item acquired by the user as the home, the more the number of acquisitions of the local item, the greater the helper effect (that is, The battle strength will be improved.) Specifically, when the above formula (2) is applied to determine the strength value Puser of the user's team including the assistant, the more the number of acquisitions of the target local item is, the more the formula (2) Increase the variable a. As an example, if the number of acquisitions of the target local item is n, the variable a = 1.5 + 0.1 × n. Therefore, the strength value Puser of the user's team including the assistant can be calculated as a function of the number n of acquisition times of the target local item as shown in the following formula (3).
Puser = P0 + (1.5 + 0.1 × n) × Peffect (3)

  If the above formula (3) is applied, according to the number of possessed local items of the user's fellows (number of acquisitions), the strength (character ability) during the cooperative battle with the fellow as a helper is continuously improved. be able to. In addition, according to the possession number of the local item of a user's friend, you may improve the strength at the time of the cooperative battle which makes the friend a helper in steps. For example, when the number of local items to be targeted is 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 or more, the variable a in the formula (2) is set to 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5, respectively. Set.

  Moreover, you may make it change the degree of the improvement of the closeness with the friend according to the possession number (acquisition frequency) of a user's friend's local item. For example, if the number of local items held in a certain prefecture B is 1-5, 6-10, or 11 or more, the intimacy with a friend who uses the prefecture B as the home is improved by 1 rank, improved by 2 ranks, 3 The rank will be improved. And as a result of the improvement of the intimacy according to the number of possessed items (number of acquisitions), the strength at the time of cooperative battle may be improved step by step.

  In addition, as a variation, if exchanges such as greetings with friends who are home to the prefecture of the local item acquired by the user, the more points and items that can be acquired, the more points and items that can be acquired by the exchange It may be.

  As described above, in this configuration, the interest of the game is further enhanced by changing the assistant effect when the local item is acquired according to the number of acquisition of the area limited item corresponding to the same area. Can do.

  Next, the structure which provides an expiration date for the local item as a variation is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 30, the game server 1 having this configuration includes expiration date setting means 83. The expiration date setting unit 83 has a function of setting a predetermined expiration date for the area limited item acquired by the user.

  When the user acquires a local item, the item ID of the local item is stored in the database server 2 in association with the user ID. At this time, acquisition time information (such as the date of acquisition of the local item) is also stored together with the item ID, and an expiration date of, for example, six months from acquisition is provided. As a result, in order to enjoy the benefits of acquiring local items, the user wants to actively interact with fellows whose home is the prefecture of the local item within the validity period (such as a helper request during a match). Motivated to do.

  Moreover, if it becomes before the predetermined period (for example, 10 days ago) before the expiration date set for the local item acquired by the user expires, the game server 1 notifies the user's terminal device 3 to that effect and is interested in the game. Arouse.

  Next, notification by the game server 1 when the user acquires a local item will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the game server 1 of the present embodiment preferably further includes first notification means 84 in addition to the means shown in FIG. This 1st alerting | reporting means 84 has a function which alert | reports to the said user the information of the friend who makes the prefecture of the said local item home when a user acquires a local item.

  For example, when the user A acquires the local item “apple” in Aomori, the fact that there is a friend B (C, D...) Whose home is Aomori is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 3 of the user A. The user A is notified.

  User A does not always know the prefecture of his / her home. Therefore, when the user A acquires the local item, the user A is interested in the fellow B by notifying that there is a fellow B (C, D ...) whose home is the prefecture of the local item. It is expected that the friend B will be called to the helper at the time of the battle, and exchanges such as greetings with the friend B will be expected.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the game server 1 of the present embodiment preferably further includes a second notification means 85 in addition to the means shown in FIG. This 2nd alerting | reporting means 85 has a function which alert | reports that the user acquired the local item to the friend who uses the prefecture of the said local item as a home.

  For example, when the user A who is home in Tokyo acquires the local item “apple” of the home prefecture “Aomori Prefecture” of the friend B (C, D...), The second notification unit 85 informs the friend B of that fact. (C, D...) Is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 3 and is notified to the friend B (C, D...). Upon receiving the notification, it is expected that the friend B (C, D...) Is interested in the user A.

  Also, when receiving the notification by the second notification means 85 (or not depending on it), the companion B is interested in the user A and visits the user A's home Tokyo to obtain local items in Tokyo. Sometimes. As in this example, when the user A and the user B who are in a peer relationship acquire the local item of the partner's home prefecture, only one of the user A or the user B is the local item of the partner's home prefecture It is preferable to increase the effect of the local item (for example, improve the closeness of both, or improve the helper effect at the time of the battle) than when the item is acquired.

  That is, when the user and the associate acquire the local item of the partner's home prefecture, only the user acquires the local item of the friend's home prefecture. Rather than have a function to increase the effects of local items.

  For example, it is assumed that the current intimacy between the user A who is home in Tokyo and the friend B who is home in Aomori is rank 2 = friend. At this time, neither the user A nor the friend B has acquired the local item of the partner's home prefecture. And when user A moves to Aomori Prefecture and acquires the local item “apple”, the intimacy between user A and friend B of Aomori Prefecture is the level before user A acquires the local item “apple”. From rank 2 = friend, rank 3 = best friend. After that, when the friend B moves to Tokyo and acquires the local item “Sky Tree”, the closeness between the user A and the friend B is improved from rank 3 = best friend to rank 4 = friend.

  In addition, when the user and his / her friend acquire the local item of the partner's home prefecture, if you call the friend to the helper during the battle, only the user will acquire the local item of the friend's home prefecture. Compared with the case where it is, the assistant effect may improve and the strength (character ability) at the time of a battle may increase.

  Thereby, two users who are in a fellow relationship are motivated to acquire local items of the partner's home prefecture. And two people who have acquired a local item in the partner's home prefecture with each other have great merits, so they actively ask each other for help in battle cooperation, deepen exchange, and friends Can be expected to strengthen the connection.

  Also in the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively avoid a situation where an area-limited item in a specific area can be acquired any number of times due to daily movement (movement between home and commuting, etc.). Therefore, the number of times that the item management means 74 can acquire the local item of the prefecture B by moving the user in the same prefecture B other than the home prefecture A is limited to a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period. May be. However, a user who intends to use the round trip between his / her home and work place for a game may be allowed to some extent, for example, to allow obtaining area-limited items in the same area up to twice a week. .

  By the way, when registering the reference area (home prefecture) at the start of the game, the user may intentionally or mistakenly register a prefecture different from his / her own address in the real world. For example, at the start of the game, a user living in Tokyo may intentionally register Hokkaido as his / her home address. As a countermeasure, when the user registers the home prefecture, the GPS function of the terminal device 3 is used, and the position acquisition unit 72 acquires the real world position information of the user. And the structure which the reference | standard area memory | storage control means 71 registers a user's home prefecture automatically based on the positional information which the position acquisition means 72 acquired can be considered. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from registering an arbitrary prefecture that is not related to his current position as his / her home address.

  Note that the user may move from the home prefecture registered at the start of the game to another prefecture. Therefore, it is preferable that the user can correct the prefecture of his home by operating the terminal device 3. Also in the correction of the home prefecture, the position acquisition means 72 acquires the user's real world position information, and the reference area storage control means 71 determines the user's home prefecture based on the acquired position information. A configuration to be corrected is conceivable.

  However, it is considered that some users who have moved do not perform an operation to correct the home prefecture. In addition, the following is also conceivable when adopting a configuration in which the prefecture of the user's home is registered using the GPS function of the terminal device 3 or the like. That is, when the home registration (or home correction) at the start of the game is performed while traveling to a place different from the user's actual address (for example, Tokyo), for example, “Hokkaido”, the GPS function of the terminal device 3 It is possible that “Hokkaido” acquired using the above or the like is registered as the user's home prefecture.

  Therefore, hereinafter, a game management device having a function of automatically correcting the reference area of the user based on the daily real-world position information of the user acquired by the position acquisition unit 72 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the game management device of the present embodiment further includes reference area correction means 91 in addition to the means shown in FIG. This reference area correction means 91 may be provided in the game management device of FIG. The reference area correction unit 91 automatically selects the user reference area (home prefecture) stored in the database server 2 by the reference area storage control unit 71 based on the user position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 72. Has a function to modify. An example of automatic correction of the reference area by the reference area correction means 91 is shown below.

  Based on the history of user location information (GPS location information, etc.) for a predetermined period, for example, one month, more than a predetermined number of days in one month (for example, more than half in one month) are registered If it is the same area “Tokyo” that is different from the existing reference area “Hokkaido”, the reference area correction means 91 automatically corrects the reference area of the user to “Tokyo”. The reference area correction unit 91 periodically executes this automatic correction process every predetermined period, for example, every month. Thereby, even if there is an error in the home prefecture registered by the user as the reference area, the reference area is automatically corrected accurately based on the user's actual position information within one month. .

  As another example of automatic correction, an area (prefecture) where the user stayed most often is recognized as a reference area based on the history of the user's location information during a predetermined period (for example, one month), and if necessary Automatically correct the reference area.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the history of location information of the user's real world is stored in the database server 2 every time the user's terminal device 3 accesses the game (logs in to the game server 1). By analyzing the history of the location information of the user, it is possible to determine which area (prefecture) the user is staying in (acting in) on a daily basis. Then, when the central area of the user's daily stay is different from the currently set reference area of the user, the area that the reference area correcting means 91 has identified as the center of the user's daily stay Is automatically corrected as a reference area.

  With this configuration, even if an incorrect reference area is registered, the reference area is automatically automatically corrected based on the user's real-world location information, so local items can be acquired based on the incorrect reference area. Can be effectively avoided.

[Other configuration examples of the game system]
In each of the above-described embodiments, a game execution program is installed on the game server 1 side, and the game server 1 performs arithmetic processing and data processing for game progress in response to an input operation on the terminal device 3 of each user. The application example to the game system in which the game progresses by transmitting the screen data reflecting the execution result to the terminal device 3 has been described. This is a so-called client-server game system, and is an example in which a game management device is configured by servers (game server 1 and database server 2). As described above, this configuration is suitable for providing users with services such as browser games, social games, and cloud gaming, but the configuration of the game management device is not limited to this.

  For example, the game server 1 manages the game information of each user and provides the user with game services such as exchanges between users in the game and matching (on-line opponent determination processing) during online battles, while proceeding with the game. The game execution process to be performed is basically applicable to a game system performed on the user terminal device side.

  In other words, the present invention can also be applied to a game system in which a part or all of the game execution program is downloaded or installed on the user terminal device side and the game execution process is also performed on the terminal device. For example, a user terminal device peers with another user terminal device by Internet communication, wireless LAN communication, short-range wireless communication using a predetermined frequency band (for example, 2.4 GHz frequency band), or wired LAN communication. It is also possible to execute a peer-to-peer game by connecting two to peers.

  The server and the terminal device can communicate with each other to send and receive various data, and are information processing devices (computers) each including a CPU, ROM, RAM, auxiliary storage device, communication control unit, and the like. The hardware configuration is as follows. Therefore, in a game system including a server and a terminal device, each means included in the game management device described in each of the above embodiments may be provided in either the server or the terminal device. In other words, the game management device can be configured to be provided in a server and a terminal device that communicate with each other to send and receive various data, and achieve the same effects as the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in FIG. 7, the game server 1 includes the reference area storage control unit 71, the position acquisition unit 72, the movement detection unit 73, the item management unit 74, and the effect variation unit 75, which are illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35. As described above, the function of each unit can be provided to either the server or the terminal device. Here, the hardware configuration of the server shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 is the same as that of the game server 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the hardware configuration of the terminal device is the same as that of the terminal device 3 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 34 shows a configuration example in which the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, and the movement detection means 73 are provided in the server 101, and the item management means 74 and the effect fluctuation means 75 are provided in the terminal device 301. FIG. 35 shows a configuration example in which the reference area storage control means 71 and the position acquisition means 72 are provided in the server 102, and the movement detection means 73, the item management means 74, and the effect fluctuation means 75 are provided in the terminal device 302. Note that FIGS. 34 and 35 are examples of the configuration of the game system, and other configurations are possible.

  As shown in FIG. 36, the game terminal (terminal device) 303 includes all of the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, the movement detection means 73, the item management means 74, and the effect fluctuation means 75. It can be. That is, the game management device can be mounted on the game terminal 303 itself, and in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In this case, the server 103 manages the game information of each user and provides game services such as matching of matches (arbitrary matches) to the user, but all other processing is executed on the game terminal 303 side. be able to. Alternatively, management of game information of each user is also performed on the game terminal 303 side of each user, and the server 103 can only provide the user with a game service such as match matching. If the game terminal 303 includes all of the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, the movement detection means 73, the item management means 74, and the effect fluctuation means 75, the game terminal 303 is a stand-alone game terminal 303. The server 103 is not essential.

  Similarly, in FIG. 24, the game server 1 includes reference area storage control means 71, position acquisition means 72, movement detection means 73, item management means 74, fellow information storage control means 81, and fellow relation variation means 82. However, as illustrated in FIG. 37, the function of each unit can be provided in either the server or the terminal device. FIG. 37 shows a configuration example in which the server 104 is provided with the fellow information storage control means 81 and the fellow relation change means 82, and the terminal device 304 is provided with the reference area storage control means 71, the position acquisition means 72, and the movement detection means 73. Yes. FIG. 37 shows an example of the configuration of the game system, and other configurations are possible.

  As shown in FIG. 38, the game terminal (terminal device) 305 includes reference area storage control means 71, position acquisition means 72, movement detection means 73, item management means 74, fellow information storage control means 81, and fellow relation fluctuation. A configuration including all the means 82 may be adopted. In this case, as described above, the server 105 is not essential because it can be the stand-alone game terminal 305.

  Further, the game content changing means 76, the expiration date setting means 77 and 83, and the reference area correcting means 91 can be provided not only on the server side but also on the terminal device (game terminal) side.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the user moved out of the reference area and acquired the local item, an example in which a merit for the user (or for the user and his friends) occurs was explained, but the local item was acquired This may cause a disadvantage.

  For example, a lottery is executed when a user moves outside the reference area to acquire a local item, and a local item that produces a merit if it wins the lottery can be obtained, but a disadvantage occurs if the user loses the lottery You can also get items. In this case, the acquisition probability of the local item where the merit occurs is higher than the acquisition probability of the local item where the demerit occurs (for example, the probability that the merit occurs is 90% and the probability that the demerit occurs is 10%. If the user feels that there is a high probability that the user will move out of the reference area, the user will be actively moved out of the reference area to play the game. be able to.

  In the configuration of the game management device shown in FIG. 7, when the user acquires a local item that causes a disadvantage, for example, when the opponent (other user) at the time of battle has the prefecture of the local item as a home, The ability of the character of the user's team is lowered and the battle is disadvantageous. In this case, when the user selects an opponent, by selecting another user who does not use the prefecture of the local item (which produces disadvantages) as his home from the battle list, Strategies such as avoiding disadvantages are born.

  In addition, in the configuration of the game management device shown in FIG. 24, when the user acquires a local item that causes a disadvantage, for example, the disadvantage that the effect of improving the strength by the assistant is smaller than when the user does not have the local item. Shall occur. In this case, when the user selects a helper from among the friends at the time of the battle, the strategy is to avoid the disadvantages by choosing a friend who does not use the prefecture of the local item (the one that produces the disadvantages) that he owns. Is born.

  By the way, regarding a configuration having a storage control function for storing various types of information in the storage device (reference area storage control means 71, fellow information storage control means 81, etc.), the storage device itself is not included in the configuration. It may be installed anywhere (inside or outside the game system). For example, the storage device is a RAM 13 or auxiliary storage device 14 that the game server 1 has, a database server 2, a RAM 33 or auxiliary storage device 39 that the terminal device 3 has, or a file server (online that is different from the game management device or terminal device). Storage) or the like.

  The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied in appropriate combination.

  The computer-readable program according to the present embodiment is recorded on various computer-readable recording media such as a hard disk, an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), a flexible disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like. Are executed by the CPU of the server and terminal device (game terminal). The means for providing the program to the server or the like is not limited to the recording medium described above, and can be performed via a communication network such as the Internet.

1 Game server (game management device)
2 Database server (game management device)
3 Terminal device 4 Network 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Auxiliary storage device 71 Reference area storage control means,
72 position acquisition means 73 movement detection means 74 item management means 75 effect fluctuation means 76 game content fluctuation means 77 expiration date setting means 81 fellow information storage control means 82 fellow relation fluctuation means 83 expiration date setting means 84 first notification means 85 second Notification means 91 Reference area correction means 101-105 Server (game management device, game system)
301/302/304 Terminal device (game management device, game system)
303/305 Game terminal (game management device, game system)

Claims (8)

A game management device for managing a game,
Reference area storage control means for storing a user's reference area in a storage device;
Position acquisition means for acquiring real-world position information of the user;
A movement detection means for detecting a movement of the user from the reference area based on the user position information acquired by the position acquisition means;
When it is detected by the movement detection means that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area, other users who use the user's destination area as a reference area are preferentially displayed on the screen as opponent candidates. Display control means,
A game management device comprising:   The display control means displays other users who use the user's destination area as a reference area in a higher order in the display order of the opponent candidate list than other users who do not use the user's destination area as a reference area. The game management device according to claim 1.   The game management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit sets only other users who use the area to which the user is moving as a reference area as the opponent candidate.   The game management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control unit displays information on an area to which the user is moving on the screen. User information storage control means for storing area-limited items associated with specific areas acquired by the user in the storage device;
When the user who has acquired the area limited item performs a battle with another user who uses the area corresponding to the area limited item as a reference area, an effect different from the case of not acquiring the area limited item is obtained. The game management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising effect variation means to be generated.   When it is detected by the movement detection means that the user has moved to an area different from the reference area, the area limited item corresponding to the user's destination area can be acquired or the area limited item is The game management device according to claim 5, further comprising item management means that the user automatically acquires.   A game system comprising: the game management device according to claim 1; and a terminal device that communicates with the game management device.   A program for causing a computer to operate as the game management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the program causes the computer to function as each unit included in the game management device.

Images