JP5258992B1 - GAME CONTROL DEVICE, GAME CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, GAME SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game control device, a game control method, a program, and a game system that allow a user to increase interest or interest in a friend while avoiding frequent exchanges with the friend.
A game control apparatus according to the present invention includes a registration unit for registering a user, a first user, and a game other than the first game when starting a service for executing the first game for the user. An acquisition unit that acquires user selection information indicating a user selected by a first user from among related users; and after acquiring the user selection information, the registration unit includes the first user, And granting means for granting a privilege to the first user when the user selected by the first user is registered.
[Selection] Figure 14

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling the progress of a game by a user according to a user operation.

  In recent years, a so-called social game (Social) executed by a game application created on the basis of an operating environment such as an API (Application Programming Interface) that operates on a web browser in a social networking service (SNS) by a specific service provider. Game) is popular. It can be said that the social game is a kind of online game that is played while communicating among an unspecified number of users. If a user can connect to the Internet and has a communication terminal equipped with a web browser, the user can enjoy a social game regardless of time and place.

  One of the features of the above-described social game is that it has a richer communication function for interacting with users than conventional online games. In social games, for example, in addition to cooperative play with other users (friends), information exchange by communicating with friends such as greetings and contacts with friends, gifts of items on the game with friends or items An exchange has been made. As an example of such a social game, a digital card game (Pro Baseball Dream Nine (registered trademark)) described in Non-Patent Document 1 below is known.

App STYLE Vol.3 (East Press, Inc.), pages 24-25

  The social game provider or operator described above has an advantage that the closer the friendship between the users is, the more the game community can be activated and consequently the user's game separation can be suppressed. However, from the user's perspective, there is a tendency to avoid frequent (or excessive) exchanges with friends while having a sense of familiarity with friends, and the friendship is sufficient to activate the game community. There is a problem that it does not contribute.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described viewpoints, and a game control device, a game control method, and a method in which a user can increase interest or interest in a friend while avoiding frequent exchanges with the friend. The purpose is to provide a program and a game system.

The first aspect of the present invention is:
A registration means for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
Obtaining means for obtaining user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from among users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game;
After the user selection information is acquired, when the registration unit registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, a privilege is given to the first user. Granting means;
It is a game control apparatus provided with.

  Here, the “event” may be, for example, a participatory game that is started regularly or irregularly in the game, or an event or event realized by an image such as a web page.

  In this game control device, the first user selects in advance a user (hereinafter referred to as “companion” as appropriate) associated with himself / herself in a game other than the first game before registration for the first game. Then, when the first user and the selected friend are registered in the first game, a privilege is given to the first user. In other words, the first user makes a virtual promise with the selected friend among other friends in the other game about registering in the first game, and the first user is realized when the promise is realized. Is provided with a privilege. At this time, unlike the actual promise between the first user and the selected companion, there is no need for some interaction with the promise, and the selected companion selects himself as the first user. And does not recognize that a virtual promise was made. In addition, for the first user, interest or awareness of his / her peers is increased in order to make an appropriate selection for the fellow who is a virtual promise partner and to obtain a privilege. For example, in order to know a friend who is highly likely to start the first game, the consciousness of the friend is constantly kept high. Therefore, according to this game control apparatus, while the user avoids frequent and direct exchanges with his / her friends through the friend selection based on the euphoria to obtain a privilege, You will be able to raise your interest.

  The game control apparatus may further include a generation unit that generates data for notifying a registration history of each user's game associated with the first user. When the past game registration history and the exchange history with each user are informed, the information becomes the basis for selecting a friend, so the first user is selected as a friend. In the process, you can have more interest in your friends. Also, based on the past game registration history and information on the exchange history with each user, expect a fellow who is likely to start the first game different from the currently running game It is possible to make the first user have the euphoria of obtaining a privilege by hitting.

  In the game control device, after the acquisition unit acquires the user selection information, the registration unit registers the first user and the user selected by the first user. You may give a privilege with respect to the user selected by the 1st user. By giving a privilege to a user selected by the first user, that is, a partner of a promised partner of a virtual promise, when the virtual promise is realized, the friend becomes a promised partner. In addition to having been done, it becomes familiar with the 1st user by having obtained the unexpected privilege.

  In the above-described game control device, the granting unit may reduce a privilege to be given to the first user as the number of users selected by the first user increases. When the number of users selected by the first user increases (that is, the number of virtual promised partners increases), there is a possibility that any of the selected users will apply for participation in the event. Probably higher. Therefore, when the number of selected users is large, the benefits when the promise is realized (that is, the application for participation in the event of the first user and one of the selected users is accepted) are reduced. By doing so, it is possible to motivate the first user to select a friend carefully instead of selecting a friend to the dark cloud.

  In the game control device, the granting unit may increase the privilege as the number of users (friends) associated with the first user increases. If there are a large number of related users, one of the many populations will be selected, so the probability that the selected user will actually apply for event participation is relatively high. Lower. Therefore, the greater the number of users associated with the first user, the greater the privilege that is granted, so that regardless of the number of related users, the expected value of the privilege is increased fairly. Benefits can be granted (without changing). Further, as the number of related users increases, the burden on the first user increases in selecting the user from among them, and it is preferable to give a privilege according to the burden.

In the above-described game control device, the granting unit provides the first user and the first user with respect to the first user according to a time difference in registration time with respect to the first game of the user selected by the first user. And / or the privilege granted to the user selected by the first user may be changed.
For example, it can be considered that as the time difference is shorter, a virtual promise between the first user and the selected user can be realized with higher accuracy. In such a case, for example, a large privilege may be given to the first user. By adopting such a configuration, the first user becomes interested in how accurately the virtual promise made by himself can be realized, and the first user is different from the game currently being played. High interest in games.

  The game control apparatus may further include a limiting unit that limits the number of users selected by the first user to a predetermined number or less. If it is possible to select all the related users, there is a possibility that the user may not be interested in the individual friends, and there is a possibility that the function does not function to increase interest or interest in the friends. Thus, by limiting the number of users selected by the first user, the first user can be more careful with the user's choice and more interested in the individual user.

  In the case where the limiting unit is provided, the predetermined number may be a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of users associated with the first user. Regardless of the number of users associated with the first user, if the predetermined number is determined as an absolute value, the degree of freedom of user selection is reduced when the number of associated users is large. May end up. For example, when the predetermined number is “3” as an absolute value, the former can select all the friends in the first user having three friends and the first user having 30 friends. On the other hand, the latter can only be selected by 10%. Therefore, by setting the predetermined number to a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of users associated with the first user, it is possible to set the degree of freedom of user selection regardless of the number of related users. become able to.

A second aspect of the present invention is a game control method in a game control device,
Registering the user in starting a service for the execution of the first game for the user;
Obtaining user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from among users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game;
After acquiring the user selection information, if the step of registering registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, a privilege is given to the first user. And steps to
A game control method comprising:

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to control execution of a game by a user operation,
A function for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
A function of acquiring user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game, and the user selection information is acquired. Later, when the function to be registered is the first user and the user selected by the first user, the function of giving a privilege to the first user,
It is a program for realizing.

  The computer may be a network server, a large computer, or the like, for example. Further, this program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM.

A fourth aspect of the present invention, a communication terminal operated by a user, is configured to be accessible from the communication terminal, a game insects stem comprising a server for controlling the execution of a game by the communication terminal,
A registration means for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
An acquisition means for acquiring user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game; and acquiring the user selection information Then, when the registration unit registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, each unit of the granting unit for granting a privilege to the first user , Either the communication terminal or the server ,
With a gate insects stem.

  According to the game control device, the game control method, the program, and the game system of the present invention, the user can increase interest or interest in the friends while avoiding frequent exchanges with the friends, and thus the activity of the game community. Can be achieved.

The figure which shows the basic composition of the game system of embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the external appearance of the communication terminal of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication terminal of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the game server of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the database server of embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the user database contained in the database server of embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the integrated server of embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of promise partner data. The figure which shows an example of the web page of the game of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the web page of the game of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the web page of the game of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the web page of the game of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the web page of the game of embodiment. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function to play main roles with the game control apparatus of embodiment. The sequence chart which shows an example of a process of the game control apparatus of embodiment. The sequence chart which shows an example of a process of the game control apparatus of embodiment. The sequence chart which shows an example of a process of the game control apparatus of embodiment. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function which plays a main role with the game control apparatus of the modification of embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of log | history data. The figure which shows the modification of the web page of the game of embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the correspondence of the number of promise partners, and a privilege in the game control apparatus of the modification of embodiment. The functional block diagram for demonstrating the function which plays a main role with the game control apparatus of another modification of embodiment. The figure which shows the example of assignment between a communication terminal, a game server, and a database server about each function of the game control apparatus of embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the game system of the present invention will be described.

(1) Configuration of Game System FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a game system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this game system includes communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... That can be connected to a communication network NW (network) such as the Internet, a game server 20a and a database connected to the communication network NW. The server 30a, the game server 20b, the database server 30b,..., And the central server 100 are configured. Each of the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is a terminal operated by an individual user, for example, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a television having a bidirectional communication function. A communication terminal such as a John receiver (including a so-called multi-function smart TV). In the following description, when referring to the communication terminals 10a, 10b, 10c,.

In this game system, the game server 20a and the database server 30a are provided for providing a communication terminal 10 with a service via a network for executing a specific game. The game server 20b and the database server 30b are provided to provide the communication terminal 10 with a service via a network for the execution of another specific game.
In the following description, when commonly referred to the game servers 20a, 20b,. Similarly, when referring to the database servers 30a, 30b,... In common, they are referred to as the database server 30. The game server 20 is mounted with an application operable on a web browser as a game application. The database server 30 stores various information to be described later in executing the game, and is connected to the corresponding game server 20 by, for example, a wire for reading and writing the information.
The communication terminal 10 includes a web browser capable of displaying a web page provided by the game server 20, and the user operates the communication terminal 10 on the web page to execute a game.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, an authentication server for authenticating the user of each communication terminal 10 may be provided separately from the game server 20. Further, when a plurality of game servers 20 are provided in order to accept access from many communication terminals 10, a load balancer for adjusting a load between the plurality of game servers 20 may be provided. The game server 20 may be configured as a single server device, but may be configured as a plurality of server devices having distributed functions.

  The central server 100 is provided for managing a plurality of game servers 20a, 20b,. Each game server 20 holds information on users registered for a game to be processed, but the central server centrally manages user information that does not depend on a specific game and user information for each game. By doing so, for example, it is provided for supporting a new game registration service by the user, the formation of a game community, and the like.

(2) Configuration of Communication Terminal The communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the communication terminal 10, and FIG. 2A illustrates a button input type communication terminal such as a foldable mobile terminal (mobile phone), for example. ) Exemplifies a communication terminal of a touch panel input method such as a smartphone. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication terminal 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an image processing unit 14, an instruction input unit 15, a display unit 16, A wireless communication interface unit 17 is provided, and a bus 18 for transmitting control signals or data signals between the units is provided.

The CPU 11 loads the web browser in the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 and executes it. The CPU 11 then displays data for displaying a web page from the game server 20 via the wireless communication interface unit 17 based on appropriate designation of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input to the user by the instruction input unit 15 or the like. That is, data of an object such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document and an image associated with the document (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “HTML data” as appropriate) is acquired via the wireless communication interface unit 17. Then, the HTML data is interpreted. The communication terminal 10 may be mounted with various plug-ins for extending the browser function of the web browser.
In acquiring the HTML data, the CPU 11 sends an access request message including a user ID (user identification information) registered in advance or a user ID input via the instruction input unit 15 via the wireless communication interface unit 17. To the game server 20.

  The web browser displays the web page provided from the game server 20 on the display unit 16 based on the acquired HTML data via the image processing unit 14. When the user selects a hyperlink or menu on the web page by operating the instruction input unit 15, the web browser transmits new HTML data for displaying the web page according to the selection. (That is, update of the web page) is requested to the game server 20.

  The image processing unit 14 displays a web page on the display unit 16 based on display image data provided from the CPU 11 as an analysis result of HTML data. The display unit 16 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cristal Display) monitor including thin film transistors arranged in a pixel unit in a matrix, and drives the thin film transistors based on the display image data to display the image of the web page on the display screen 16a. To display.

  When the communication terminal 10 is a button input type communication terminal (shown in FIG. 2A), the instruction input unit 15 includes a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a direction instruction button and a decision button for accepting a user operation input. And a button group 15b including a plurality of instruction input buttons such as a numeric keypad, and includes an interface circuit for recognizing pressing (operation) input of each button and outputting it to the CPU 11. For example, the direction instruction button is provided to instruct the CPU 11 to scroll and display the web page displayed on the display unit 16. The determination button instructs the CPU 11 that the user selects one hyperlink or menu that is actively displayed (for example, highlighted) when, for example, a plurality of hyperlinks or menus are displayed on a web page. To be provided. When the communication terminal 10 is configured by a small portable terminal, these buttons are provided on the front surface of the communication terminal 10 so that the user can easily operate (click) with the thumb while holding the communication terminal 10 with one hand. It is preferable to arrange | position. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the button group 15b is arranged below the button group 15a, and a plurality of instruction inputs in which “0” to “9”, “*”, and “#” (numeric keys) are written. Includes buttons.

  When the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input type communication terminal (shown in FIG. 2B), the instruction input unit 15 accepts touch panel type input mainly by touching the display screen 16a with a fingertip or a pen. The touch panel input method may be a known method such as a capacitance method. As shown in FIG. 2B, the button group 15a may be provided even when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method.

  For example, when the communication terminal 10 is a portable terminal, the menu selection operation on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 is selected by pressing the direction instruction button and selecting by pressing the enter button. This is done by confirming the selected menu. For example, when the communication terminal 10 is a touch panel input method, the selection operation is performed by instructing (touch panel operation) a menu position on the display screen 16a on which the web page is displayed with a finger or a pen.

(3) Configuration of Game Server The configuration of the game server 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
The game server 20 manages a game website including a plurality of hierarchical web pages, for example, and provides a game web service to the communication terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the game server 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a database (DB) access unit 24, and a wireless communication interface unit 25, for transmitting control signals or data signals between the units. Bus 26 is provided. In addition, the game server 20 can take the same structure as a general-purpose web server regarding hardware.

The ROM 22 stores an application program that provides a service for displaying an object such as an HTML document or an image (displaying a web page) to the web browser of the communication terminal 10 that is a client. The ROM 22 stores various data referred to by the CPU 21 in addition to the application program.
The CPU 21 loads the game program in the ROM 22 to the RAM 23 and executes it, and performs various processes via the wireless communication interface unit 25.

For example, the CPU 21 transmits HTML data to the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. In addition, when the game server 20 performs the authentication process of the user of the communication terminal 10, the CPU 21 performs the authentication process.
The CPU 21 performs processing according to the hyperlink or menu selected by the user on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10. The processing includes, for example, transmission of new HTML data, arithmetic processing in the game server 20 or data processing.
The database access unit 24 is an interface when the CPU 21 reads / writes data from / to the database server 30.

(4) Configuration of Database Server The database server 30 can be realized by a general-purpose storage such as a large-capacity hard disk device or a device such as RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks). Each database in the database server 30 is configured to be able to read and write data from the CPU 21 via the database access unit 24 of the game server 20.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the database server 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the database server 30 includes a user database 31 and a game database 32.

  Although the game type provided by the game server 20a and the database server 30a of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, a baseball-style digital card game will be described below for convenience of explanation. The type of game provided by the game server 20b and the database server 30b according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited. However, for convenience of explanation, a soccer-type digital card game (first game) is used below. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a user who is registered and playing in a baseball format digital card game registers in a soccer format digital card game (first game) which is a new game. In the digital card game described above, the user collects player cards corresponding to the players to create his own team and play baseball or soccer against other users' teams, or baseball or soccer leagues by skill level. A game that is configured to fight a battle. In the game of this embodiment, a scout process for searching for a player card in order to build up his own team, a lottery process for obtaining a player card by lottery, or two or more player cards are integrated. Strengthening processing that increases the ability of a specific player card is provided.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a user database 31 applied in a game provided by the game server 20a and the database server 30a. In this example, the user database 31 has a user name / display image, a skill level, an action point, an operation point, an enhancement point, an ale point, the number of players, a fellow user for each user ID that is information for identifying the user. Information about each item of ID, possessed card image data, and retained card parameters is included. Information included in the user database 31 can be sequentially updated by the game server 20a.

In the following description, the user ID included in the user database 31 or data for each user name (to be described later) specifying the user is generically referred to as user data. The data of each item constituting the user data is as follows.
User name / display image A user name and a display image that are displayed to identify the user on the communication terminal 10 when the game is executed. The user name is text of a predetermined length or less that is designated in advance by the user, and the display image is, for example, an avatar image that is selected in advance by the user. The user name is a name that identifies the user on the network environment (or game community) provided by the game server 20.
Skill level This is data indicating the skill level of the user on the game. For example, it is a level value in a range from Lv1 (level 1) to Lv100 (level 100).
-Action point In the baseball-type digital card game, for example, it is a point necessary for performing a game scout by the user. The value of the action point is reduced by scouting, and is recovered (increased) every time a predetermined time elapses.
-Management point In the baseball-type digital card game, for example, it is a point necessary for a user to play a game match. The value of the management point is reduced by a battle with another user or the like, and is recovered (increased) every time a predetermined time elapses.
Strengthening point In the baseball digital card game, for example, it is a point necessary for strengthening a player card by a user. The value of the strengthening point is reduced by strengthening the player card, and is recovered (increased) every time the player wins a battle with another user or a predetermined time elapses.
-Ale Point In the baseball-format digital card game, it is a point that the user acquires by sending a cheer message to a fellow user. In addition, as will be described later, by drawing a predetermined amount of this point, a lottery that can acquire a player card can be performed. In this lottery, player cards of various ability levels can be obtained. High-capacity rare cards that are difficult to obtain can also be acquired with a low probability.
-Number of players This is the number of player cards held by the user. The number of players is increased or decreased by the execution of scout processing and strengthening processing. The maximum number of players (for example, 60) is defined in advance.
-Associates Data of other user IDs that are associates of the target user ID.
-Image data of possession card In the case of the above-mentioned baseball format digital card game, the image data of the possession card is data including an image of the player card possessed by the user.
-Owned card parameter The owned card parameter includes data indicating the ability value of the player card. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, each ability value such as “batting force”, “running ability”, “defense ability”, and the like may be included as parameter items. In the example of FIG. 6, the capability value is a value in the range of 0 to 1000, and the higher the capability value is, the higher the capability is. In FIG. 6, “batting force”, “running ability”, and “defense ability” are illustrated as items as indicators of ability, but if the player is a pitcher, other items such as “ball speed”, “ball control” It is good also as "power", "stamina", etc.

  The user database 31 applied in the soccer-style digital card game provided by the game server 20b and the database server 30b may have the same configuration as that in FIG. In the case of a soccer-style digital card game, since the possessed card is a soccer player card, the value of the parameter may be, for example, an ability value indicating “offense”, “defense”, “technique”, etc. .

  Returning to FIG. 5, the game database 32 stores and updates information on game settings executed by the game server 20 and information on game results based on access from the game server 20. Information related to game results may include various information depending on the nature of the game. Taking the case of the game of the present embodiment as an example, information on game results includes results of battles between different user IDs (scores, etc.), results of league battles between a plurality of user IDs of specific skill levels (scores) , Ranking, etc.).

(5) Configuration of Central Server The configuration of the central server 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The central server 100 is communicably connected to a plurality of game servers 20a, 20b,. As shown in FIG. 7, the central server 100 includes a CPU 121, a ROM 122, a RAM 123, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 124, and a communication interface unit 125 for transmitting control signals or data signals between the units. A bus 126 is provided. The central server 100 can have the same configuration as a general-purpose web server with respect to hardware.

In addition to the various programs executed by the CPU 121, the ROM 122 stores various data referred to by the CPU 121 as the programs are executed.
The CPU 121 loads the program in the ROM 122 to the RAM 123 and executes it, and performs various processes. The processing executed by the CPU 121 includes information on the target game (new game), information on the target user and the virtual promised partner (from the game server 20 via the communication interface unit 125). User ID and / or user name) and writing the data to the promised partner data in the HDD 124, or in response to a request from the game server 20, information in the promised partner data is addressed to the requesting game server 20. Includes processing to send.

  FIG. 8 shows a data configuration example of the promised partner data. As shown in FIG. 8, the promise partner data is data in which the target game and a friend (promise partner) who has virtually promised to be registered in the target game are described in association with each user. is there.

(6) Game of this embodiment Next, a baseball-style digital card game will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 are diagrams illustrating examples of a series of web pages displayed on the user's communication terminal 10 while the game is being executed.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a web page P1 that is a top page of a baseball-style digital card game provided by the game server 20a and the database server 30a. This web page P1 is configured for each individual user ID. The top page illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a user name display area, a player image display area, a menu display area, and a new game guidance area in addition to the user name (KNM in FIG. 9).

  In the user data display area, skill level, action point, management point, strengthening point, yell point, number of players, and data of each item of fellows included in the user data of the target user ID (see FIG. 6) are displayed. Area. It should be noted that in the items displayed in the user data display area, the point or number written in the X / Y format is that X is the point or number held by the user, and Y is the maximum value of the point or number. It shows that there is. For example, if the number of players is written as “40/60”, it indicates that the number of player cards held by the user is 40 and the maximum number of player cards that can be held is 60.

The player image display area is an area in which image data of a player card previously selected by the user is displayed.
The menu display area is a menu corresponding to a plurality of processes (scout process, strengthening process, game process, lottery process, order process) provided in the game of the present embodiment, as “scout”, “enhancement”, “game”, This is an area in which the “lottery” and “order” menus m1 to m5 are displayed. That is, a plurality of menus to which a plurality of processes executed in the game are assigned are respectively arranged at predetermined positions on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10. Note that the order process is a process of executing an exchange of player card orders, replacement with a reserved player card, or the like under the instruction of the user.

The outline of the processing of each menu is as follows.
・ Scout processing:
This is a process of searching for player cards in order to build up their own team. Executing a scout consumes action points, but increases reinforcement points. Each time a predetermined menu is selected and operated, a player card is excavated with a predetermined or random probability, and the player card is given to the user.
・ Strengthening process:
It is a process of increasing the parameters of a specific player card by consuming two points and integrating two or more player cards.
・ Game processing:
This is a process of playing a baseball game with another user's team. Management points are consumed by playing the game, but if the game is won, the reinforcement points increase by a certain amount, for example.
・ Lottery processing:
This is a process of consuming a certain amount of Yale points or obtaining a player card by lottery using a lottery ticket as an item on the game.
・ Order processing:
This is a process for the user to change the order of a player card, to replace a player card with a copy, and the like.

In the new game guidance area, a text for guiding the start of a service of a new game (a soccer-style digital card game provided by the game server 20b and the database server 30b) on a specific date in the future, And a menu m10 labeled “Promise registration”.
In this game, a new game before the start (in the example of FIG. 9, a soccer-style digital card game) is configured such that the user can select his / her friend and make a virtual promise with the friend. ing. A user makes a virtual promise unilaterally, and therefore, a fellow user who is a virtual promise partner does not recognize that he is a promise partner. The menu m10 is preferably displayed until the service for executing the target soccer-style digital card game is started or until a predetermined period elapses after the service is started.

  When the menu m10 for making a virtual promise is selected, the web page is updated as shown at P2 in FIG. A list of friends is displayed on the web page P2 in order to select a promise partner. Although only some of the friends are displayed on the web page P2 in FIG. 10, all of the user's friends can be browsed by a scroll operation by the user, and can be selected. In the web page P2, for example, when the user performs an operation of selecting a user with a user name: GIP, the web page is updated as shown in P3. On the web page P3, a menu m11 for making a virtual appointment with another friend is displayed together with text indicating that a virtual promise has been made with the friend selected on the web page P2.

  When the service for executing the new game is started, the display in the new game guidance area on the top page is updated as shown in the web page P4 in FIG. That is, in the new game guidance area, a menu m20 labeled “Register for a new soccer game” is displayed. When the menu m20 is selected and operated on the web page P4, for example, as shown in P5 of FIG. 12, the web page is updated to a web page that displays the contents of the new game.

When the menu m30 is selected and operated on the web page P5, registration is performed for a new soccer game digital card game, and the web page is displayed on the top page of the soccer game digital card game as shown in P6 of FIG. Is updated. At this time, if the friend selected on the web page P2 is also registered in a new game, it is determined that the virtual promise has been kept (realized) for the user: KNM. (A fixed amount of ale points in the example of FIG. 13). That is, when the user (KNM in the example in the figure) selects another user (GIP in the example in the figure) and makes a virtual promise in registering in a specific new game, the user When KNM and the user: GIP both register for the new game, a predetermined privilege is given to the user: KNM as if the virtual promise was kept.
In addition, when the user: GIP as the promised partner registers at a timing later than the user: KNM, a predetermined privilege is given to the user: KNM after the registration is performed.

(7) Overview of Functions in Game Control Device In this embodiment, the game control device is configured by the game server 20 and the database server 30. Below, the function implement | achieved with the game control apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 14 for the case where the game of this embodiment mentioned above is applied as an example. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions that play a main role in the game control apparatus of the present embodiment.
In addition, in the functional block diagram of FIG. 14, the registration means 51, the acquisition means 54, and the privilege provision means 55 respond | correspond to the main structures of this invention. Other means are not necessarily indispensable structures, but they are structures for making the present invention more preferable.
In the following description, menus, marks and the like displayed on the web page displayed on the communication terminal 10 are arranged at desired positions on the web page, and are menus visually recognized on the communication terminal 10. The position on the display screen of the mark and the like can be changed by scrolling the web page by the user's direction instruction button or touch panel operation.

For example, the registration unit 51 has a function of recognizing a user registration request based on an appropriate operation input to the communication terminal 10 on a web page provided to the communication terminal 10 and performing a registration process. This registration process is executed when the user performs user registration for the game of the present embodiment.
The function of the registration means 51 is realized as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the game server 20 receives a registration request message from the communication terminal 10 via the wireless communication interface unit 25. The registration request message is automatically generated by a predetermined operation on the communication terminal 10 on the web page provided from the game server 20 (for example, a predetermined menu selection operation or a text input such as a user ID or password specified by the user). Web pages may be configured to be generated automatically. The registration request message may include information for identifying the communication terminal 10 of the transmission source (for example, individual identification information of a terminal such as a UID (Unique Identifier), a mail address, or the like) If another game by the same service provider is used, the user ID may be included.
When the CPU 21 receives the registration request message and the registration request message does not include the user ID, the CPU 21 issues a new user ID and performs registration processing of the user ID, and then the registration processing is completed. Is sent to the communication terminal 10. When the CPU 21 receives the registration request message and the registration request message includes a user ID, the CPU 21 performs registration processing of the user ID, and then transmits a registration completion message indicating that the registration processing is completed to the communication terminal. 10 to send.

  The CPU 21 may receive a registration request message from the central server 100 or transmit it to the central server 100. For example, as shown in the web pages P1 to P6 in FIGS. 9 to 13, the game server 20 may guide the user to register for different games. In this case, for example, when the game server 20a guides the game service provided by the game server 20b to the user, and the user requests registration of the game, the game server 20a sends a registration request message to the central server 100. Send to Then, the central server 100 transmits a registration request message for the user to the game server 20b. The game server 20b performs registration processing based on the received registration request message.

  When the registration is completed, the CPU 21 generates user data corresponding to the user ID and stores it in the user database 31. When the registration is completed, the user can execute the game of the present embodiment.

The association unit 52 has a function of relating different users. That is, the association unit 52 records the user ID in association with another user ID, for example, triggered by an application based on the user ID. That is, the associating unit 52 records other user IDs (that is, other users) as “companies” triggered by an application based on the user ID.
The function of the correlation means 52 is implement | achieved as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the game server 20 sends an application message (a friend application) specifying a user ID (or a corresponding user name) to be a friend from the communication terminal 10 of the user corresponding to a certain user ID via the wireless communication interface unit 25. ). The transmission of the application message may be set in advance as a function of a web page provided to the user's communication terminal 10.
When receiving the application message, the CPU 21 approves an application based on another user ID to the communication terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID at the timing when the access is based on the user ID included in the application message. HTML data for displaying a web page requesting to send back is transmitted. If it is replied that the application is approved, the CPU 21 registers both as friends. Specifically, the CPU 21 writes the data (the other party's user ID) in the location (see FIG. 6) of the “mate user ID” of the user data of the corresponding two user IDs in the user database 31. In addition, CPU21 may register both as a friend triggered by predetermined operation by the user who is performing the game, when approval of the user of a friend application destination is unnecessary.

The game progress means 53 has a function of executing an authentication process at the time of user login when the user executes the game of the present embodiment.
The function of this game progress means 53 is implement | achieved as follows. When receiving the HTTP request from the communication terminal 10 of each user, the CPU 21 of the game server 20 acquires the individual identification information or the user ID and password from the HTTP request, and acquires the individual identification information or the user ID and password. For example, the authentication process is performed by collating with data recorded in the user database 31.

The game advancing means 53 has a function of advancing the game by transmitting HTML data for sequentially updating web pages displayed on the communication terminal 10 in response to a user operation on the communication terminal 10.
In realizing the game progress means 53, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 21 of the game server 20 assigns, in advance, any process for progressing the game to each menu displayed on the web page. To generate HTML data. At this time, the CPU 21 accesses the user database 31 via the database access unit 24 and reads out data of each item included in the user data display area and image data of the player card to be displayed in the player image display area.
When the menu on the web page (any one of menus m1 to m5) is selected in the communication terminal 10, the CPU 21 receives information about the selected menu from the communication terminal 10, and based on the received information, The process assigned to the selected menu is executed. Specifically, CPU21 performs the scout process, reinforcement | strengthening process, game process, lottery process, and order process respectively corresponding to menu m1-m5. Preferably, when each process is executed, each process is executed hierarchically such that a new web page including a plurality of menus subdivided for each process is displayed.

・ Scout processing:
Whenever the CPU 21 recognizes that a predetermined menu on the web page has been selected and operated, the CPU 21 performs a scout process of finding a player card with a predetermined or random probability and giving the player card to the user. CPU21 accesses user data by performing a scout process, decreases the action point used as object, and increases a reinforcement | strengthening point. Note that scouting is not executed when the user does not have a sufficient amount of action points. The CPU 21 increases (recovers) the action points every time a certain time elapses.

・ Strengthening process:
For example, the CPU 21 consumes a certain amount of strengthening points to perform a process of increasing the parameters of a specific player card by integrating two or more player cards. At this time, for example, a process of adding parameters of two or more player cards or adding with a predetermined weight is performed.

・ Game processing:
For example, the CPU 21 executes the game process in response to a user operation that desires to execute the game process. The game process includes a transmission process of HTML data for displaying a web page that allows the user to select an opponent, and a battle process between users based on the selection result of the opponent. In accordance with the execution of the game process, the CPU 21 decreases the management point of the user who has performed the operation of the game process by a certain amount, but increases the strengthening point, for example, by a certain amount if the game is won. Note that the winning / losing of the game or the probability of winning / losing may be determined, for example, according to the integrated value of the parameters of a certain number of player cards (player cards in the team) held by the opponent users.

・ Lottery processing:
The CPU 21 uses a lottery to draw a player card by using a lottery ticket as an item on the game held by the user, or by consuming a certain amount of ale points for the user upon a predetermined selection operation by the user. The lottery process to get the. The lottery process is preferably executed through an effect of taking out (drawing) one player card from the lottery box. The player cards that appear by lottery are basically random, but the probability that a player card with a high degree of rareness will appear by lottery is set very low.

・ Order processing:
In response to a predetermined instruction operation by the user, the CPU 21 executes, for example, replacement of a team order when performing a game process or replacement with a reserved player card based on a player card held by the user. The order processing is an example of processing in the case of a baseball format digital card game, and the processing content may be changed according to the game. For example, in the case of a soccer-style digital card game, a formation process may be provided for changing the arrangement of player cards when the game process is executed.

The acquisition unit 54 has a function of acquiring user selection information indicating a friend selected by the first user from among the friends of the processing target user (first user). In other words, the function of the acquisition unit 54 is a function of acquiring information for specifying a friend who makes a virtual promise to be registered in a specific new game by the user. The function of the acquisition means 54 is implement | achieved as follows. The CPU 21 of the game server 20a performs an appropriate operation (for example, the menu m10 of the web pages P1 and P3 in FIGS. 9 and 10) of the user who makes a virtual promise with a friend about registering for a new game to be guided in the game. , M11 selection operation and web page P2 promised partner selection operation), an HTTP request including information about the selected promised partner (user selection information) is received as user selection information. When the CPU 21 of the game server 20a receives the HTTP request, information on the target game (new game), information on the target user and the virtual promised partner (user ID and / or user name), and Is transmitted to the central server 100. The CPU 121 of the central server 100 writes the information received from the game server 20a in the promised partner data of the HDD 124.
The CPU 21 of the game server 20b periodically assigns the first game to the central server 100 after the service for executing the soccer-style digital card game (first game) is started. And information on the virtual promised partner (that is, user selection information) are requested. The CPU 121 of the central server 100 accesses the promised partner data in the HDD 124, reads the information requested from the game server 20b, and transmits it to the game server 20b. Thereby, the game server 20b acquires user selection information.

The privilege granting means 55 is selected by the user (first user) who made a virtual promise to register for a specific new game after the obtaining means 54 obtains the user selection information and the first user. When the made first user's associate actually registers for the game, the first user has a function of giving a privilege to the first user.
The function of the privilege provision means 55 is implement | achieved as follows. As described above, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b obtains, from the central server 100, information about a user who uses a soccer-style digital card game (first game) as a virtual promise target game and the virtual promise partner. To do. In the example in which the game G20 is a soccer-style digital card game (first game) in the promised opponent data of FIG. 8, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b sets the first game as a virtual promised target game. As user information (user name), (KNM, GIP) and (KNM, SEL) are acquired as a set of users.
Then, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b refers to the user database 31 of the database server 30b and checks whether the read set of users is registered together. As a result, when a pair of users are registered together, a privilege is given to the user who made a virtual promise (first user; in the example of FIG. 7, the user name is a user of KNM) Perform the process.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of promised partners of a specific user (user name: KNM user in the example of FIG. 7), it is assumed that there are a plurality of promised partners for whom the promise is realized. The privilege given in such a case may be constant regardless of the number of promised partners for whom the promise is realized, or may be varied according to the number.

  The privilege to be given may be anything such as a point (for example, an ale point) that can be used on a soccer-style digital card game (first game) or an item on the game. For example, when an ale point is granted to a user as a privilege, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b accesses the user data of the user, and performs a process of adding the amount of the granted ale point to the value of the ale point. Do. In addition, as another variation of the privilege, it is possible to take a configuration in which the probability that a player card with a high degree of rarity can be obtained is increased for a predetermined period when a player card is drawn by consuming an ale point.

(7) Flow of main processes of game control apparatus of this embodiment Hereinafter, with reference to the sequence charts of FIGS. 15 to 17, main processes of the game control apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a sequence chart showing a promise process for making a virtual promise to register for a new game. FIG. 16 is a sequence chart showing a new game registration process. FIG. 17 is a sequence chart showing a privilege grant process for granting a privilege to a user who has realized a virtual promise. Note that HTML data for displaying each web page of the web pages P1 to P6 is transmitted from the game server 20 to the communication terminal 10 as appropriate in accordance with the execution of each process in the sequence charts of FIGS. In order not to be complicated, the transmission process of HTML data is not described in the sequence chart. The timing at which the web pages P1 to P6 are displayed on the sequence chart is indicated by the symbols P1 to P6.

  First, the promise process shown in FIG. 15 is a process performed at a timing when a service for executing a new target game (soccer-type digital card game) has not yet been started. The CPU 21 of the game server 20a obtains information about the contents of the new game and the service start date and time from the central server 100 in a timely manner, and generates HTML data for displaying the web page P1 based on the information. To do.

  When the CPU 21 of the game server 20a recognizes that a menu m10 for making a virtual promise with a friend about registration in a specific new game is selected on the web page P1 (FIG. 9) (step S100). : YES), referring to the user data of the target user, the user ID of the user's associate is read, and HTML data for displaying the web page P2 including the list of associates is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 ( Step S102). When the CPU 21 of the game server 20a recognizes the selection operation of one of the friends on the web page P2 (step S104: YES), information on the target game (new game), the target user, and its virtual The information on the promised partner (user ID and / or user name) is stored in the RAM 23 of the game server 20a (step S106), and the web page is updated as shown in P3 (FIG. 10). When the CPU 21 of the game server 20a recognizes that the menu m11 has been selected on the web page P3 (step S108: YES), the CPU 21 returns to step S102 and displays the web page P2 for selecting a new promised partner. HTML data is transmitted to the communication terminal 10.

  For example, when recognizing that a menu (not shown) other than the menu m11 has been selected on the web page P3, the CPU 21 of the game server 20a determines that there is no further menu m11 selection operation (step S108: NO). ), Information on the target game (new game) stored in the RAM 23 and information (user ID and / or user name) of the target user and their virtual promise partner are transmitted to the central server 100. (Step S110). The central server 100 updates the promised partner data in the HDD 124 based on the information received in step S110 (step S112). For example, when the new game is G20 (soccer-style digital card game), the user to be processed is the user name: KNM, and the partner of the promised partner is the user name: GIP, the example is shown in FIG. As described above, data is written to the promised partner data.

The new game registration process shown in FIG. 16 is a process executed at the timing after the service for the execution of the target new game (soccer format digital card game) is started. First, the CPU 21 of the game server 20a recognizes that the menu m20 (web page P4) and menu m30 (web page P5) for registering in a specific new game are selected on the web page P4 (FIG. 11). Then (step S200: YES), a registration request message is generated and transmitted to the central server 100 (steps S210 and S220). The registration request message includes target user information and information for specifying a new game to be registered. The user information may include individual identification information of the user's communication terminal 10 such as a UID (Unique Identifier), the user's mail address, and the like. When the central server 100 uses a common user ID for a specific user among the plurality of game servers 20 to be managed, the user ID may be included in the user information.
When the central server 100 analyzes the received registration request message and recognizes a game to be registered, the central server 100 transfers the registration request message to a game server (in this case, the game server 20b) that provides the service of the game (step S230). The CPU 21 of the game server 20b performs a registration process based on the received registration request message (step S240).

  The privilege granting process shown in FIG. 17 is executed at the timing after the service for the execution of the target new game (soccer format digital card game) is started. After that timing, the game server 20b makes a request to the central server 100, for example, periodically, and receives information on the user and the virtual promised partner (step S300). For example, in the case of the promised partner data shown in FIG. 8, the received information includes at least two promised partners (user names: GIP, SEL users) for a specific user (user name: KNM). The CPU 21 of the game server 20b acquires information about one set of users (KNM, GIP) and (KNM, SEL). Next, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b refers to the acquired information and determines whether or not one set of users has already been registered (step S304). Then, when any one set of users has already been registered (step S304: YES), the CPU 21 of the game server 20b is predetermined for the processing target user (for example, the user name: KNM user). The process which provides the privilege of is performed (step S306).

  As described above, according to this game control device, after a user (first user) selects a friend who has not yet been registered in the game for a specific new game, When the first user and his / her friends are registered, a privilege is given to the first user. That is, the first user makes a virtual promise with the selected friend among his / her friends about registering in a specific new game, and the benefit is given to the first user when the promise is realized. Is provided. At this time, unlike the actual promise between the first user and the selected companion, there is no need for some interaction with the promise, and the selected companion selects himself as the first user. And does not recognize that a virtual promise was made. In addition, for the first user, interest or awareness of his / her peers is increased in order to make an appropriate selection for the fellow who is a virtual promise partner and to obtain a privilege. For example, in order to know a friend who is highly likely to register for a specific new game, the consciousness of the friend is constantly kept high. Therefore, according to this game control apparatus, while the user avoids frequent and direct exchanges with his / her friends through the friend selection based on the euphoria to obtain a privilege, You will be able to raise your interest.

(9) Modified Examples Hereinafter, modified examples of the above-described embodiment will be described.

(9-1) Modification 1
A functional block diagram of this modification is shown in FIG. The functional block diagram shown in FIG. 18 differs from that shown in FIG. 14 in that a generation unit 57 is added.
The production | generation means 57 is provided with the function to produce | generate the data for alert | reporting the registration log | history of each friend's game of a user (1st user). When the past game registration history and the exchange history with each user are informed, the information becomes the basis for selecting a friend, so the first user is selected as a friend. In the process, you can have more interest in your friends. Moreover, it is highly likely that a new game (first game) different from the currently executed game will be started based on the past game registration history and information on the exchange history with each user. It is possible to make the first user have the euphoria of obtaining a privilege by predicting and hitting a friend.

  The function of the production | generation means 57 is realizable as follows. The game database 32 includes history data for recording a past game registration history and an exchange history with friends for each user. FIG. 19 shows a data configuration example of history data. The history data illustrated in FIG. 19 includes information for specifying a game (for example, G01) and information on a user's registration date as a past game registration history, and an exchange history for an ale frequency between friends. (Frequency of sending / receiving cheering messages), number of presents (number of times gifts are exchanged between friends), and number of matches (number of times a game was played between friends). In this modification, the central server 100 sequentially obtains information on registration dates and times registered for each user from each of the plurality of game servers 20a, 20b,... Centrally manage and store your registration history. Each game server 20 acquires past game registration history information about a specific user from the central server 100 and updates the history data. Moreover, CPU21 of the game server 20 updates the data of the exchange log | history item (ale frequency etc.) of log | history data, when exchange is performed between friends.

  In this modification, when the CPU 21 recognizes that the menu m10 has been selected and operated on the web page P1 of FIG. 9, it generates HTML data for displaying the web page P2a shown in FIG. 20 instead of the web page P2. And transmitted to the communication terminal 10. In generating the HTML data, the CPU 21 refers to the history data in the game database 32 and registers the past game registration history of the target user (first user) and the first user's friend. Read the exchange history with each friend. On the web page P <b> 2 a, the contents of the read past game registration history and the exchange history are displayed for each friend of the first user. In the exchange history of the web page P2a, the yale frequency symbol (A, B, etc.) is a symbol that classifies the magnitude (level) of the frequency according to a certain standard. In addition, although the example which displays both the registration log | history of a past game and an alternating current history was shown in the web page P2a, you may display either one.

(9-2) Modification 2
In the game control device of the above embodiment, after the acquisition unit 54 acquires the fellow selection result (user selection information) by the user (first user), the privilege granting unit 55 includes the first user. When the friend selected by the first user is registered in a new game (first game), a privilege may be given to the friend selected by the first user. By giving a privilege to the friend selected by the first user, that is, the partner of the promised partner of the virtual promise, when the promise was realized, the friend was made the promised partner. In addition, since the unexpected privilege is obtained, the first user has an affinity.
This modification can be realized in the same manner as the privilege grant means 55 grants a privilege to the first user. That is, when a pair of users are registered in a new target game, a process of giving a privilege to a friend selected by a user (first user) who has made a virtual promise is performed. . The privilege to be given may be anything such as a point that can be used on the game (for example, an ale point) or an item on the game. For example, when an ale point is given to a friend selected as a privilege, the CPU 21 accesses user data of the selected friend and adds the amount of the given ale point to the value of the ale point. I do.

(9-3) Modification 3
In the game control device of the above embodiment, the privilege granting means 55 may reduce the privilege to be given to the first user as the number of friends selected by the user (first user) increases. . When the number of friends selected by the first user increases (that is, the number of friends of the virtual promise partner increases), the possibility that any of the selected friends will register for a specific new game Is probabilistically higher. Therefore, when the number of selected friends is large, by reducing the benefits when a virtual promise is realized, the first user is carefully selected instead of making a dark cloud selection. You can motivate to choose.
This modification can be realized as follows. For example, correspondence data indicating the relationship between the number of associates (promise partners) with whom the first user has virtually promised and the benefits is stored in advance in, for example, the ROM 22. Then, when determining the privilege, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b determines the privilege based on the promised partner information received from the central server 100 with reference to the number of promised partners and the corresponding data in the ROM 22. For example, when giving an ale point as an example, when the number of promised opponents is 1, 2, 3, 4, the privilege to be granted (aile point) is 4000 pt, 3000 pt, 2000 pt, 1000 pt (pt: points), respectively. In other words, the corresponding data is configured so as to have an inversely proportional relationship.

(9-4) Modification 4
In the game control device of the above embodiment, the privilege granting means 55 may increase the privilege as the number of users (first users) associates increases. When the number of friends is large, one of the friends is selected from many populations, so the probability that the selected friend actually applies for event participation is relatively low. Therefore, as the number of first user associates increases, the benefit granted is increased so that the benefit is granted fairly (or so that the expected value of the benefit does not change significantly) regardless of the number of associates. Will be able to. Moreover, since there is a greater burden on the first user in selecting a friend from among them as the number of friends increases, it is preferable to give a privilege according to the burden.
This modification can be realized as follows, for example. For example, the correspondence data indicating the relationship between the number of first user companions, the number of companions (promise partners) with whom the first user has made a virtual promise, and the benefits is stored in advance in, for example, the ROM 22. deep. And in determining the privilege, the CPU 21 of the game server 20b determines the privilege based on the game friends provided by the game server 20a for the user to be processed and the corresponding data in the ROM 22. In this modification, when the game server 20a transmits information on the promised partner about the processing target user to the central server 100 (step S110 in FIG. 15), the number of the user's associates (that is, the user) The number of fellow user IDs described in the data) is included. When the central server 100 transmits the promised partner information to the game server 20b (step S300 in FIG. 17), the information includes the number of the friends.
FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of correspondence data of this modification. As shown in FIG. 21, the correspondence data is configured such that as the number of friends increases, the benefits increase if the number of promised partners is the same. FIG. 21 is an example of correspondence data obtained by combining the third modification and the fourth modification, but only the relationship between the number of friends and the benefits may be defined.

(9-5) Modification 5
In the game control device of the above embodiment, the privilege granting means 55 is a time difference between registration times for the user (first user) and a specific new game (first game) of the friend selected by the first user. Depending on, you may change both the privilege given with respect to the 1st user, the privilege given with respect to the friend selected by the 1st user, or any one.
For example, as the time difference is shorter, it can be considered that a virtual promise between the first user and the selected friend can be realized with higher accuracy. In such a case, for example, a large privilege may be given to the first user. By adopting such a configuration, the first user becomes interested in how accurately the virtual promise made by himself / herself can be realized, and can be highly interested in the event.
In this modification, for example, the time difference can be measured by a timer built in the CPU 21 of the game server 20b, for example. For example, correspondence data between a time difference and a privilege is set in the ROM 22 of the game server 20b. CPU21 of game server 20b performs the process which reads the privilege according to the measured time difference with reference to the corresponding data. Or the function which shows the relationship between a time difference and the magnitude | size of a privilege may be defined previously, and CPU21 performs the process which calculates a privilege based on the measured time difference in that case.

(9-6) Modification 6
A functional block diagram of this modification is shown in FIG. The functional block diagram shown in FIG. 22 differs from that shown in FIG. 14 in that a limiting means 58 is added.
The limiting unit 58 has a function of limiting the number of friends selected by the user (first user) to a predetermined number or less. If the first user can select all the friends, there is a possibility that the first user may not be interested in the individual friends, and may not function to increase interest or interest in the friends. . Therefore, by limiting the number of companions selected by the first user, the first user can be more careful with the user's selection and more interested in the individual user.
This modification can be realized as follows, for example. The CPU 21 of the game server 20a performs a process of incrementing the counter every time it recognizes that the menu m11 on the web page P3 in FIG. 10 has been selected and operated. Then, the CPU 21 of the game server 20a sequentially refers to the count value of the counter, and when it is determined that the number of selected friends has reached a predetermined number, the virtual promise with a new friend is prohibited. . For example, if the predetermined number is 5, the HTML data that contains the text such as “You have made 5 promised partners. You cannot promise with more friends” and does not contain menu m11 is the first. It is transmitted to the user's communication terminal 10.

(9-7) Modification 7
As shown in the modified example 6, when the limiting means 58 is provided, the predetermined number for limiting the number of promised partners may be a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of first user companions. Regardless of the number of friends of the first user, if the predetermined number is determined as an absolute value, if the number of friends is large, the degree of freedom of user selection may be reduced. For example, when the predetermined number is “3” as an absolute value, the former can select all the friends in the first user having three friends and the first user having 30 friends. On the other hand, the latter can only be selected by 10%. Therefore, by setting the predetermined number to a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of first user companions, it becomes possible to set the degree of freedom of user selection regardless of the number of companions.
In this modification, CPU21 of game server 20a calculates the number of associates by the number of associate user IDs of the user data of the 1st user, and restricts the number of promised partners by the predetermined ratio of the number of associates. A predetermined number is determined. The processing after the counter value reaches a predetermined number is the same as in the sixth modification.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. In addition, it goes without saying that each embodiment may be variously improved and changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the technical matters described in the above-described embodiment and each modification may be combined as appropriate. In the above description, transmission / reception of information between different game servers, for example, transmission / reception of information on a promised partner is performed via the central server, but it may be performed directly between game servers.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a social game has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a so-called online game system in which a server device placed on a network and a home online game machine are connected, it goes without saying that the progress of the game by each user can be controlled as in the above-described embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, the registration means 51, the association means 52, the game progress means 53, the acquisition means 54, the privilege grant means 55, the generation means 56, and the restriction means 57 are performed by the game server 20 and the database server 30 on the network. Although it is configured to realize each function, it is not limited to this configuration. All these means may be realized by the communication terminal 10, or at least a part of the means may be realized by the communication terminal 10. Since the communication terminal 10 and the game server 20 can have substantially the same hardware configuration, each function can be realized by the communication terminal 10 as described in the above embodiment. In the embodiment described above, the promised partner data is stored in the HDD 124 of the central server 100, but may be stored in the communication terminal 10. In that case, it is good also as a structure which memorize | stores in mass storage devices, such as RAM13 in the communication terminal 10, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) which is not shown in figure. FIGS. 23A and 23B show examples of sharing between the communication terminal 10, the game server 20, and the database server 30 for each function (each function shown in FIG. 14) of the game control apparatus of the present embodiment. Indicates.

10: Communication terminal 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Image processing part 15 ... Instruction input part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Wireless communication interface part 18 ... Bus 20 ... Game server 21 ... CPU
22 ... ROM
23 ... RAM
24 ... Database access unit 25 ... Communication interface unit 26 ... Bus 30 ... Database server 31 ... User database 32 ... Game database 51 ... Registration means 52 ... Association means 53 ... Game progress means 54 ... Acquisition means 55 ... Bonus grant means 56 ... Generation means 57 ... Restriction means 100 ... Central server 121 ... CPU
122 ... ROM
123 ... RAM
124 ... HDH
125 ... Communication interface 126 ... Bus

Claims (11)

A registration means for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
An association means for associating users in a game other than the first game;
Obtaining means for obtaining user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from among users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game;
After the user selection information is acquired, when the registration unit registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, a privilege is given to the first user. Granting means;
A game control device comprising: Characterized by comprising generating means for generating data for notifying the registration history of each user's game associated with the first user,
The game control apparatus according to claim 1. After the acquisition means acquires the user selection information, if the registration means registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, the selection means selects the first user. A privilege is given to the user who has been made,
The game control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The granting means reduces the privilege to be given to the first user as the number of users selected by the first user increases.
The game control device according to claim 1. The grant means increases the privilege as the number of users associated with the first user increases.
The game control apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The granting means is a privilege to be given to the first user according to a time difference in registration time with respect to the first game of the first user and the user selected by the first user, and Both or either one of the privileges granted to the user selected by the first user is changed,
The game control device according to claim 1. Limiting means for limiting the number of users selected by the first user to a predetermined number or less,
The game control device according to claim 1. The predetermined number is a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of users associated with the first user,
The game control apparatus according to claim 7. A game control method in a game control device, comprising:
Registering the user when the registration means of the game control device starts a service for the execution of the first game for the user;
A step of associating means of the game control device associating users in a game other than the first game;
A step of acquiring user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from among users associated with the first user and the game other than the first game by the acquisition means of the game control device ;
After the granting means of the game control device acquires the user selection information, the step of registering registers the first user and the user selected by the first user. Providing a privilege to the user;
A game control method comprising: In order to control the execution of the game by the user's operation,
A function for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
A function of relating users in games other than the first game,
A function of acquiring user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game, and the user selection information is acquired. Later, when the function to be registered is the first user and the user selected by the first user, the function of giving a privilege to the first user,
A program to realize A game system including a communication terminal operated by a user and a server configured to be accessible from the communication terminal and controlling execution of a game by the communication terminal,
A registration means for registering a user when starting a service for executing the first game for the user;
Means for associating users in games other than the first game;
An acquisition means for acquiring user selection information indicating a user selected by the first user from users associated with the first user in a game other than the first game; and acquiring the user selection information Then, when the registration unit registers the first user and the user selected by the first user, each unit of the granting unit for granting a privilege to the first user , Either the communication terminal or the server,
A game system with

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