JP7175520B2 - amusement system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement system having a prize drawing function.

Various online amusement systems have been provided and put into practical use, in which a server device and a terminal device for playing a game are connected via a network, and various services related to the game are provided from the server device to the terminal device. . For example, a system has been proposed in which a game is played on the browser of a user's terminal device using SNS (abbreviation for social networking system; the same shall apply hereinafter) technology (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a purchase terminal installed in a store or a user terminal device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer is connected to a server device via a network, and the server device selects a predetermined prize based on a user's instruction to the terminal device. An online sales system has also been proposed in which one of the prizes is selected from a group and the winning prize is provided to the user (see Patent Document 2, for example).

JP 2007-206823 A JP-A-2002-42233

In an online amusement system such as the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a wide variety of contents (or content usage rights) such as items and characters used in the game are associated with predetermined conditions, and the users are allowed to sequentially acquire them. is commonly performed. In that case, in order to add chance and luck to the acquisition of the content, a method may be adopted in which a lottery is executed in which the content is positioned as a prize, and the user obtains the prize that has been won. However, in online amusement systems, simply drawing prizes in association with the operation of a game terminal device gives users the opportunity to obtain prizes only in the closed virtual world of the online game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement system that expands opportunities for users to obtain prizes associated with games.

The present invention comprises a server device (2) to which a game terminal device (7) for playing a predetermined game can be connected via a network (4). storage means (21) for storing prize data (D11) corresponding to each of a plurality of prizes (cards as an example); (S202) to draw a prize to be given to the user from a group of game terminal lottery candidate prizes set for the game terminal, and to allow the user to use the prize data corresponding to the drawn prize in the game. In the amusement system (1) provided with lottery means (22) for executing the process (S204), the game terminal device is configured as a physical device different from the game terminal device and connected to the server device via the network. a vendor device (3), wherein the vendor device includes lottery request means (30, S302) for requesting the server device to draw a prize for the prize based on user operation; Alternatively, data equivalent to the prize data is acquired as prize output data (S306), and based on the prize output data, the prize is output to the user in a predetermined form (for example, in the form of a physical card CDp). A prize output means (30, 35, S307) is provided, and the lottery means of the server device selects at least one of the plurality of prizes in response to the lottery request from the lottery request means of the vendor device. A prize to be given to the user is drawn by lottery from a group of prizes to be given to the user from among the prize groups of lottery candidates for the vendor set as a target (S221), and information identifying the drawn prize (a card number as an example) is notified to the vendor device. (S222), the prize output means of the vendor device identifies the drawn prize based on the information notified from the lottery means, and based on the prize output data corresponding to the identified prize, A prize is output to the user.

According to the amusement system of the present invention, the lottery means draws a prize in association with the user's operation of the game terminal device, and the process of allowing the user to use the prize data corresponding to the drawn prize is executed. In addition, the lottery means executes a lottery based on the user's operation on the vendor device, the server device provides the prize data or data equivalent thereto as prize output data to the vendor device, and based on the prize output data. Then, the prize is output to the user in a predetermined manner. Therefore, the user not only has the opportunity to obtain a prize in the closed virtual world of the online game, but also can obtain the prize using the vendor's device. In other words, not only users operating game terminal devices but also users operating vendor devices can be provided with opportunities to obtain prizes associated with games. Therefore, it is possible to expand opportunities for users to obtain prizes, and the effect becomes more remarkable as the number of installed vendor devices and the installation locations are increased. Promote the existence of the game through the existence of the vendor's device itself or the prizes paid out from the vendor's device, raise awareness of the game in the real world, give motivation to many users to play the game, and play the game. It is possible to expand the number of users and the user base.

According to the present invention, the group of lottery candidate prizes for game terminals and the group of lottery candidate prizes for vendors are at least part of the plurality of prizes corresponding to the prize data recorded in the storage means of the server device. set as a target. In other words, the maximum range of the prize group to be the lottery candidate is standardized. Therefore, when new prize data is added to the storage means of the server device due to a game update or the like, not only can the corresponding new prize data be added to the lottery candidates for game terminals, It is also possible to add to lottery candidates for vendors in the same way. To eliminate the need to separately prepare prize data for each lottery candidate, to reduce labor for data storage work and to reduce the storage capacity of a server device.

In one aspect of the present invention, the prize output means may output a physical prize based on the prize output data. According to this, the prize displayed as a virtual existence on the game terminal device can be replaced with a physical existence in the real world by the vendor device and provided to the user. Therefore, it is possible to increase the user's desire to collect the prize, or to increase the user's satisfaction with owning the prize.

Further, the prize output means outputs a physical prize by printing on a predetermined print medium an image at least partially common to the prize to be displayed on the game terminal device based on the prize data. You may Alternatively or additionally, the prize output means may output a molding corresponding to the identified prize as the physical prize based on the prize output data.

The prize output means outputs an identification information portion (P5) that expresses information identifying the drawn prize in a manner readable by the game terminal device together with the prize images (P1 to P4). printed out on a print medium, the server device acquires information identifying the prize read from the identification information unit by the game terminal device from the game terminal device, and based on the acquired information, further comprising information processing means (22, S231, S232) for identifying the prize output by the prize output means and performing processing for allowing the user to use prize data corresponding to the identified prize in the game; may According to this, by causing the game terminal device to read the information in the identification information part of the prize provided to the user from the vendor device, the server device identifies the prize corresponding to the information, and the prize corresponding to the prize is identified by the server device. A process is performed to make the data available to the user. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to replace the prize provided to the user as a physical entity with a virtual prize and use it on the game terminal device. As a result, it is possible to increase the interest in the game of the user who has acquired the card in the vendor device, and to give the user a stronger motivation for playing the game.

In one aspect of the present invention, the vendor device further includes storage means (31) for storing the prize output data acquired from the server device, and the prize output means corresponds to the identified prize. It is determined whether or not the prize output data exists in the storage means of the vendor device (S304), and if it exists, the prize is output to the user based on the prize output data in the storage means. If the prize output data does not exist, the prize output data may be acquired from the server device (S306), and the prize output data may be stored in the storage means of the vendor device. According to this, once the vendor device acquires the prize output data from the server device, the prize output data is stored in the storage means of the vendor device. After that, when it becomes necessary to output a prize using the same data for prize output, the data existing in the storage means of the vendor device is reused without obtaining the data for prize output from the server device again. can do. As a result, it is possible to reduce the time loss required for data acquisition, speed up the output of prizes, and reduce the load on the server device.

The prize group of lottery candidates for vendors may include prizes that are not included in the prize group of lottery candidates for game terminals (for example, prizes of ranks 2s, 2+s, and Xs in FIG. 6). According to this, it is possible to generate a prize that cannot be obtained unless it is a lottery for the vendor device, and guide the user to the lottery for the vendor device for the purpose of obtaining such a card.

In one aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of prizes is classified into a plurality of ranks (1 to Xs), and the storage means of the server device stores the probability of being selected by lottery for each rank of the prize. The distributed lottery table (D3) is recorded, and the lottery means draws a prize from the group of lottery candidate prizes for the game terminal, or draws a prize from the group of lottery candidate prizes for the vendor. Alternatively, one rank may be randomly selected according to the probability described in the lottery table, and the prize to be given to the user may be selected from among the prizes belonging to the selected rank according to a predetermined rule. According to this, the lottery means accesses the same lottery table, acquires the probability distribution, and draws a rank according to the probability, regardless of whether the lottery is for the game terminal device or the vendor device. , a prize to be given to the user may be selected by lottery from among the prizes belonging to the selected rank. Therefore, it is possible to standardize the lottery procedure and reduce the man-hours of the programming work related to the lottery. By standardizing the lottery procedure, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the lottery tendency will be biased due to the difference in the lottery procedure. The lottery means may randomly select a prize to be awarded to the user from the prizes belonging to the selected rank.

In the lottery table, the game terminal probability setting unit (SNS free and SNS and a probability setting section for vendors describing the probability distribution for each rank to be referred to when a prize is drawn from the group of prizes of the lottery candidates for the vendor (the probability corresponding to the vendor drawing). part of the distribution) may be provided. According to this, by adjusting the probability distribution in each probability setting unit, the distribution of the lottery probability of the group of lottery candidate prizes and the prizes included therein can be adjusted while making a plurality of prizes as a population common. The lottery for the vendor device and the lottery for the vendor device can be divided and set flexibly. Of course, the lottery candidate prize group and probability distribution may be the same between the lottery for the game terminal device and the lottery for the vendor device.

In the probability setting unit for game terminals, a probability of zero is set for some ranks, and in the probability setting unit for vendors, at least the ranks for which the probability of zero is set in the probability setting unit for game terminals A probability greater than zero may be set for one. A rank with a probability set to zero has no chance of being chosen in the lottery and will be excluded from the lottery candidates. As a result, the range of prize groups of lottery candidates can be appropriately set. Moreover, if at least one of the ranks for which the probability of zero is set by the probability setting unit for game terminals is set to a probability greater than zero by the probability setting unit for the vendor, the prize of that rank is set by the vendor. It can be set as a prize that cannot be obtained unless it is a lottery for the device.

The vendor device is provided with fee collecting means (34) for collecting a lottery fee from the user, and the lottery requesting means of the vendor device receives the lottery fee on condition that the fee collecting means has collected the lottery fee. It is also possible to request the server device to draw the prize. According to this, a value corresponding to the lottery fee is added to the prizes put out from the vendor device while eliminating the possibility that the prizes are output excessively in the lottery using the vendor device, thereby making the vendor device available. It is possible to enhance the user's sense of satisfaction in obtaining the prize through the Internet.

When the server device acquires user identification information (for example, an ID uniquely set for each user) from the game terminal device and authenticates the user, a predetermined The lottery means has a function of providing a service, and the lottery means executes a lottery for a prize from a group of lottery candidate prizes for the game terminal only when the user of the game terminal device is authenticated; The lottery from the lottery candidate prize group for the vendor may be executed without authenticating the user of the vendor device. According to this, even a user who has not acquired user identification information can be provided with an opportunity to obtain a prize using a vendor device. As a result, the effect of acquiring new users can be enhanced.

In the present invention, it is sufficient for the game terminal device to allow the user to play the game, and to receive services from the server device via the network. , the terminal device may be used as a game terminal device. As an example, a user's personal terminal device may be used as a game terminal device.

In the above description, the reference numerals of the attached drawings are added in parentheses for easy understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

As described above, according to the amusement system of the present invention, not only is the user provided with an opportunity to obtain prizes in the closed virtual world of the online game, but also prizes using vendor devices are provided. Since the user can be provided with an opportunity to obtain the prize, the opportunity for the user to obtain the prize can be expanded. Promote the existence of the game through the existence of the vendor's device itself or the prizes paid out from the vendor's device, raise awareness of the game in the real world, give motivation to many users to play the game, and play the game. It is possible to expand the number of users and the user base.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the amusement system which concerns on one form of this invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of main parts of the amusement system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the mutual relationship between card data and virtual and physical cards output based on the card data; The figure which shows an example of the data structure of card data. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of play data. The figure which shows the content of a lottery table in tabular form. 4 is a flow chart showing a prize lottery procedure executed for a user terminal; 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a prize lottery executed for a vendor device; 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure for allowing a user to use card data corresponding to a card output by a vendor device in a game played on a user terminal;

An amusement system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is directed to an amusement system that allows a user to play a game using a plurality of cards, conducts a lottery using at least some of the cards as lottery candidates, and provides the user with the lottery cards as prizes. It is an example to which the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of the system will be described with reference to FIG. The amusement system 1 includes a center server 2 as a server device and a plurality of vendor devices 3 . Center server 2 and vendor device 3 are connected via network 4 . The center server 2 is configured to function as one logical server device by combining a plurality of server units 2A and 2B. However, a single server unit may function as the center server 2 . One logical center server 2 may be configured using cloud computing.

The vendor device 3 is provided as a terminal device for paying out cards to users in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee. The vendor device 3 is installed in facilities such as stores 5A and 5B, for example. The store 5A is a facility installed with a commercial game machine (so-called arcade game machine) 6 that allows users to play games in exchange for payment of a play fee, and corresponds to commercial facilities such as game arcades and amusement facilities. However, game machine 6 is not an essential component in amusement system 1 . Therefore, the place where the vendor device 3 is installed is not limited to the facility where the game machine 6 is installed. The vendor device 3 may be installed in a commercial facility 5B that does not assume the existence of the game machine 6, such as a shopping mall. The vendor device 3 may be installed in public facilities. As an example, the network 4 is constructed by connecting the Internet 4A and LANs 4B and 4C that connect the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 to the Internet 4A via a router 4D.

A user terminal 7 can be connected to the center server 2 via a network 4 . The user terminal 7 is a personal terminal device for personal use by the user. For example, various computer devices such as a PC 7a and a mobile phone (including a smart phone) 7b, which can be connected to a network and are used for personal use, can be used as the user terminal 7. FIG. Although not shown, computer devices such as home game machines, portable game machines, portable tablet terminals, etc. function as network terminal devices and are used as user terminals 7 as long as they are used for personal use by users. can be used.

The center server 2 provides predetermined services to the user terminals 7 and vendor devices 3 . When game machines 6 are connected to the network 4 , the center server 2 may also provide services to those game machines 6 . As a service provided by the center server 2 to the user terminal 7, the user terminal 7 functions as an input device for operations related to the game and an output device for images and sounds related to the game, while allowing the user to play a predetermined game. There is a game service that lets you play. As a part of the game service, the center server 2 receives a unique user ID (user identification information) for each user from the user terminal 7 to authenticate the user, and records the result of the user playing the game in the play data. A service is also provided for storing the play data in a storage device on the center server 2 in association with the user authentication information. When a plurality of users play a common game via the network 4, the center server 2 may further provide a service for matching those users. When game machines 6 are connected to the center server 2 , the center server 2 may also provide game-related services to those game machines 6 . A game played on the game machine 6 may or may not be associated with a game played on the user terminal 7 . In the following description, the term "game" refers to a game to be played on the user terminal 7 unless otherwise specified.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of the main part of the control system relating to the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 of the amusement system 1 will be described. First, the center server 2 will be explained. The center server 2 is provided with a control unit 20 and a storage device 21 . The control unit 20 is a computer unit that combines a microprocessor and peripheral devices such as an internal storage device (not shown) necessary for the operation of the microprocessor. The storage device 21 is a storage device such as a hard disk storage device capable of holding data. An input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a monitor are connected to the control unit 20, but the illustration thereof is omitted. The storage device 21 stores an operating system for a server (server OS), various application programs to be run on the server OS, and data groups to be referred to by these programs. The application program includes a game program PG for realizing the game service described above. Data recorded in the storage device 21 include game data D1, a group of play data D2, and a lottery table D3, and specific examples thereof will be described later. The game data D1 includes a group of card data D11 corresponding to each of a large number of cards that can be used in the game.

A game server section 22 and a vendor server section 23 are provided inside the control unit 20 . The server units 22 and 23 are both logical devices realized by combining computer hardware of the control unit 20 and predetermined software. The game server unit 22 provides game services to the user terminal 7 in response to access from the user terminal 7 . As an example, the game server unit 22 provides an SNS (abbreviation of Social Networking Service) function to the user terminal 7, and provides a service for playing a card game on the SNS. On the other hand, the vendor server unit 23 provides the vendor device 3 with vendor services associated with the output of prizes. Note that the center server 2 has a billing function that, in cooperation with the user terminal 7, charges the user of the user terminal 7 a service usage fee such as a game play fee, and collects the usage fee using a predetermined settlement method. is also implemented. However, it is sufficient to construct the billing function in the same manner as in a well-known system, and the details will be omitted.

On the other hand, the vendor device 3 is provided with a control unit 30 and a storage device 31 . The control unit 30 is a computer unit that combines a microprocessor and peripheral devices such as an internal storage device necessary for the operation of the microprocessor. The storage device 31 is a storage device capable of holding data, such as a hard disk storage device. The storage device 31 stores programs to be executed by the control unit 30 and various data to be referred to by the programs. As an example, the storage device 31 stores a group of card data D11 delivered from the center server 2 .

Connected to the control unit 30 are an input device 32 such as operation buttons, a monitor 33 as an output device, a coin selector 34 and a printer 35 . The coin selector 34 is provided as fee collection means, determines the authenticity of coins (or alternative currency medals may be used) inserted into the vendor device by the user, and determines the number of inserted coins or the amount of coins judged to be authentic. Outputs a signal corresponding to The printer 35 is a well-known printing device that outputs information such as images and characters to be printed onto predetermined printing paper in accordance with a print command from the control unit 30 . However, the printing paper of the printer 35 is standardized to a card mount of a predetermined size. The printer 35 is built in the housing of the vendor device 3 , and the card CDp printed by the printer 35 is delivered to the user from the outlet of the vendor device 3 .

Next, data recorded in the storage device 21 of the center server 2 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. First, the card data D11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the amusement system 1, a virtual card CDv is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 7 based on the card data D11. On the other hand, the physical card CDp is printed out from the printer 35 of the vendor device 3 . That is, the card data D11 is data created for outputting the card CD to the user. Hereinafter, the cards CDv and CDp may be collectively referred to as the card CD. The physical card CDp is obtained by printing out the image of the virtual card CDv displayed on the user terminal 7 on a card mount as a physical printing medium.

The format of the card CD may be set appropriately. In the example of FIG. 3, a character image portion P1 representing the image of the character CR symbolizing the card CD, a rank portion P2 displaying the rank of the card CD ("2+" in the example of FIG. 3), and the name of the character CR. The card CD includes a name portion P3 in which is displayed, and a characteristic display portion P4 in which various card characteristics such as offensive power and defensive power in the game of the character CR are displayed. In the amusement system 1, many types of card CDs with different characters CR and characteristics are prepared, and a unique card number for each type of card CD is associated with the card data D11 as card identification information. The type of card CD here is a concept for classifying the card CD according to whether or not all the information (contents) expressed on the card CD match. In other words, since a large number of card CDs can be issued for one type, the concept of "type" is used to collectively handle card CDs with the same content as one prize. Therefore, one card type corresponds to one prize, and the concept of "each card type" corresponds to the concept of "each prize".

The physical card CDp is provided with an identification information part P5 expressing the card number in a manner readable by the user terminal 7 . As an example, the card number is converted into a two-dimensional bar code and displayed in the identification information section P5. The virtual card CDv is similar to the physical card CDp, but the identification information part P5 is omitted.

In the game played on the user terminal 7, the user collects the card CDs and constructs a deck, selects and uses the card CDs in the deck as appropriate, and challenges a predetermined task or fights against an opponent. modes are included. The characteristics of the card CD described above are parameters that are referred to when calculating the degree of achievement of a task or the superiority of a match. As one of the means for the user to obtain the card CD, the amusement system 1 is provided with means for giving the card CD as a prize to the user through a lottery by the center server 2 . The card number recorded in the identification information part P5 is used by the user to use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained at the vendor device 3 in the game.

Next, an example of the structure of the card data D11 will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 4, card data D11 includes basic data D12 and image data D13. The card number (card #), rank, image ID, parameter group, etc. are described in the basic data D12. The rank is an index of difficulty in obtaining the card CD. The image ID is information specifying image data D13 to be used to represent the character CR. A parameter group is information describing various characteristics to be set in the card CD. On the other hand, the image data D13 is data in which image information for drawing the character CR is recorded in association with the image ID. By referring to the basic data D12 and the image data D13 corresponding to the image ID designated by the basic data D12, the card CD can be displayed on the user terminal 7 or printed out from the printer 35. . Further, by reading identification information (two-dimensional bar code, bar code, etc.) of the physical card CDp at the user terminal 7 to specify the card number, and matching the card number with the group of card data D11, It is possible to specify the card data D11 corresponding to the card CDp, use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card data D11 in the game, or display the card CDv on the user terminal 7. FIG.

Next, the play data D2 will be described with reference to FIG. The play data D2 is data recording the result of the user playing the game, and is data stored in the storage device 21 for the purpose of, for example, allowing the user to continue playing the game from the last time. In the play data D2, information such as a play log, status, owned cards, etc. is recorded in association with the user ID, for example. The play log is information that records past play contents, such as the number of times the user has played the game in the past and match results. The status is information for determining various index values indicating the progress of the game, such as the position acquired by the user in the game, the degree of achievement, and the degree of attainment. The owned card information is information for identifying the card CD obtained by the user in the game, and as an example, the card number of the card CD already obtained by the user is recorded as the owned card information.

After the user obtains the card CD, if it is possible to change the image and characteristics of the character CR on the card CD according to the progress of the game, the image ID and the initial values of the characteristics are stored in the card data D11. For a card CD that is stored and obtained by a user, the card data D11 may be copied to the user's play data D2, and the image ID and parameter group of the copied card data may be changed.

Next, the lottery table D3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a table showing information recorded in the lottery table D3. As is clear from the example of FIG. 6, the lottery table D3 is data describing the probability (in units of %) that the card CD should be drawn by lottery in association with the rank of the card CD and the mode of the lottery. is a table. The game server section 22 of the center server 2 refers to the lottery table D3 and draws a card CD to be given to the user as a prize.

In the example of FIG. 6, there are three types of lottery: SNS free, SNS paid, and vendor lottery. The SNS free lottery is a lottery that is performed free of charge for users accessing from the user terminal 7, and the SNS paid lottery is a lottery that is performed for users accessing from the user terminal 7 in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee. be. The vendor lottery is a lottery that is executed in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee to the user of the vendor device 3 . The lottery fee may be the same or different between the SNS fee and the vendor lottery. The SNS free lottery may be limited to once a day. The SNS free lottery may be permitted when a predetermined condition associated with the game is met.

The ranks of the cards CD are set in order from left to right in FIG. 6 so that the degree of difficulty in obtaining the cards increases. The probability for each rank is distributed so that the higher the difficulty of obtaining the rank, the smaller the value. When SNS free and SNS paid are compared, probabilities are distributed so that a card CD with a relatively high rank is more likely to be won in SNS paid. In addition, when the SNS fee and the vendor lottery are compared, the probabilities are distributed so that the vendor lottery is more likely to win a card CD with a relatively high rank. Furthermore, the ranks with suffix s (2s, 2+s, Xs, etc.) are ranks that can only be obtained by vendor lottery, and the probability for SNS free and SNS paid is zero (indicated by - in FIG. 6). is set to A set of rank card CDs for which a probability greater than zero is set for SNS free and SNS paid is a prize group of lottery candidates for game terminals, and a rank card CD for which a probability greater than zero is set for vendor lottery. is a prize group of lottery candidates for vendors. The probability allocation portion corresponding to SNS free and SNS paid in FIG. 6 corresponds to the game terminal probability setting section in the present invention, and the probability allocation portion corresponding to the vendor lottery corresponds to the vendor probability setting portion in the present invention. .

Next, various processes executed by the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 in relation to the prize lottery will be described. FIG. 7 shows processing of the user terminal 7 and the game server section 22 for executing the SNS paid lottery in association with the user's operation on the user terminal 7 . 7 is a process performed after the user operates the user terminal 7 to notify the game server section 22 of the center server 2 of his/her own identification information (user ID) and user authentication is completed. When the user instructs the user terminal 7 to start the SNS paid lottery, the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 work together to perform a process of collecting the lottery fee corresponding to the SNS paid lottery from the user (step S701, S201). It suffices if the fee is collected by transmitting and receiving electronic information between the user terminal 7 and the game server section 22 . For example, payment methods such as collection of fees using virtual currency such as electronic money or collection of fees using credit cards may be used.

When the fee collection is completed, the user terminal 7 requests a lottery to the game server section 22 (step S702), and the game server section 22 executes the lottery in response to the request (step S202). In this case, the game server unit 22 refers to the lottery table D3 to acquire the probability distribution for each rank associated with the SNS charge, and draws lots for the rank of the card CD to be given to the user according to the probability distribution. A predetermined number (for example, one) of card CDs are selected from the group of card CDs belonging to the ranked rank as prizes to be given to the user according to a predetermined rule. Random selection is adopted as an example of the predetermined rule. However, the rule is not limited to random, and the rule may be set so that cards are selected according to probabilities differentiated according to the parameters of the card CD. The selected card CD is a prize drawn by lottery.

When the lottery is completed, the game server section 22 notifies the user terminal 7 of the lottery result (step S203). In this case, information necessary for displaying the winning card CD on the user terminal 7, such as all of the card data D11 of the winning card CD, or a group of parameters recorded in the image data D13 or the basic data D12, or character CR's name, etc.) is provided to the user terminal 7 as at least a part of the lottery result. After that, the game server unit 22 updates the owned card information of the play data D2 recorded in the storage device 21 in association with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 7 so that the winning card becomes the owned card of the user. (step S204), and then the process of FIG. 7 ends. The process of step S204 corresponds to the process for allowing the user to use the card data D11 corresponding to the card CD as a prize drawn by lottery in the game. The user ID for specifying the play data D2 to be updated in step S204 may be the user ID acquired at the time of user authentication, or may be acquired again from the user terminal 7 in step S702.

On the other hand, the user terminal 7 acquires the lottery result from the game server unit 22 (step S703), and displays the lottery result to the user (step S704). After that, the user terminal 7 ends the process corresponding to the SNS paid lottery. In the case of the SNS free lottery, steps S701 and S201 are omitted, and instead of these processes, whether or not the conditions for executing the SNS free lottery are satisfied is associated with the user's operation on the user terminal 7. You should judge. The user's operation that should trigger the execution of the SNS lottery (whether free or paid) may be appropriately set as long as it is an operation on the user terminal 7 . For example, it may be an operation for instructing the start of an SNS lottery, or a predetermined operation for starting or during game play. Alternatively, it may be an operation for authenticating the user. However, the SNS free lottery and the SNS paid lottery have different probability allocations to be referred to in the lottery table D3, so the game server unit 22 needs to distinguish between them. The distinction can be made, for example, by the presence or absence of fee collection processing.

FIG. 8 shows the processing of the vendor device 3, the vendor server section 23, and the game server section 22 for executing the vendor lottery in response to the user's operation on the vendor device 3. FIG. When the user operates the input device 32 of the vendor device 3 to request a vendor lottery, the vendor device 3 (more precisely, the control unit 30) collects a predetermined lottery fee from the user (step S301). Here, fees are collected via the coin selector 34 . When the fee is paid, the vendor device 3 requests a lottery to the vendor server section 23 (step S302), and the vendor server section 23 transfers the lottery request to the game server section 22 (step S211). The game server section 22 executes a vendor lottery in response to the lottery request via the vendor server section 23 (step S221). In this case, the game server unit 22 refers to the lottery table D3 to acquire the probability distribution for each rank associated with the vendor lottery, and draws lots for the rank of the card CD to be given to the user according to the probability allocation. A predetermined number (for example, one) of card CDs are selected from the group of card CDs belonging to the ranked rank according to a predetermined rule (for example, a rule of random sampling is set). The selected card CD is a prize drawn by lottery.

When the lottery is completed, the game server section 22 notifies the vendor server section 23 of the card number of the card CD selected by lottery (step S222). The vendor server unit 23 notifies the vendor device 3 of the card number as the lottery result (step S212). The vendor device 3 acquires the card number notified from the vendor server unit 23 (step S303), and determines whether or not the card data D11 corresponding to the card number exists in its own storage device 31 (step S304). . If it is determined that the card data D11 does not exist, the vendor device 3 requests the card data D11 corresponding to the notified card number to the vendor server section 23 (step S305), and the vendor server section 23 accepts the request. It is transferred to the game server section 22 (step S213). The game server section 22 acquires the requested card data D11 from its own storage device 21 (step S223), and provides the card data D11 to the vendor server section 23 (step S224). The vendor server unit 23 provides the provided card data D11 to the vendor device 3 (step S214). The vendor device 3 acquires the card data D11 provided from the vendor server unit 23 and records it in its own storage device 31 (step S306). Then, a process for causing the image to be displayed is executed (step S307). If it is determined in step S304 that the card data D11 exists, the vendor device 3 skips steps S305 and S306 and proceeds to step S307. In this case, the card CDp is printed based on the card data D11 already recorded in the storage device 31. FIG. With the above, the processing of FIG. 8 is completed. Note that the SNS lottery (regardless of whether the lottery is free or paid) and the vendor lottery differ in the probability distribution to be referred to in the lottery table D3 and the information to be included in the notification of the lottery result. Therefore, the game server section 22 needs to distinguish them. The distinction can be realized by determining whether the lottery is requested from the user terminal 7 or the vendor server section 23 .

By the processing of FIG. 8, the physical card CDp can be issued to the user from the vendor device 3. FIG. FIG. 9 shows processing executed by the user terminal 7 and the game server section 22 to record the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained by the user in the play data D2 as the user's owned card in the game. Note that hereinafter, recording the card CDv in the play data D2 as a card owned by the user may be referred to as registration.

In the process of FIG. 9, the user terminal 7 first reads the two-dimensional bar code recorded in the identification information part P5 of the card CDp and obtains the card number embedded in the two-dimensional bar code (step S311). Subsequently, the user terminal 7 notifies the acquired card number to the game server section 22 (step S312). That is, the user terminal 7 designates the card number read from the card CDp and requests registration of the card CDv corresponding to the card number. In this case, the user ID may also be notified in order to allow the game server section 22 to identify the user. If user authentication has been completed between the user terminal 7 and the game server section 22 prior to the processing of FIG. It may be used as user authentication information.

When the card number is notified from the user terminal 7, the game server section 22 uses the user ID acquired from the user terminal 7 as a clue to match the play data D2 stored in the storage device 21 with the user ID. is extracted (step S231). Subsequently, the game server unit 22 updates the owned card information of the play data D2 extracted in step S231 so that the card CDv corresponding to the card number received from the user terminal 7 is registered as the owned card of the user. (Step S232). As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the card number is recorded as the information of the owned card in the play data D2, the card number notified from the user terminal 7 may be added to the information of the owned card. . An upper limit is set for the number of owned cards, and when the number of owned cards reaches the upper limit, the user selects the card to be deleted, and the card number to be deleted is the newly obtained card number. may be replaced.

When the update of the play data D2 is completed, the game server section 22 transmits a completion notification to the user terminal 7 (step S233), and then ends the processing of FIG. Upon receiving the completion notification from the game server unit 22, the user terminal 7 displays to the user that the registration of the card CDv has been completed as a processing result (step S313). With the above, the user terminal 7 finishes the processing of FIG.

As described above, according to the amusement system 1 of the present embodiment, the user obtains the card CD prepared in advance as a prize in the game in the form of a virtual card CDv through the user terminal 7. In addition, the user can obtain the prize in the form of a physical card CDp via the vendor device 3 configured as a physical device different from the user terminal 7. can expand the opportunities to obtain The effect becomes more remarkable as the number of installed vendor devices 3 and the installation locations are increased. The existence of the game is appealed through the presence of the vendor device 3 itself or the card CDp paid out from the vendor device 3, and the recognition of the game in the real world is increased, thereby increasing the motivation to play the game. By giving it to users, it is possible to expand the number of users of the game and the user base. If a game-related design (for example, a design of a character CR appearing in a game, a design imitating a game symbol, etc.) is applied to the appearance of the vendor device 3, the eye-catching effect of the vendor device 3 itself can be enhanced, and the game can be enhanced. It is possible to further improve recognition.

The virtual card CDv and the physical card CDp having the same card number are displayed to the user or printed based on the common card data D11. Therefore, the card CDv, which is a virtual entity that is merely displayed on the screen of the user terminal 7, can be replaced with the actual physical entity card CDp and provided to the user. As a result, the user's desire to collect the card CD can be enhanced, or the user's satisfaction with owning the card can be enhanced. When a new card CD is added according to game update, etc., the new card CD can be used as long as the rank of the new card CD belongs to one of the ranks recorded in the existing lottery table D3. Only by recording the card data D11 in the storage device 21 of the center server 2, the new card CD can be added to a prize group of lottery candidates for game terminals or a prize group of lottery candidates for vendors according to its rank. Even when creating a new rank, it is only necessary to rewrite the lottery table D3. Since the maximum range of the prize group of lottery candidates is shared, there is no need to separately prepare a group of card data D11 for each mode of lottery, and labor for data storage work is reduced and stored on a storage device 21.例文帳に追加It is possible to reduce the data storage capacity to be secured for each.

In this way, the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3 share the set of cards CD, which is the maximum range of targets for setting the lottery candidates, and form the lottery table D3. By setting the probability distribution for each rank according to the number, the group of lottery candidate prizes is set for each lottery mode, so the basic procedure of the lottery, that is, the probability allocation is read from the lottery table D3 and the rank is determined. A lottery and the procedure of randomly selecting a predetermined number of cards from the drawn rank can be made common regardless of the lottery mode. As a result, it is possible to reduce the man-hours of the programming work related to the lottery. Lottery candidates are selected by adjusting the probability distribution of a lottery table D3 while suppressing the possibility of bias in the lottery tendency due to the difference in the lottery procedure between the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3. A prize group can be flexibly set for each lottery mode, or the probability that a prize of each rank will be drawn can be differentiated according to the lottery mode. Regardless of the difference in the lottery mode, the lottery candidate prize group and the probability distribution may be the same.

The physical card CDp is provided with an identification information part P5, in which the card number as card identification information that associates the card CDp with the card data D11 is expressed in a manner readable by the user terminal 7. The physical card CDp can be associated with the card data D11 and the virtual card CDv corresponding to the data D11. As a result, the user who has obtained the physical card CDp can use the card data D11 corresponding to the physical card CDp in playing the game, and the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card data D11 can be used by himself/herself. can be displayed on the user terminal 7 as a card owned by CDv, and the game can be advanced using the card CDv. As a result, it is possible to further increase the interest in the game of the user who has obtained the physical card CDp, and to impart a strong motivation to play the game.

In the lottery table D3, the probability allocation is set so that ranks that can be obtained only by the vendor lottery are generated, so there are cards CD that cannot be obtained simply by playing the game on the user terminal 7. - 特許庁The user can be guided to a lottery of the vendor device 3 for the purpose of obtaining such a card. As a result, the effect of providing the bender device 3 can be enhanced. If the probability of a card CDp that can only be obtained by a vendor lottery is set low, such a card CDp can be positioned as a rare card that can only be obtained rarely. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the effect of guiding the user to the vendor lottery. Further, by causing the user terminal 7 to read the card number of the identification information part P5 of the rare card, the user can use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp in the game. It is possible to make the user more strongly motivated to obtain it, and to remarkably enhance the effect of providing the vendor device 3 .

In the above embodiment, the game server section 22 functions as lottery means for the game terminal device of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S202 and S204 in FIG. The control unit 30 executes the processes of steps S306 and S307 in FIG. , and the game server section 22 functions as a lottery means for the vendor device of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S221 and S222 in FIG. Also, the game server section 22 functions as information processing means of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S231 and S232 of FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the forms described above, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, in the present invention, the game terminal device is not limited to the user's personal terminal device, but may be various game terminal devices such as an arcade game machine. A monitor in the vendor device is not essential and can be omitted as appropriate. If the lottery for the vendor device is performed by the server device, an additional lottery may be performed by the vendor device in association with the lottery. In the additional lottery, for example, a lottery is made to determine whether or not to give the user a further prize, and if the user wins the lottery, a further lottery is requested to the server device, and the lottery prize is distributed via the vendor device. may be further output to the user via If the vendor device has a monitor (display device), the status of additional draws may be presented to the user.

In the above embodiment, the prize data itself is provided from the server device to the vendor device as prize output data, but data equivalent to the prize data may be provided to the vendor device as prize output data. For example, the server device may convert the prize data into print data that can be interpreted by the printer 35, and the converted print data may be provided from the server device to the vendor device and stored in the storage means of the vendor device. The print data may be created by the server device based on the prize data each time the vendor device requests it. Print data corresponding to the prize data may be prepared in advance and stored in the storage means of the server device, and the print data may be provided to the vendor device. Data equivalent to the prize data may also be data that has undergone processing to reduce the amount of data communication between the server device and the vendor device. For example, data obtained by compressing character image data or data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of image data may be provided to the vendor device.

The output of prizes in the vendor's device is not limited to print output. Alternatively, or in addition to the printed output, the prize data may be output to a storage medium brought by the user. A physical molded product corresponding to the prize drawn by lottery, for example, a molded product imitating the appearance and shape of the character or item as the prize may be output from the vendor device as the physical prize. For example, such a molded product can be obtained by incorporating a molding device such as a 3D printer using stereolithography into the vendor device instead of or in addition to the printer for printing output, and You may create and output the molded product inside. Physical prizes such as printed matter and molded matter may be created and stored in the vendor device in advance prior to the lottery. Alternatively, when a molding is given to a user as a prize, a printed matter such as a ticket or exchange coupon recording information for exchanging the molding for a prize is physically sent based on the prize output data acquired from the server device. The printout may be output as part of the free gift, and the user may obtain the free gift by using the printed matter. When giving a physical gift to a user through a ticket, etc., the ticket does not necessarily have to be a physical entity, and even if the information of the ticket, etc., is output as data to a storage medium brought by the user. good. Data output to a storage medium is effective when sound data used in a game (for example, music data in a music game) is set as a prize. Alternatively, a data communication function such as infrared communication or short-range wireless communication is added to the vendor device, data communication is performed between the user's personal terminal device and the vendor device, and prize data is output to the user. may be

In the above embodiment, the physical card CDp is provided with the identification information part P5 so that the user can use the card CDp in the game by replacing the card CDp with the virtual card CDv. Alternatively, an image of the card CDp may be provided from the user terminal 7 to the server device to perform image analysis processing so that the server device can specify the card data D11 corresponding to the card CDp. Alternatively, the means for replacing the physical card CDp with the virtual card CDv may be omitted and the physical card CDp may be provided to the user as an item to be collected. Alternatively, a deck of physical cards CDp may be sold, and users may engage in actual card battles using the deck. In that case, the vendor device 3 also functions as means for the user to acquire cards that can be used in actual card battles. Even if it is impossible to replace physical prizes with virtual prizes in this manner, a user who obtains a real prize through a vendor device obtains a virtual prize through a lottery for game terminal devices. may wish to do so, which may give the user motivation to play the game. Prizes are not limited to cards, and various elements can be set as prizes as long as they are associated with the game. For example, various items such as weapons, armor, tools, magic, spells, special moves, and costumes used by the user or the character set as the user's operation target in the game may be set as prizes. Alternatively, as mentioned above, sound data used in the game may be set as prizes. The title screen of the game, the wallpaper of the game screen, and other elements may be set as prizes.

1 amusement system 2 center server (server device)
3 vendor device 4 network 5A, 5B store 7 user terminal (game terminal device)
20 Control unit of center server 21 Storage device (storage means) of center server
22 game server section (lottery means, information processing means)
23 Vendor server section 30 Control unit of vendor device (lottery request means, prize output means)
31 storage device (storage means) of vendor device
34 coin selector (toll collection means)
35 Printer (gift output means)
CD card (gift)
CDp Physical card CDv Virtual card D11 Card data (gift data)
D3 lottery table P5 identification information part

Claims (1)

A vendor device provided with a lottery requesting means for requesting a prize lottery based on a user's operation and a prize output means for outputting the drawn prize to the user in a predetermined manner, and having functions different from the vendor device A server device that can be connected via a network to a game terminal device that provides a predetermined game as a physical device is provided, and the server device corresponds to each of a plurality of prizes associated with the predetermined game. In an amusement system provided with storage means for storing prize data,
a prize drawing means for drawing a prize to be given to the user from a prize group set for at least part of the plurality of prizes;
prize data corresponding to the prize drawn by lottery or data for prize output as data equivalent to the prize data; data providing means for providing to the vendor device so as to be output by
To identify each user notified from each user as data used for playing the game in the game terminal device when the prize data includes prize identification information for identifying each prize. and the premium identification information corresponding to a premium owned by each user, in the storage means separately from the premium data data generating means for generating;
An amusement system with

Images