CN115518388A - Game device, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a game device, a program and a recording medium. Realizing better game element providing. The game device is provided with: a providing unit that provides a first game element, a second game element, and a third game element; and a control unit that controls the operation of the supply unit, wherein the control unit performs the following control: causing the providing unit to provide the second game element or the third game element on condition that the provided first game element is consumed; which of the second game element and the third game element is to be provided by the providing means differs depending on the consumption timing of the first game element.

Description

Game device, program, and recording medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game device and a program, and more particularly to an electronic game accompanied by provision of game elements.

Background

There is a network game in which a game item is provided in exchange for a predetermined number of game points given to a player (patent document 1).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-011632

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The network game described in patent document 1 is a game played using an information communication terminal that a player personally has, and therefore cannot be simply applied to a commercial game device (so-called arcade game machine) that provides an article. That is, if points given at the time of playing a game are exchanged for an item, there is a possibility that a preferable service cannot be provided. In general, in a commercial game device, since an operation of regularly changing the format of a supplied item is performed in order to maintain the interest of a player, if the exchange is performed intensively at a time of a specific format, for example, management of an item stock in a setting store may become complicated. Further, for example, if the exchange is possible only for a specific period, there is a possibility that a player in a situation where the store cannot be reached for a long time cannot exchange the item and loses points.

The invention aims to provide a game device and a program for realizing better game element providing.

Means for solving the problems

A game device of the present invention includes: a providing unit that provides a first game element, a second game element, and a third game element; and a control unit that controls the operation of the supply unit, wherein the control unit performs the following control: causing the providing unit to provide the second game element or the third game element on condition that the provided first game element is consumed; the game device is configured to cause the providing means to provide either the second game element or the third game element, depending on the consumption timing of the first game element.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a preferable game element provision.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a game system according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the game device 100 according to the embodiment and the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the server 200 according to the embodiment and the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a providing process executed by the game device 100 according to embodiment 1 and the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the empirical value providing process according to the embodiment and the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a special card providing process according to the embodiment and the modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of various information used in the game system according to the embodiment and the modification of the present invention.

Detailed Description

[ embodiment 1]

The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. The same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

The following description will explain an example in which the present invention is applied to a game device configured to be capable of providing a plurality of types of game elements, as an example of the game device. However, the present invention can be applied to any device that provides a service including provision of a game playing experience and can provide a plurality of categories of game elements to a player.

Structure of game system

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a game system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the game system is configured to enable the server 200 to communicate with each of one or more game devices 100 through the network 300.

In the present embodiment, with such a system configuration, a match-up game between players using a plurality of game devices 100 can be realized via the server 200 and the network 300. The game that provides the game playing experience in the game device 100 is not limited to the battle game between players, and may include a game that is configured to be played by a single player.

The game device 100 according to the present embodiment has an external appearance as shown in the drawing. The game device 100 is configured to be able to detect a payout when the game device is in a usable state, and to provide a service of providing a game play experience including provision of at least one game element to a user (player) when the payout is detected. The payment of the cost is detected, for example, from the deposit of a predetermined amount of money into the deposit 141.

The game elements that can be provided by the game device 100 include a card as a physical object, and the card is provided in accordance with a case where a condition is satisfied during the service provision. In the present embodiment, at least one card is provided for one game play experience, and details thereof will be described later. An outlet 142 is provided on the exterior of the game device 100, and a player can enter a holding portion 143 provided inside through the outlet 142. The holding portion 143 holds a card so that a player can take out the card at an arbitrary timing when the card is supplied.

Further, a placement unit 144 is provided on the external appearance of the game device 100, and a predetermined card including a card provided by the game device 100 can be placed on the placement unit 144. While the player is using the game device 100, the player can play a game while placing a card on the placement portion 144 and reflecting information attached to the card, the details of which will be described later.

When the player is recognized when the game device 100 is used, that is, when the game playing experience is provided in a state where it is recognized which player is, the server 200 updates information managed by each player, and details thereof will be described later.

Functional structure of game device

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each functional block included in the game device 100. Specifically, the control unit 101 reads an operation program related to each functional block recorded in the recording medium 102, for example, and expands and executes the operation program in the memory 103 to realize the operation of each functional block.

The recording medium 102 is a recording device capable of permanently holding data, such as a nonvolatile memory or an HDD. The recording medium 102 stores, in addition to the operation programs relating to the respective function blocks included in the game device 100, information of parameters necessary for the operation of the respective function blocks, various kinds of graphic data used in the game executed by the game device 100, and the like. The memory 103 is a storage device for temporarily storing data, such as a volatile memory. The memory 103 is used not only as an expansion area for the operation program of each block but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data and the like output during the operation of each block.

The payout detecting unit 104 detects that a payout of the cost is made in the game apparatus 100. The cost payment can be determined by detecting that a predetermined amount of medal or a corresponding medal (coin) is inserted into the slot 141 of the game device 100 or that a settlement process based on communication with a chip related to predetermined electronic money is completed. The game device 100 of the present embodiment is explained so as to start providing a service including provision of a game play experience based on a cost payment related to the start of service provision.

The acquisition unit 105 is an interface for acquiring information from a card, which is provided in the game device 100 according to the present embodiment. Specifically, the acquisition unit 105 includes a reader configured to acquire information attached to the card placed on the placement unit 144. Cards that can be used in the game device 100 (information can be acquired by the acquisition unit 105) are roughly classified into two types, and the placement unit 144 is configured to be able to place both types of cards. More specifically, the two types of cards may be configured to have the same shape and the same size so as to be accommodated in a card support member (frame) provided in the placement portion 144.

One of the available cards is a card configured as a physical object that can be provided by the game device 100. Each of the cards corresponds to a game element (a character, a carrier, a prop, an effect, and the like) related to a game providing a game play experience in the game device 100, and the following description will be given by using a game element card. More specifically, information (game element ID) for identifying a game element is attached to each game element card, and the game element is associated with the game element card. The player can register the corresponding game element by placing the game element card on the placement portion 144 and causing the acquisition portion 105 to acquire the information, and use the game element in the game (or leave the game element, start the game element, or the like).

Another card among available cards is a player card that is information for identifying a player, which is related to the use of the game device 100. The game device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to store the progress status of the game of the player, and when the player is next used, the player can resume the game from the stored progress status. Therefore, at least identification information (player ID: identification information of the player) capable of uniquely identifying the player is attached to the player card. The player can receive the service provision in a state in which the progress status regarding the past use is reflected by causing the acquisition unit 105 to acquire the information by placing the player card on the placement unit 144. Here, the progress status is a concept that progresses as the number of times of use of the game device 100 increases, and for example, experience values, ranks, function openness statuses, and the like are met. In the present embodiment, the description is given by acquiring information from a player card to identify a player, but the method of identifying a player is not limited to this, and information may be acquired from an article other than a player card, and for example, identification processing of a player by another device may be changed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the description is given assuming that the article of the physical object whose information can be acquired by the acquisition unit 105 is a card, but it goes without saying that the article may be an article other than a card.

The addition of various information to the card may be realized by attaching a one-dimensional code or a multi-dimensional code obtained by converting information to the card by printing or the like, or may be realized by other means such as a tag for Near Field Communication (NFC) or an IC chip included in the card, which records the information. In view of reducing the cost involved in the introduction of the acquisition unit 105, it is preferable to add information to the game element cards and the player cards in the same manner, but it should be readily understood that the manner of adding information is not limited thereto.

The game element DB 106 is a database that manages information (game element information) about each game element that is present in the game. As shown in fig. 7 (a), the game element information managed for one game element includes, for example, parameter information 702 in association with a game element ID (identification information) 701 that uniquely identifies the game element, and the parameter information 702 describes the name, attribute, parameter, effect developed by using the game element, and the like of the game element. The parameter information 702 is information to be referred to in a game using game elements, and participates in progress control of the game.

The provision control unit 107 controls the provision of a plurality of types of game elements to the player when the game device 100 is used. In the game device 100 of the present embodiment, in addition to the game elements of the physical objects such as the game element cards described above, the player is provided with the game elements of the non-physical objects that can be used in the game as the first game element according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the description is given assuming that the supply control unit 107 controls both the supply of the real object and the supply of the non-real object, but the control bodies of the respective supplies may be different.

In the game device 100 of the present embodiment, the game element cards as the physical objects are provided with the first supply unit 121 and the second supply unit 122 so that a plurality of types can be supplied. These two kinds of supply units store game element cards of different types, and the supply control unit 107 controls the supply of the stored cards, the details of which will be described later. The supply control unit 107 controls the supply unit for supplying the game element cards to send out the game element cards stored in the supply unit. The fed game element card is held by the holding portion 143 so as to be removable by the player.

The first providing unit 121 can provide a normal card among the game element cards, and the second providing unit 122 can provide a special card among the game element cards, which is the second game element according to the present invention. That is, the game device 100 is configured to store a set of game element cards that can be bundled and separated for each category, and to perform operations of replenishing the first supply unit 121 with a bundle of ordinary cards and replenishing the second supply unit 122 with a bundle of special cards.

Here, the normal cards that can be provided by the first providing unit 121 and the special cards that can be provided by the second providing unit 122 are classified into different categories according to the value (hereinafter, the use value) when the cards are used in a game. The use value may be determined based on, for example, the degree of benefit for the progress of the game (the use value is higher as the use value is more beneficial) when the card is used. In this case, the ordinary cards are classified into the category of low use value because the corresponding game elements are low in the degree of being advantageous for the progress of the game, and the special cards are classified into the category of high use value because the corresponding game elements are high in the degree of being advantageous for the progress of the game.

In the present embodiment, the game device 100 is described as being configured to be able to provide two types of game element cards, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it should be understood that the present invention can also be applied to a mode in which three or more types of game element cards can be provided.

The presentation control unit 108 is responsible for control of presenting various information to the player via the presentation unit 130 in the game device 100. In the present embodiment, the presentation unit 130 for realizing information presentation is a display device capable of presenting visual information, such as a liquid crystal display, for example, which displays images (game screens, menu screens, and the like). However, the method of information presentation is not limited to this, and substitution or addition may be made, as a matter of course. The presentation unit 130 may include, for example, a speaker or the like for presenting audible information.

In the embodiment where the presentation unit 130 is a display device, the presentation control unit 108 includes a rendering device such as a GPU, for example, and performs predetermined rendering processing for generating a screen to be displayed on the presentation unit 130. Specifically, the presentation control unit 108 performs drawing of a screen by executing necessary arithmetic processing on necessary drawing objects (graphic data) based on processing or commands performed by the control unit 101 during the startup period (service provision period, standby state period) of the game device 100. The generated screen is output to the presentation unit 130, displayed in a predetermined display area, and presented to the player.

The operation input unit 109 is a user interface of the game device 100, such as an operation member for determining input and various sensors. When detecting that an operation is input to the operation member, the operation input unit 109 outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the control unit 101. In the present embodiment, the operation input unit 109 includes, for example, a touch input detection sensor or the like that detects a touch input performed on the display screen of the presentation unit 130, that is, a contact of a part of a human body.

The communication unit 110 is a communication interface with an external device included in the game device 100. The communication unit 110 can be connected to an external device via a network 300 (wired or wireless) and can transmit and receive data, and the network 300 may be a communication network such as the internet or a cable connecting devices. The communication unit 110 converts information input as a transmission target into data of a predetermined format, for example, and transmits the data to an external device such as the server 200 via the network 300. Further, when receiving information from an external device via the network 300, for example, the communication unit 110 decodes the information and stores the decoded information in the memory 103.

In the present embodiment, the game device 100 transmits and receives information via the communication unit 110 at least when the player registers and when a service reflecting the progress of the player is provided.

Structure of server

Next, a functional configuration of the server 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of fig. 3. In the description of the functional configuration of the server 200, a configuration that realizes the same function as the configuration of the game device 100 is indicated by a prefix "server", and is strictly different from the configuration of the game device 100.

The server control unit 201 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each functional block included in the server 200. Specifically, the server control unit 201 reads an operation program related to each function block recorded in the server recording medium 202, for example, and controls the operation of each function block by developing and executing the operation program in the server memory 203.

The server recording medium 202 is a recording device capable of permanently holding data, such as a nonvolatile memory or an HDD. The server recording medium 202 records information such as parameters necessary for the operation of each function block, in addition to the operation program related to each function block included in the server 200. The server memory 203 is a storage device for temporarily storing data, such as a volatile memory. The server memory 203 is used not only as an expansion area for the operation program of each function block but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data and the like output during the operation of each function block.

The player DB 204 is a database for managing various information (player information) on users (players) with respect to a game that provides a game play experience in the game device 100 of the game system according to the present embodiment. The player information is referred to when the game device 100 provides a game play experience by acquiring information from a player card, and the player information can be sequentially changed according to the provided game play experience.

As shown in fig. 7 (b), the player information may include, for example, setting information 712, progress status information 713, history information 714, and possession information 715, in association with a player ID711 that uniquely identifies a player, the setting information 712 including player personality settings such as a display name, birth date, and avatar configuration of the player, the progress status information 713 indicating a progress status of the game of the player, the history information 714 indicating a play history of the player, a use history of the game device 100, and the like, and the possession information 715 indicating a non-physical game element owned by the player. The player information relating to a player may be information registered when the player first uses a player card to utilize the game apparatus 100. The information included in the setting information 712 may be input to the game device 100 at the time of the use.

The server communication unit 205 is a communication interface with an external device included in the server 200. The server communication unit 205 can be connected to an external device via a network 300 (wired or wireless) and can transmit and receive data, and the network 300 may be a communication network such as the internet or a cable connecting devices. The server communication unit 205 converts information input as a transmission target into data of a predetermined format, for example, and transmits the data to an external device such as the game device 100 via the network 300. Further, when receiving information from an external device via the network 300, for example, the server communication unit 207 decodes the information and stores the decoded information in the server memory 203.

Utilization registration of player

Next, an outline of use registration of a player in the game system of the present embodiment will be described. As described above, in the game device 100 of the present embodiment, when a player uses the game device 100 for the first time with a player card, new player information is registered in the player DB 204 based on a player ID acquired from the player card, and use registration is realized.

A arcade game machine such as the game device 100 is installed in a store or the like and is used by a plurality of players alternately. Therefore, from the viewpoint of fairness, it is required that the time during which the player is allowed to occupy the game device 100 every time the service is provided, that is, the time until the service provision is started from the detection of the cost payout, the provision of the experience of playing the game is completed, and the service provision is ended, is substantially the same among the players. On the other hand, the use registration by the player requires a predetermined operation input by the player to configure the setting information 712, such as the input of a display name and the selection of an avatar, and therefore requires a certain amount of time. It is not reasonable for the player to incorporate the time required for utilizing the registration as such into the time permitted to the player every time the service is provided. In particular, the player who performs the use registration is highly likely to be a person with little experience using the game device 100, and it may take time to use the registration because of unaccustomed operation. That is, for example, in the case where the usage registration is used for a large part of the time determined for one usage of the game device 100, the time during which the game playing experience can be provided to the player is limited, and as a result, the interest of the player is impaired, and the player may not be urged to use the game device 100 again.

Therefore, the game device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to accept an operation related to the use registration of the player without paying the detected cost as a necessary condition, so as to ensure fairness of the game play experience to be provided. That is, since the time required for the use registration does not take into account the use time of the game device 100, the player can perform the use registration with ease and thereafter receive fair service provision when using the game device 100.

The process related to the use registration may be, for example, a process started when a touch operation to the presentation unit 130 is detected. In this case, it is assumed that the presentation unit 130 displays an operation input for notifying the start condition of registration while the game device 100 is in the standby state. For example, the player may start the process related to the use registration by performing a touch operation on the presentation unit 130 with the player card placed on the placement unit 144.

At this time, when the control unit 101 determines that the information (player ID) acquired by the acquisition unit 105 is correct, that is, when the card placed on the placement unit 144 is a player card that can be used in the game device 100, the player ID is transmitted to the communication unit 110, and the player ID is transmitted to the server 200 together with the registration confirmation request. Here, the registration confirmation request is a request to inquire whether or not the player information associated with the player ID is stored in the player DB 204, that is, whether or not the player card for which the information acquisition has been performed has been transmitted by the registration.

The control unit 101 receives a response to the transmitted registration confirmation request, and accepts input of various information related to the setting information 712 when the usage registration has not been performed on the player card placed on the placement unit 144. When the input of the information is completed, the player can perform the use registration. In the present embodiment, the use registration of the player is performed only when the game device 100 is actually used in this state, and a part of the game elements described later is provided. Therefore, when the control unit 101 further detects the payout of the cost related to the use of the game device 100 in the state where the input of the information is completed, the use registration is completed by transmitting the player ID and the input information to the communication unit 110 and transmitting the player ID and the input information to the server 200 together with the registration request. Upon receiving the registration request, the server control unit 201 registers new player information in the player DB 204 and returns the player information to the game device 100. Based on the player information, the game device 100 can start providing the service in a state in which the player information in the initial state is reflected. In addition, this ensures that the player who first performs the use registration can occupy the game device 100 fairly after excluding the time for inputting the information relating to the use registration.

In the game device 100 according to the present embodiment, in order to make the processing common after the detection of the payout of the cost, whether or not the player card is used is performed by using the game device 100 through the same procedure as the above-described use registration. That is, when using the player card usage game device 100, the player can start using the game device 100 in a state reflecting the progress status at the time of the previous usage by paying out the cost after placing the own player card on the placement unit 144 and performing the touch operation on the presentation unit 130, as in the usage registration.

At this time, first, in response to the operation input unit 109 detecting a touch operation, the control unit 101 controls the acquisition unit 105 to a state in which information acquisition is possible, and acquires information from the player card. When the information acquisition from the player card is completed, the control unit 101 causes the communication unit 110 to transmit a registration confirmation request to the server 200, similarly to the case of using registration. When receiving a registration confirmation request for a player ID for which player information has been registered in the player DB 204, the server control unit 201 acquires and returns the player information from the player DB 204. Upon receiving the player information, the game device 100 is in a state in which it is possible to provide a service in a state in which the player information including the progress status at the time of the last use is reflected. After the acquisition unit 105 is set in a state in which information can be acquired from the player card, the payout detection unit 104 is controlled to be in a state in which a payout of a cost can be detected. Then, the control section 101 may execute processing related to the corresponding service provision based on the presence or absence of use of the player card determined when the cost payment is detected.

In addition, in the present embodiment, for easy understanding of the invention, the description is made on the case where information is acquired from the player card before the cost payout is detected, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be acquired at another timing after the service provision is started.

Summary of provision of game elements

Next, an outline of the provision of a plurality of types of game elements performed when the service of the game device 100 of the present embodiment is provided will be described.

The first of the game elements provided is a generic card. The normal card is a physical game element provided for paying out a cost related to the use of the game device 100 regardless of the use of the player card. That is, a player who pays a cost to start using the game apparatus 100 is surely given an opportunity to obtain a normal card.

The second game element among the provided game elements is a coupon as the first game element according to the present invention. The exchange ticket is a game element that is not a solid object provided only when the game device 100 is used with a player card, that is, when the state of a player using the game device 100 is recognized. The exchange ticket provided to the player can be owned, is not limited to being used only once for using the game device 100, and can be accumulated and owned by repeated providing. The possession of the exchange ticket is realized, for example, by: during the service provision period, the possession information 715 of the player information held in the game device 100 is updated, and after the service provision is completed, the player information is transmitted to the server 200 and reflected in the corresponding player information in the player DB 204.

The issuance of the exchange ticket can be performed, for example, in accordance with at least one of the provision of an experience of playing a game, the detection of a payout related to the use of the game apparatus 100, and the detection of a payout at an additional payout timing provided in the use period of the game apparatus 100. That is, the awarding conditions of the swap tickets, which have the side of providing more added value to the swap tickets for players who pay more costs for service utilization, are all associated with the detection of cost payout.

The third game element among the provided game elements is a special card as the second game element according to the present invention. The special card is a game element of a physical object that can be provided by consuming the exchange ticket. Therefore, the special card is a game element provided only when the game device 100 is used with a player card, as with the exchange ticket.

Here, in order to provide the special card, it is necessary to provide a predetermined number of exchange tickets, such as 10 exchange tickets, which consume 2 or more cards. More specifically, the second providing unit 122 is controlled by the providing control unit 107 on the condition that the operation input relating to the consumption instruction of the predetermined number of sheets by the player is detected. By providing the special card with the requirement for consuming a plurality of exchanged tickets in this manner, the special card can be provided with a rarity value that cannot be obtained by using the game device 100 once, and the interest related to the collection of the game element cards can be increased. In addition, with such a configuration, it is possible to induce a player who wants a special card to use the game apparatus 100 more, or to pay additional costs more, and as a result, profitability of the game apparatus 100 can be increased.

Further, the special card is provided at a different timing from the ordinary card, and the special card is not accepted during the provision of the game playing experience in order to avoid forgetting to take away and erroneous operation because of the consumption of the ticket for exchange owned by the player. That is, when the game play experience is being provided, the control unit 101 controls the operation input related to the consumption instruction of the exchangeable ticket not to be performed. Such as controlling to enable the provision of special cards before and after the provision of the game playing experience, or when the game playing experience is temporarily stopped.

In a commercial game machine, in order to maintain the interest of a player, an operation of regularly (every season) replacing the array of game element cards that can be provided is performed. Therefore, the lineup of the special cards is also changed every season, but the fairness among the players cannot be ensured in such a manner that the special cards can be provided by consuming the exchange tickets accumulated in the past seasons. On the other hand, invalidating the swap tickets accumulated in the past season may also be a factor of reducing the interest of the player.

Therefore, the game device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to provide different game elements according to the consumption time of the exchangeable ticket. More specifically, the game machine is configured to be able to provide the special card only when the coupon is consumed in the season in which the coupon is provided, and to be able to provide the game elements other than the special card when the coupon is consumed in the season subsequent to the season in which the coupon is provided. That is, in the case where the next season following the season in which the ticket is provided is entered, the swap ticket is used for provision of different game elements.

Here, the different game elements are not limited to those that significantly impair the fairness among the players, and in the present embodiment, are empirical values that advance the progress of the game of the players. Therefore, the fourth game element among the provided game elements is an experience value as the third game element according to the present invention. The experience value is a game element of a non-physical object that is accumulated even when the game device 100 is used in general. The provision of the experience value is realized by updating the progress situation information 713 of the player information. In more detail, the provision of the empirical value is achieved by: the provision control unit 107 of the game device 100 updates the progress status information 713 of the player information held during the service provision period, and after the service provision is completed, the player information is transmitted to the server 200 and reflected in the corresponding player information in the player DB 204.

When providing the experience value, the exchange ticket is not limited to be consumed in units of a predetermined number of sheets. That is, when the exchange ticket is consumed in a season following the season in which the exchange ticket is provided, an empirical value corresponding to the number of sheets of the ticket that is consumed is provided. Here, the usage of the coupon is limited to the usage only for providing the experience value after the end of the season in which the coupon is provided, and therefore, in the present embodiment, the coupon is consumed without using the operation input related to the coupon consumption/experience value provision as a requirement, and the experience value is provided.

Further, since the game elements provided by the consumption exchange ticket change, for example, when the exchange ticket is provided or when the operation input relating to the consumption instruction can be accepted, a notification that the experience value is provided without providing the special card when the owned exchange ticket is consumed in the current season is presented via the presentation unit 130.

Providing treatment

Next, a specific process will be described with reference to a flowchart of fig. 4 with respect to a providing process including such provision of game elements, which is executed in connection with service provision in the game device 100 of the present embodiment. The processing corresponding to this flowchart can be realized by the control unit 101 reading a corresponding processing program stored in the recording medium 102, for example, and expanding and executing the processing program in the memory 103. Note that the present providing process will be described, for example, when a payout of a cost related to the start of use of the game apparatus 100 is detected. The following describes the providing process executed in a state in which information is acquired from the player card, that is, in a state in which the game device 100 holds player information (hereinafter, referred to as target player information) managed by a player using a service in the player DB 204.

In the present embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, it is assumed that service provision by the game device 100 is performed in the order of a portion that accepts provision of a special card after provision of a normal card and a portion that provides an experience of playing a game.

In S401, the control unit 101 consumes the swaps of the past season among the swaps owned by the players using the service (hereinafter, the target player) and executes the experience value providing process for providing the experience value to the provision control unit 107.

Empirical value providing process

Here, the empirical value providing process executed in this step will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of fig. 5.

In S501, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the swap ticket owned by the target player includes a swap ticket in the past season. The determination in this step is performed based on whether or not the possession information 715 of the target player information held in the memory 103 includes information for providing a ticket for a past season at the date and time. The control unit 101 shifts the process to S502 when determining that the swap ticket owned by the target player includes the swap ticket of the past season, and completes the experience value providing process when determining that the swap ticket of the past season is not included.

In S502, the control unit 101 executes consumption processing of the ticket exchange in the past season. More specifically, the control unit 101 deletes the information of the swap ticket in the past season from the possession information 715 of the target player information, thereby consuming the swap ticket.

In S503, the provision control unit 107 performs a process of providing an empirical value corresponding to the number of exchanged tickets consumed in S502 under the control of the control unit 101. The experience value is provided by changing the progress status information 713 of the target player information to a value reflecting the experience value.

In S504, the presentation control unit 108, under the control of the control unit 101, causes the presentation unit 130 to present a notification indicating that the exchanged tickets of the past season have been consumed and that the experience value has been provided, and completes the experience value providing process.

As described above, in the game device 100 according to the present embodiment, the exchange ticket that cannot be used for providing the special card can be consumed and the experience value can be provided without the operation input of the player.

Next, in S402 of the providing process, the providing control unit 107 causes the first providing unit 121 to provide a normal card as the provision of the game element card related to the present use of the game device 100 under the control of the control unit 101.

In S403, the control unit 101 shifts the service to a portion for accepting the provision of the special card, and determines whether or not an operation input concerning the provision of the special card is accepted. The control unit 101 shifts the process to S404 when determining that the operation input related to the provision of the special card is accepted, and shifts the process to S405 when determining that the operation input related to the provision of the special card is not accepted.

In S404, the control section 101 executes special card supply processing relating to supply of a special card.

Special card supply processing

Here, the specific card providing process executed in this step will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of fig. 6.

In S601, the control unit 101 acquires the number of commuter tickets currently owned by the target player. Specifically, the control unit 101 acquires the number of swaps by referring to the possession information 715 of the target player information. Since the swaps of the past season are all consumed in the execution of the above-described experience value providing process, the swaps to be counted in this step are those provided in the season during the current service provision.

In S602, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the number of swap tickets currently owned by the target player is equal to or greater than a predetermined number determined as the number to be consumed when the special card is provided. The control unit 101 shifts the process to S603 when determining that the number of swaps currently owned by the target player is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, and shifts the process to S606 when determining that the number of swaps currently owned by the target player is less than the predetermined number.

In S603, the control unit 101 executes consumption processing of the exchange ticket. More specifically, the control unit 101 deletes a predetermined number of pieces of information of the swap ticket from the possession information 715 of the target player information, thereby consuming the swap ticket.

In S604, the supply control unit 107 causes the second supply unit 122 to supply a special card for the predetermined number of the exchange tickets consumed in S603 under the control of the control unit 101.

In S605, the presentation control unit 108, under the control of the control unit 101, causes the presentation unit 130 to present a notification indicating that the predetermined number of the exchange tickets have been consumed and the special card has been provided, and completes the special card providing process.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S602 that the number of exchanged tickets currently owned by the target player is less than the predetermined number, in S606, the presentation control unit 108 causes the presentation unit 130 to present a notification indicating that the special card cannot be provided due to the shortage of exchanged tickets, under the control of the control unit 101, and completes the present special card providing process. Here, the notification may include a display showing the number of exchange tickets currently owned by the target player and the number of exchange tickets required to provide a special card.

Next, in S405 of the providing process, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the end condition of the portion for accepting the provision of the special card is satisfied. The judgment in this step may be made based on the elapse of a limit time predetermined for the part or the detection of an operation input concerning an indication of an intention that is not required to be provided. The control unit 101 shifts the process to S406 if determining that the end condition of the portion for accepting the supply of the special card is satisfied, and returns the process to S403 if determining that the end condition is not satisfied.

In S406, the control unit 101 shifts to a section for providing a game play experience, and executes various processes related to the provision of the game play experience. The processing includes registration processing of a game element to be used, game processing, and processing of ending a performance, which are performed based on information acquired from a game element card to be used in a game. When the provision of the game play experience is finished, the control section 101 shifts the process to S407.

In S407, the providing control unit 107 provides the target player with the ticket corresponding to the current usage content under the control of the control unit 101. More specifically, the providing control unit 107 provides the number of swaps corresponding to the usage content of the game device 100 used by the target player this time, and in response to this, the control unit 101 changes the number of possession of the swaps indicated by the possession information 715 of the held target player information to a value obtained by adding the number of provided swaps, thereby achieving the providing. In the present embodiment, the description is given assuming that the chance of providing a gift certificate generated during the current use of the game device 100 is temporarily held and provided at once in this step, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing related to the provision of the gift certificate may be executed every time the chance of providing a gift certificate is generated.

In S408, the control unit 101 changes the held target player information based on the result of the game play, and transmits the target player information together with the update request to the server 200 via the communication unit 110, thereby completing the present providing process. This realizes updating of the player information managed for the target player in the player DB 204 to a state in which the result of the current use of the game device 100 is reflected. The change of the target player information includes, for example, changing the experience value in the progress status information 713 to a value corresponding to the result of the game play and registering information used this time in the history information 714.

As described above, according to the game device of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a preferable game element.

In the present embodiment, the description has been made on the case where the target player has a predetermined number or more of the exchange tickets, but for example, in a configuration in which it is possible to determine whether or not the special cards are accommodated in the second supply unit 122, it is also possible to control to accept the operation input regarding the consumption of the exchange tickets on the condition that the special cards are accommodated.

In the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that new player information is registered in the player DB 204 when a cost payout is detected after various information is input, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the temporary player information may be constructed only locally in the game device 100 before registration is performed at a timing such as S408 of the providing process after the end of the experience of providing the game based on the detection of the payout of the cost.

[ modification 1]

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the mode in which the special card is provided when a predetermined number of the exchange tickets are consumed, but the practice of the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, if a method is assumed in which the manufacturing cost of the special card is higher than that of the ordinary card, it is not preferable to provide the special card for free from the viewpoint of profitability. Therefore, when an operation input related to the consumption of a predetermined number of the exchange tickets is detected, the special card may be provided on the condition that an additional payment is further detected. In this case, when additional payment of the cost is not performed, for example, processing may be performed such as consuming no exchange ticket and providing nothing, providing a normal card instead of a special card, or providing an experience value corresponding to a predetermined number.

On the other hand, providing an empirical value according to the consumption of the exchange ticket has no or little influence on profitability. Therefore, when the coupon is consumed after the season in which the coupon is provided is over, the experience value can be provided without paying an additional cost as a necessary condition.

[ modification 2]

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the explanation was made on the assumption that the swap tickets are all consumed for the provision of the experience value after the end of the season in which the swap tickets are provided, but there is a possibility that the player may not be able to travel to the shop or the like in which the game apparatus 100 is installed for a long time, and it is not reasonable to use all of the swap tickets for the provision of the experience value after the end of the season. In the present modification, a mode will be described in which the provision control unit 107 can provide a ticket (special ticket) as a fourth game element according to the present invention that is not consumed even after the end of the provided season. Here, it is assumed that the provided special exchange ticket is managed in the possession information 715 of the player so as to be distinguishable from the ordinary exchange ticket.

The special voucher may be provided with a predetermined probability when providing a voucher, for example, or may have a value equivalent to that of a normal voucher except that the expiration date is not defined. For example, 1 special coupon can be treated as 1 coupon when consumed. Therefore, when presenting the number of the swap ticket owned by the player, the information on the number of the general swap ticket and the special swap ticket may be acquired from the owned information 715 and the total value thereof may be presented. At this time, when an operation input related to the consumption of a predetermined number of the swap tickets is performed, the swap tickets to be consumed are preferentially selected from the normal swap tickets. That is, the control unit 101 is configured to include the special voucher in the consumption target when the number of vouchers is less than the predetermined number after the voucher having the predetermined consumption period is prioritized as the consumption target.

By configuring the game elements that can be provided in this way, it is easy to continue the state in which the player possesses the game elements that are not solid objects, and it is easy to induce the player who wants to consume the game elements to use the game apparatus 100.

[ embodiment 2]

In addition, from the viewpoint of increasing profitability, it is important how to induce the player who first utilized to continuously utilize the game device 100. In other words, in order to increase the number of users of the game device 100, it is necessary to make the player know the advantage of using the game device 100 after the usage registration is performed, and to induce the player to use the first usage using the player card and thereafter.

Therefore, in the game device 100 of the present embodiment, when the game device 100 is used for the first time with the player card, the exchange ticket capable of providing the number of special cards when the game device 100 is used next time is provided. That is, the exchange ticket is provided on the condition that the player information on the player card acquired when the game device 100 is used this time is not registered at the time point when the payout of the cost is detected. More specifically, in S407 of the providing process, the providing control unit 107 provides a predetermined number of the tickets required for providing the special card, regardless of the current usage content. In this case, the presentation control unit 108 may cause the presentation unit 130 to present a notification that the special card can be provided next time the game device 100 is used, under the control of the control unit 101.

With such a configuration, the next use of the game device 100 by the player is easily induced, and a special card advantageous for the progress of the game is provided when the game device 100 is used next time, so that the player can be expected to continue using the game device 100 thereafter. In order to make this effect more prominent, a predetermined number of the exchange tickets provided when the player card is used for the first time with the game device 100 may be forcibly consumed by the player when the player uses the game device 100 for the next time (for the second time) to provide special cards. In this case, for example, the exchange ticket provided at the time of the first use may be determined in advance in the player possession information 715, or the special card providing process may be executed if the ticket is owned or not before S403 of the providing process. Alternatively, for example, the special card providing process may be executed when it is determined that the game device 100 is used for the second time by referring to the history information 714 of the player information.

The next use of the game device 100 is not a continuous use in which the use time of the game device 100 is extended as in the so-called continuation (continue) function, but is a reuse (not continuous use with the present use of the game device 100) after the player finishes using the game device 100 once. By providing such a provision, it is easier to urge the player to reuse the game apparatus 100 instead of using the game apparatus 100 for a while.

In addition, from the viewpoint of increasing the chance of profit of the store in which the game device 100 is installed, the consumption of a predetermined number of the exchangeable tickets provided when the game device 100 is first used may be accepted on the condition that the game device 100 is used next and later and on a date different from the date on which the exchangeable tickets are provided. With this configuration, the player can be encouraged to come again to the shop in which the game device 100 is installed (or the player can be encouraged to go to another shop in which the game device 100 is installed), and the player can be accustomed to the behavior of using the game device 100 continuously while increasing the chance of profit for the shop.

In the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the swap sheet capable of providing the number of special cards is provided after the providing process of using the player card for the first time in S406 of the game apparatus 100 is executed, that is, on the condition that the game playing experience is completed, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and the provision may be made on the condition that the game wins, for example. In order to allow the player to play the game more actively, the player may be configured to notify the provision conditions of these exchange tickets, for example, before S406 is executed.

[ other embodiments ]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

100: a game device; 101: a control unit; 102: a recording medium; 103: a memory; 104: a payment detection section; 105: an acquisition unit; 106: a game element DB;107: providing a control part; 108: a presentation control section; 109: an operation input unit; 110: a communication unit; 121: a first supply unit; 122: a second supply unit; 130: a presentation section; 141: a throwing port; 142: a take-out port; 143: a holding section; 144: a placement part; 200: a server; 201: a server control unit; 202: a server recording medium; 203: a server memory; 204: a player DB;205: a server communication unit; 300: a network.

Claims (16)

1. A game device is provided with:

a providing unit that provides a first game element, a second game element, and a third game element; and

a control unit that controls an action of the providing unit,

wherein the control unit performs the following control:

causing the providing unit to provide the second game element or the third game element on condition that the provided first game element is consumed;

the game device may be configured such that the providing unit is caused to provide one of the second game element and the third game element, depending on a consumption timing of the first game element.

2. The game device of claim 1,

the control unit performs the following control:

causing the providing unit to provide the second game element in accordance with the first game element provided at a first period being consumed at the first period;

causing the providing unit to provide the third game element in accordance with the first game element provided in the first period being consumed in a second period subsequent to the first period.

3. The game device of claim 2,

the control unit performs the following control: and causing a presentation unit to present, when the first period has elapsed, a notification that the third game element is provided on condition that the first game element provided in the first period is consumed, instead of providing the second game element.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

a detection unit for detecting the payment of the cost is also provided,

the control unit performs the following control: the providing unit is also caused to provide the second game element on condition that the detection unit detects the cost payout.

5. The game device of claim 4,

the control unit performs the following control: causing the providing unit to provide the third game element without being conditioned on the detection of the cost payout by the detecting unit.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,

the control unit performs the following control: causing the providing unit to provide the first game element in response to at least either one of a game play experience being provided in the game device and a cost payout being detected by the detecting unit.

7. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6,

further comprises an input unit for receiving operation input related to the provision of game elements,

the control unit performs the following control:

causing the providing unit to provide the second game element on a condition that an operation input related to the provision of the second game element is a necessary condition;

causing the providing unit to provide the third game element without requiring an operation input related to the provision of the third game element.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 7,

further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires the number of the first game elements provided to a user of the game device,

the control unit performs the following control:

causing the providing unit to provide the second game element on condition that a predetermined number of the first game elements are consumed;

when an operation input related to the provision of the second game element is accepted in a state where the number of the first game elements provided to the user is smaller than the predetermined number, a presentation unit presents the number of the first game elements provided to the user.

9. The game device of claim 8,

the providing unit is further capable of providing a fourth game element,

the control unit performs the following control: the provision unit is caused to provide the second game element regardless of the time of the consumption on condition that the provided fourth game element is consumed.

10. The game device of claim 9,

the acquisition unit further acquires the number of the fourth game elements that have been provided to the user,

the control unit performs the following control: when an operation input relating to the provision of the second game element is accepted, the provision means causes the provision means to provide the second game element by consuming the provided first game element in preference to the provided fourth game element.

11. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10,

the second game element is a different kind of game element from the first game element,

the third game element is a game element of the same kind as the first game element.

12. The game device of claim 11,

the first game element and the third game element are non-physical objects,

the second game element is a solid object.

13. The game device of claim 12,

the supply unit includes a housing portion that houses the second game element,

the operation input related to the consumption of the first game element can be accepted on condition that the second game element is accommodated in the accommodating portion.

14. The game apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

the third game element is a game element that facilitates the progress of a game in which a game play experience is provided by the game device.

15. A program for causing a computer to execute:

a providing process of providing a first game element, a second game element, and a third game element; and

a control process of controlling execution of the providing process,

wherein, in the control processing, the following control is performed:

conditional on consuming the provided first game element, causing the second game element or the third game element to be provided in the providing process;

which of the second game element and the third game element is provided in the providing process differs depending on a consumption period of the first game element.

16. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program according to claim 15.

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