JP2013111399A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system effectively imparting motivation to play a game in a game machine to a user.SOLUTION: In the game system, the user lends an item to a user of a companion through a personal terminal device. The game system controls the acquisition of the benefit such that the game system shares at least a part of a benefit to the user of a lender in a state that the acquisition is reserved when the user of a borrower has played the game to have acquired the benefit, and that the user of the lender acquires the benefit by releasing the reservation of the benefit when the user has played the game in the game machine.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system and a game system capable of providing various services from a server device to a user's personal terminal device via a network.

  A game system is known in which a commercial game machine and a user's personal terminal device can be connected to a server device, and information related to the game of the game machine is provided as a Web content to the user's terminal device ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-175004 A

  Although the system of Patent Literature 1 is expected to increase motivation for playing on a game machine by providing game information to a user who is away from the game machine, the effect obtained by browsing the game information is limited. Is. Then, an object of this invention is to provide the game system which can provide the motivation which plays a game with a game machine effectively with respect to a user.

  The present invention relates to a game machine that allows a user to play a game in exchange for payment of a play fee by the user, a specific terminal device that exists in the same place as the game machine, and a user's personal terminal device And in a game system in which a game device, a specific terminal device, and a server device that provides a predetermined service to the personal terminal device are connected via a network, the personal terminal device A privilege generation means for generating a right to acquire a privilege associated with the game for a user who has accessed the server device, and a privilege generation that generates a privilege based on the right while the acquisition by the user is reserved And a predetermined acquisition condition when the user performs the predetermined operation on the specific terminal device after occurrence of the privilege Accordingly, as the user is retained by releasing the benefits acquiring the benefits, in which and a privilege acquisition control means for controlling the acquisition of the benefits.

  According to the game system of the present invention, when the user accesses the server device from the personal terminal device, a right to acquire a privilege associated with the game is generated for the user, and the privilege based on the right is predetermined. Occurs with reservation. However, in order to cancel the reservation and acquire the privilege, it is necessary for the user to go to the place where the game machine is installed and operate the specific terminal device. Therefore, as one of the purposes for acquiring the privilege, the user can be attracted to the place where the game machine is installed, and thereby the user can be motivated to play the game on the game machine.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the game system further includes an extinction control unit that extinguishes the right generated by the right generation unit or the privilege reserved for acquisition as a predetermined expiration date passes. Also good. According to this, the rights generated based on the rights themselves or the rights disappear with the expiration of the expiration date. When an expiration date is set for a right, it is necessary for the user to access the server device again from the personal terminal device after the right expires, and the server device is accessed via the personal terminal device. Motivation can be given to the user. In addition, when an expiration date is specifically set, it is necessary to operate the specific terminal device to acquire a privilege before the expiration date, so that the user's motivation to go to the place where the game machine is installed can be further enhanced. it can.

  Further, the information processing device may further comprise information notifying means for notifying the user of information necessary for causing the user to know the status of occurrence of the right or the status of reservation with respect to the acquisition of the privilege via the personal terminal device. Good. Accordingly, the user is prompted to access the server device via the personal terminal device, or is urged to go to the place where the game machine is installed to obtain a privilege, thereby achieving the effects of the present invention. It can be further increased.

  The right generation means generates a right for the user to acquire a privilege associated with play of the game by another person, and the privilege generation means generates the privilege in association with play of the game by the other person. It is good also as what makes it. Thereby, the user can acquire the privilege generated due to the play of the game by another person by visiting the place where the game machine is installed later and operating the specific terminal device.

  The right generation means generates a right to the user to acquire the privilege by lending the game element acquired by the user in the game of the game machine to another user, and the privilege generation means When a game is rented by borrowing a user's game element, the privilege may be generated in association with the play of the other person. According to this, the user can acquire the privilege generated according to the play situation of the other person's game by lending out the game element acquired by the user to another person.

  Further, the server device can provide a community service that forms a place of exchange between users via the personal terminal device, and the right generation means can provide the community between the user and the other person. The right may be generated on the condition that a friendship relationship on the service is set. According to this, the relationship which cooperates acquisition of a privilege can be constructed | assembled between the users who formed the relationship of the friend through the community service which a server apparatus provides.

  In the present invention, the right generation means generates an opportunity to acquire the privilege as a right by a lottery based on a predetermined probability, and the privilege generation means generates the privilege by executing the lottery. Good. According to this, when a user assigns a privilege by lottery, in order to acquire the privilege, the user needs to go to the place where the game machine is installed and operate the specific terminal device. Thereby, the motivation which plays a game with a game machine can be provided to a user.

  Further, the right generation means may generate the right according to a predetermined time limit. According to this, since the time restriction is set for the right generation, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the right is excessively generated.

  When the upper limit number is set to the number of benefits reserved for acquisition by the privilege generation means and a privilege exceeding the upper limit number is generated, the privilege generation means Acquisition of benefits that have occurred may be reserved. According to this, since a past benefit disappears when a privilege exceeding the upper limit number occurs, the user needs to operate the specific terminal device at the place where the game machine is installed to acquire the privilege before reaching the upper limit number. is there. Therefore, the user's motivation to go to the place where the game machine is installed can be further enhanced. Further, an expansion means for increasing the upper limit number in exchange for payment of a predetermined fee by the user may be provided. According to this, a user who goes to the place where the game machine is installed is low, and the upper limit is increased for a fee in order to prevent the disappearance of the privilege. Motivation to go to the game machine installation location can be given to users who want to avoid such a state, while the benefit disappears for users who cannot go to the game machine installation location Prevention means can be provided.

  Further, the game machine is also used as the specific terminal device, and the privilege acquisition control means is configured such that when the user plays the game of the game machine, the reservation is canceled and the user acquires the privilege. The acquisition of the privilege may be controlled. According to this, the motivation which plays a game with respect to a user can be provided further reliably.

  In the present invention, the term “personal terminal device” is a terminal device that is assigned or loaned to a user mainly on the premise of personal use, regardless of whether the transfer or loan is paid or free of charge. The name is not limited as long as it can be connected to the server apparatus via the network. For example, various personal information communication terminal devices such as personal computers, home game machines, and mobile phones (including so-called smartphones) can be used as personal terminal devices in the present invention.

  In addition, as represented by a commercial game machine, a “game machine” is sufficient if it allows the user to play a game in exchange for payment of a play fee by the user. “Commercial game consoles” are installed at specified facilities on the premise that the business operator will receive the transfer or loan of all or part of the hardware and software and let them use them for a fee. Means a game console. The “facility” means a place equipped with a facility for operating a commercial game machine, regardless of whether the facility itself is commercial, public, or private. Whether or not the specific terminal device exists at the “same location” as the location of the game machine is determined from the viewpoint of whether or not the specific terminal device exists within a range where the purpose of attracting the user to the game machine can be achieved. can do. For example, if a specific terminal device exists in an area managed by a business operator who installs and operates a game machine, it can be regarded as being in the same place. It is sufficient that the “privilege” is associated with the game, and it does not matter whether it is provided to the user as digital data or to the user as physical content.

  As described above, according to the game system of the present invention, when the user accesses the server device from the personal terminal device, a right to acquire a privilege associated with the game is generated for the user. A privilege based on the right occurs with a specified reservation. However, in order to cancel the reservation and acquire the privilege, it is necessary for the user to go to the place where the game machine is installed and operate the specific terminal device. Therefore, as one of the purposes for acquiring the privilege, the user can be attracted to the place where the game machine is installed, and thereby the user can be motivated to play the game on the game machine.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the game system which concerns on one form of this invention. The functional block diagram in the principal part of the game system which concerns on a 1st form. The figure for demonstrating the concept of the borrowing and borrowing of the item in a 1st form. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 3A. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 3B. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 3C. The figure which shows an example of a structure of play data. The figure which shows an example of a structure of community data. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a user terminal and a center server performs in order to set rental of an item. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs in order to set borrowing of an item. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs in order to distribute the privilege which the borrower user acquired to the borrower user. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs in order to eliminate the loan relationship of an item. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs in order to make a user of a lender acquire a privilege. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a user terminal and a center server performs in order to display the information relevant to the borrowing of an item in a user terminal. The functional block diagram in the principal part of the game system which concerns on a 2nd form. The figure which shows an example of the probability data contained in vendor data. The figure which shows an example of the prize data contained in vendor data. The figure for demonstrating the concept of acquisition of the prize in a 2nd form. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 15A. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 15B. The conceptual diagram following FIG. 15C. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a user terminal and a center server performs in order to make a user participate in a lottery event. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a user terminal and a center server performs in order to expand the accommodation number of prizes in a user's holder.

(First form)
Hereinafter, the game system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the lender's user lends the item he owns to the borrower's other user, and the lender's user obtains at least a part of the benefits acquired by the borrower's user playing the game during the lending Is an example obtained by operating a game machine. First, the overall configuration of the game system will be described with reference to FIG. The game system 1 includes a plurality of game machines 2 and a center server 3. Each game machine 2 is installed in a facility such as a store 4 and is configured as a commercial (business) game machine that allows a user to play a game within a range corresponding to the play fee in exchange for payment of the play fee. Yes. An appropriate number of game machines 2 are installed in each store 4. In FIG. 1, the game machine 2 is drawn without distinction, but the content of the game executed on the game machine 2 may be appropriately selected. The game may be different between the game machines 2. The game machine 2 may be configured as a dedicated machine having a physical configuration (for example, an operation unit) suitable for a specific game, or a general-purpose machine capable of playing various games by rewriting software. It may be configured as. The center server 3 is configured as a single logical server device by combining a plurality of server units 3A, 3B. However, the center server 3 may be configured by a single server unit. Alternatively, the center server 3 may be logically configured using cloud computing.

  The game machine 2 and the center server 3 are connected via a network 5 so that they can communicate with each other. The network 5 accommodates a WAN (wide area network) 5A, a LAN (local area network) 5B that is constructed for each store 4 and accommodates these game machines 2, and server units 3A, 3B,. LAN 5C for connecting these server units 3A and 3B to each other. As an example of the WAN 5A, the Internet that implements network communication using the TCP / IP protocol is used. The LANs 5B and 5C are also constructed by an intranet using the TCP / IP protocol. The LANs 5B and 5C are connected to the WAN 5A via the router 6. In addition, a local server may be installed between the game machine 2 and the router 6 of the store 4, and the game machine 2 may be connected to the center server 3 via the local server. The server units 3A, 3B... Of the center server 3 may be connected to each other by the WAN 5A instead of or in addition to the LAN 5C.

  A management PC (abbreviation of personal computer, the same shall apply hereinafter) 7 may be connected to the LAN 5B of the store 4 as well. The management PC 7 is provided for the purpose of an operator (sometimes called an operator) of the store 4 managing the game machine 2 or transmitting / receiving various information by accessing the center server 3. In the game system 1, the user terminal 8 can access the center server 3 via the network 5. The user terminal 8 may be appropriately used as long as it is a computer device that functions as a personal terminal device capable of network connection, such as a PC 8a or a mobile phone (including a smartphone) 8b. In the present specification, the user is a person who can be a player of the game machine 2. When the user operates the game machine 2, the user may be particularly referred to as a player. In addition, an operator that operates the center server 3 and provides various services directed to the game machine 2 or the user terminal 8 may be referred to as a service operator. The operator is a business operator who operates the game machine 2 in the store 4 and is conceptually classified as a service business operator.

  The game machine 2 and the center server 3 are assigned unique IP addresses for identifying them on the network 5. In communication between the game machines 2 or between the game machine 2 and the center server 3, a communication partner is specified using the IP address. When the WAN 5A is a public network such as the Internet, a unique fixed address on the WAN 5A is set in each router 6. In the game machine 2, a private address for uniquely identifying the game machine 2 on the network 5 is set as an IP address in combination with the fixed address. In this case, a virtual private network (VPN) is constructed between the game machine 2 and the center server 3 or between the game machines 2, and each game machine 2 is uniquely identified using a private address on the VPN. Is done. The same applies to the management PC 7. The user terminal 8 is also given a unique IP address for uniquely identifying the user terminal 8 on the network 5. The IP address may be a so-called dynamic address that changes every time it is connected to the network 5 or may be a fixed address that does not change. Hereinafter, information for identifying the game machine 2, the center server 3, the management PC 7, and the user terminal 8 on the network 5 is referred to as address information. In communication via the network 5, it is assumed that a communication partner is specified based on the address information unless otherwise specified. In the game system 1, apart from the address information described above, a unique store ID is set for each store 4 for each store 4, and a unique housing ID for each game device 2 for each game device 2. Is set. The center server 3 can uniquely identify the store 4 to which the communication partner game machine 2 belongs and the game machine 2 by receiving the store ID and the case ID from the communication partner game machine 2.

  The center server 3 provides various services via the network 5 to the game machine 2, users (players), and operators. For example, the center server 3 provides various game services to the game machine 2 or its players. As the game service, for example, a service that receives player identification information from the game machine 2 and authenticates the player, receives and stores the play data of the player from the game machine 2, or provides the game machine 2, a network 5 There is a service for updating a program or data of the game machine 2 via the network, a service for matching users when a plurality of users play a common game via the network 5, and the like. The center server 3 also provides various Web services to the user terminal 8 that is accessed via the network 5. Examples of the web service include a service such as a game information service that provides various kinds of information regarding the game to the user through the website, and a community service that provides an exchange place such as information transmission, exchange, and sharing by the user. Further, the center server 3 provides a user with a vendor service that draws and sells prizes that can be used in a game on the game machine 2 as a kind of Web service.

  The center server 3 is also provided with a billing service function that charges the user as a fee for providing a paid service and collects the fee from the user. In order to realize the charging service, a virtual currency account for each user is provided on the center server 3. When a user pays a charge fee using a settlement means such as cash or a credit card, an amount of virtual currency corresponding to the charge fee is charged to the user's account. On the other hand, when a user uses a paid service, an amount of virtual currency corresponding to the usage fee is consumed from the user's account.

  In the game system 1, various hardware and software are prepared as components necessary for allowing the user to use various services. At least some of those components are transferred or loaned from the service provider to the operator. As an example, the game machine 2 is transferred from a service provider to an operator for a fee. On the other hand, so-called content such as a game program or data to be executed on the game machine 2 is lent (provided) to the operator from the service provider.

  The operator collects a play fee as a consideration when the user plays the game. On the other hand, the service provider uses the play fee paid by the user as the consideration for lending the content, in other words, the fee according to the monetary value consumed when the user plays the game as the consideration for lending the content. To charge. In other words, the game system 1 employs a mechanism in which the play fee consumed by the player in the game machine 2 is used as revenue, and the revenue is distributed between the operator of the store 4 where the game machine 2 is installed and the service provider. ing. In order to realize such a mechanism, the game machine 2 is provided with a function for providing the center server 3 with timely information necessary for specifying the actual consumption of the play fee for each content. In addition, the center server 3 identifies the consumption amount of the play fee for each store 4 based on the information provided from the game machine 2, and the service provider informs the operator of a predetermined rate for the obtained consumption amount. A function for calculating the usage fee to be charged is implemented. By providing such a function, the play fee collected from the player can be distributed between the service provider and the operator.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the structure of the principal part of the control system regarding the game machine 2, the center server 3, and the user terminal 8 of the game system 1 is demonstrated. First, the center server 3 will be described. The center server 3 is provided with a control unit 20 and a storage device 21. The control unit 20 includes a microprocessor, a ROM in which a program such as an operating system to be executed by the microprocessor is recorded, and an internal storage device (not shown) such as a RAM that provides a work area for the microprocessor. A computer unit provided. Although an input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a monitor are connected to the control unit 20, they are not shown. The storage device 21 stores a server program to be executed by the control unit 20 and various data to be referred to by the program. Data recorded in the storage device 21 will be described later.

  Inside the control unit 20, a game service management unit 22, a Web service management unit 23, and an account management unit 24 are provided. Each of the units 22 to 24 is a logical device that is realized by a combination of computer hardware of the control unit 20 and predetermined software. The game service management unit 22 executes processing related to the game service described above, and the Web service management unit 23 executes processing related to the Web service described above. In accordance with a request from the game service management unit 22 or the Web service management unit 23, the account management unit 24 executes a process of consuming an amount of virtual currency corresponding to the service usage fee from the user's account. Further, the account management unit 24 executes a process of charging virtual currency to the user's account in accordance with a request from the Web service management unit 23. In addition to the above, the center server 3 is also equipped with a function for calculating a usage fee to be charged to the operator by the service provider based on the consumption record sent from the game machine 2. Omitted.

  Next, the game machine 2 is provided with a control unit 10 and a storage device 11. The control unit 10 is configured as 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 11 is a storage device capable of storing data, such as a hard disk storage device. The storage device 11 stores a game machine program to be executed by the control unit 10 and various data to be referred to by the program. As an example, when the game is executed, play data 41 associated with the player is provided from the center server 3 to the game machine 2 and recorded in the storage device 11. The play data 41 will be described later.

  In addition to the above, the control unit 10 is provided with various input / output devices such as an input operation device, a display device, a sound reproduction device, a card reader, and a coin authentication device, as in known game machines, but these are not shown. did. The card reader is provided for reading information on the card 9 possessed by the player and outputting a signal corresponding to the information to the control unit 10. The card 9 is provided with a non-volatile storage medium (not shown) such as an IC chip or a magnetic stripe, and the medium has a unique ID for each card 9 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a card ID). It is recorded. The card ID is used to call play data 41 stored on the center server 3. The center server 3 identifies a user (player) using a unique user ID for each user, and the play data 41 is also recorded in a one-to-one correspondence with the user ID. The card ID is associated with the user ID one-to-one or many-to-one. By referring to the ID management data 40, the center server 3 can determine the correspondence between the card ID and the user ID and specify the user ID of the player. That is, in this embodiment, both the card ID and the user ID function as user identification information. The card ID may be recorded on the card 9 in the form of a barcode or the like. Alternatively, instead of the card 9, the card ID may be recorded on a storage medium such as an IC chip mounted on a mobile phone or the like.

  A game service processing unit 12 is provided inside the control unit 10. The game service processing unit 12 is a logical device realized by a combination of computer hardware of the control unit 10 and predetermined software. The game service processing unit 12 executes various processes related to game play such as management of game start, progress, and end in the game machine 2 and collection of play fees. A part of the game service is realized by the cooperation of the game service processing unit 112 and the game service management unit 22 of the center server 3.

  As a method for causing the player to consume a monetary value equivalent to a play fee, a method using coins and a method using the charging service function of the center server 3 described above can be selected. In the former method, when the player inserts coins lent to the player for a fee into the game machine 2, “credit” having a value corresponding to the number of inserted coins is counted as a monetary value held by the player. As an example, one credit is recorded when one 100-yen coin is inserted. When the player instructs the game machine 2 to consume 1 credit, it is determined that a monetary value equivalent to 100 yen has been consumed in the game machine 2, and game play is permitted within a range corresponding to the amount consumed. The That is, when a play fee is paid through a coin, the consumption of monetary value is counted in units of one credit. On the other hand, in the latter method, that is, when the virtual currency is consumed, the consumption amount of the monetary value by the player is counted in a unit smaller than “credit”. Assuming that the unit for counting the amount (or amount) of virtual currency is “points”, for example, one point is set equivalent to one yen. In that case, when a play fee of 100 yen is required, 100 points of virtual currency is consumed. One point does not necessarily correspond to one yen, but one point (that is, a virtual currency consumption unit) is set to correspond to a monetary value that is one digit or more smaller than one credit.

  Further, the user terminal 8 is also provided with a control unit 30 as a computer unit. The control unit 30 is provided with a Web service processing unit 31 as a logical device realized by a combination of computer hardware and predetermined software. The Web service processing unit 31 performs processing necessary for causing the user to use the Web service in cooperation with the Web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. For example, the web service processing unit 31 operates the user terminal 8 as a terminal device for allowing the user to use the community service in cooperation with the web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. The community service function may be realized by using software installed in each of the Web server and the user terminal in order to realize a known communication service such as SNS. In the community service, it is possible to set a friendship relationship between users by a predetermined procedure. “Buddy” is a term used as a concept indicating that a predetermined connection exists between users.

  Next, the concept of lending and borrowing items in the game system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3D. In the following description, in two games, a player organizes a party and leads the party to play against another player, or a game of a type that challenges a challenge presented by the game machine 2 is executed. And A party means a combination of a plurality of items that can be used in a game. Items can be used by the player in the game, such as a character that appears in the game, or a tool, equipment, weapon, or a ticket that can be exchanged for a character or tool, etc. Any game element that gives The impact of items on the game varies from item to item. For example, if the item is a card, the party is a deck that is a combination of multiple cards, and the game is configured so that the player can properly draw cards from the deck to advance the battle, use of each card Has a different effect on each card. In addition, when a character is prepared as an item, the character may be a character set as a user's alternation, or the user can acquire it as his own property and use it appropriately in the game It may be a simple character. A user who becomes an item lender is called user A, and a user who becomes an item borrower is called user B. The user B is in a state of going to the store 4 and playing a game on the game machine 2.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the user A can set up lending for at least a part of the item 100 owned by the user A. The lending setting is performed from the user terminal 8. User B who has a friendship relationship with user A, that is, user B who has a friendship relationship with user A in the community service provided by center server 3, borrows item 100 that has been lent and set by user A and adds it to his party B Can do. The organization of the party B and the participation of the item 100 in the party B are performed when the user B starts the game on the game machine 2. When the item 100 lent by the user A is borrowed by the user B and added to the party B, a loan relationship is established between the users A and B. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the user B plays a game and gives a predetermined result, a privilege 101 is given to the user B. In FIG. 3B, the item 100 is included in the privilege 101. The privilege 101 acquired by the user B is distributed to the user A who is the lender of the item 100 according to a predetermined condition. In the example of FIG. 3B, one of the items 100 acquired by the user B is distributed. However, in the distribution stage, the item 100 of the privilege 101 is accommodated in a holder prepared in association with the user A without being added to the item owned by the user A.

  Regarding the item 100 accommodated in the holder, the user A cannot use it in the game as it is. As shown in FIG. 3C, the item 100 lent by the user A leaves the party B of the user B when a predetermined time has elapsed. That is, an expiration date is set for the loan relationship of the item 100, and the balance relationship disappears after the expiration date. In order for the user A to lend the item 100 again, the user A needs to access the center server 3 from the user terminal 8. However, the time mentioned here may be real time or game time. Further, the time may be expressed by parameters equivalent to physical strength, efficacy, and other times that change in proportion to the time. Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, in order for the user A to acquire the item 100 housed in the holder as his own item, the user A needs to play a game on the game machine 2. That is, when the user A plays a game on the game machine 2, an opportunity to acquire the item 100 in the holder is given, and when the user A requests acquisition, the item in the holder is added to the owned item of the user A. Thereafter, the user A can use the newly acquired item 100 in the game. The privilege 101 is not limited to the item 100. An added value of a parameter such as an experience value given to the user according to the achievement state of the game may be given as a privilege. Even in that case, in order for the lender's user A to acquire the added value given as the privilege 101, it is necessary to play the game on the game machine 2.

  Next, details of data recorded in the storage device 21 of the center server 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, ID management data 40, a group of play data 41, a group of community data 42, and a group of account data 43 are recorded in the storage device 21 of the center server 3. The ID management data ID 40 is data describing the correspondence between various IDs used in the game system 1. For example, the correspondence relationship between the card ID and the user ID described above is recorded in the ID management data 40. In the community service provided by the center server 3, a community ID different from the user ID is set. The correspondence relationship between the community ID and the user ID is also recorded in the ID management data 40. The account data 43 is data in which the user ID and the amount (balance) of virtual currency held by the user are recorded in association with each other.

  The play data 41 is created for each user ID and for each type of game, and a set of them is a group of play data 41. When a player plays a game on any of the game machines 2, the card ID that the player has recognized by the game machine 2 is provided to the center server 3, and a play corresponding to the user ID associated with the card ID. Play data 41 corresponding to the game type of the game machine 2 is provided from the center server 3 to the game machine 2 and stored in the storage device 11 of the game machine 2. An example of the play data 41 is shown in FIG. In the play data 41 of FIG. 4, a player's play log, status, party information, holder information, and the like are recorded in association with the user ID.

  The play log is information in which the user's past play contents such as the user's past play count and competition results are recorded. The status is information that records the situation of the user on the game. For example, information indicating a rank indicating a skill or strength index acquired by the user repeatedly playing the game, an experience value acquired by the user in the past play, an item owned by the user, or the like is recorded as the status. . The item information includes a group of information for determining the lending status of the item together with a unique item code for each item. In the information group, lending setting information for determining whether or not the item is set to be lent, information on the remaining time until the expiration date when the item is lent, and whether or not the item is borrowed Borrowing setting information, information for identifying the borrower when the item is borrowed (the borrower's user ID), and the like. The party information is information for determining the configuration of the party organized by the user. In the illustrated example, a state in which an item owned by the user and an item borrowed from a fellow user by the user are included in the party is shown. When the borrowed item is included in the party, the party information includes the item code of the borrowed item, information identifying the lender (the user ID of the lender), and the remaining time for the borrowing expiration date of the item Contains information. However, information regarding the borrowed item is written when the play data 41 is recorded in the storage device 11 of the game machine 2. When the play data 41 is stored in the storage device 21 of the center server 3, the borrowed item information is deleted. The information of the holder is information for specifying the content of the privilege distributed to the user when the user lents the item as described above.

  The community data 42 shown in FIG. 2 is data in which various types of information to be referred to when the user uses the community service, and is created for each community ID. A set of these data is a group of community data 42. An example of the community data 42 is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, in the community data 42, comment data that records a comment that the user has sent to or received from the fellow, and a fellow ID that identifies the fellow in which the user participates correspond to the community ID of the user. To be recorded. The fellow ID is a community ID of another user for whom the user has set a fellow relation. An appropriate upper limit is set for the number of friends. The procedure for setting friendships is similar to that of general community services. The center server 3 is accessed from the user terminal 8 to send an invitation as a friend to other users, and the consent of the sending partner is obtained. In such a case, a process of recording the other party's community ID in the friend ID of each user may be performed, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the setting of the friend relationship is not limited to online processing via the network 5, but may be applied offline, and the operator of the center server 3 may describe the application content in the community data 42 at an appropriate time.

  Each of the data described above is merely an example of data recorded in the storage devices 11 and 21. In addition to the illustrated data, the storage devices 11 and 21 record various data necessary for processing such as game execution, collection of play fees, and distribution of revenue between the operator and the service provider. Those explanations are omitted.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, various processes executed in connection with the lending and borrowing of items will be described. FIG. 6 shows processing executed by the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order to allow the lender's user to set item lending. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 6 is specifically the Web service processing unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the Web service management unit 23 of the control unit 20. Further, prior to the following processing, the lender's user accesses the center server 3 via the user terminal 8 and transmits the user ID and password, thereby completing the Web login process in which the center server 3 authenticates the user. It shall be. Further, on the center server 3, a group of play data 41 corresponding to a plurality of types of games is managed, but the following processing is executed for the same type of game. The type of game to be executed by the game machine 2 may be managed by the center server 3 in association with information specifying the game, for example, with the store ID or the housing ID. Regarding access from the user terminal 8, the user selects the game type on the user terminal 8, or specifies the game type to be processed by changing the URL to be accessed by the user according to the game type. That's fine.

  First, when the user of the lender instructs the user terminal 8 to lend items, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 starts the lending setting process of FIG. In the lending setting process, the control unit 30 first requests the center server 3 to transmit an item list (step S11). In response to this, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 also starts the lending setting process of FIG. 6, and creates a list of items owned by the user of the lender (step S31). In this process, the play data 41 of the lender's user is extracted based on the user ID acquired by the web login process, and a list of all items recorded in the status of the play data 41 may be created. Subsequently, the control unit 20 provides the created item list to the user terminal 8 (step S32). The control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 acquires an item list from the center server 3 (step S12), and selects items to be lent out from items included in the list (step S13). Subsequently, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the user has selected an item to be lent (step S14). If there is a selection, the control unit 30 instructs the center server 3 to set the selected item for rent. A request is made (step S15). On the other hand, if the selection by the user is not performed in step S14, the control unit 30 notifies the center server 3 of cancellation of the lending setting (step S16).

  The control unit 20 of the center server 3 waits for a response from the user terminal 8 after providing the item list, and if a lending setting is requested from the user terminal 8 in step S15 or a cancellation is notified in step S16, it responds to it. Then, it is determined whether or not the lending setting is requested (step S33). When the lending setting is requested, the control unit 20 updates the user play data 41 so that lending is set for the item selected as the lending target in accordance with the request from the user terminal 8 (step S34). . For example, a flag indicating that the lending setting is set may be set in the owned item information of the play data 41. Subsequently, the control unit 20 notifies the user terminal 8 that the lending setting process has been completed (step S35), and then ends the lending setting process of FIG. When cancellation is notified from the user terminal 8, the control unit 20 determines in step S33 that there is no lending setting, skips the processes in steps S34 and S35, and ends the lending setting process.

  The control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 waits for a setting completion notification from the center server 3 after requesting the lending setting, and when notified, obtains it (step S17) and notifies the user of the setting completion. (Step S18). Thereafter, the control unit 30 finishes the lending setting process of FIG. Note that if the control unit 30 notifies the cancellation in step S16, the control unit 30 skips steps S15, S17, and 18 and ends the lending setting process. Through the above process, the items owned by the user are lent out according to the user's instruction via the user terminal 8.

  FIG. 7 shows processing executed by the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 when the borrower user forms a party on the game machine 2. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 7 is specifically the game service processing unit 12 of the control unit 10 and the game service management unit 22 of the control unit 20. Prior to the following processing, the game machine 2 reads the card ID of the card 9 owned by the borrower's user and transmits it to the center server 3, and the center server 3 determines the user ID corresponding to the card ID. It is assumed that the game machine login process for providing the game machine 2 with the play data 41 corresponding to the user ID is completed. In the login process, the fellow user ID recorded in the community data 42 corresponding to the user ID is also provided to the game machine 2 and recorded in the storage device 11.

  First, in the game machine 2, when a user who should be a borrower requests party organization, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 starts the party organization process of FIG. 7 and requests the center server 3 to provide lending information. (Step S51). At this time, the game machine 2 provides the center server 3 with the user ID of the user who requests the lending information and the user ID of the friend associated with the user ID. Upon receiving the lending information request, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 starts the lease setting process of FIG. 7, refers to the user ID of the friend sent from the game machine 2, and determines the friend of the user of the game machine 2. It discriminate | determines and searches the play data 41 of the friend (step S72). Subsequently, the control unit 20 refers to the extracted play data 41 of the fellow, and specifies the item that the fellow user has set to lend and the lender of the item (for example, the user ID of the lender and A list of names, nicknames, etc. registered in association with the user ID is created as lending information and provided to the game machine 2 (step S73).

  When the lending information is provided from the center server 3, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 acquires the lending information (step S52), and presents the selection candidates of items to be added to the party while referring to the lending information. (Step S53). At this time, if party information has already been recorded in the storage device 11, the party is presented, items that are owned by the user of the game machine 2 and not included in the party, and lending information The included lending item may be presented to the user, and the user may be operated to add, change, or modify the party organization. Alternatively, all items owned by the user and items that have been set to lend may be displayed, and the user may be allowed to select items to be added to the party from among those items. In any case, it is desirable to present the rented item to the user so that the item can be distinguished from the item owned by the user.

  Subsequently, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 determines all items that should form a party based on an instruction from the user, and information for identifying these items is stored in the play data 41 of the storage device 11 as party information. Register (step S54). Thereafter, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the borrowed item is included in the party organized by the user (step S55). If included, the control unit 10 notifies the center server 3 of the borrowing (step S56). . In this case, the center server 3 notifies the borrowed item and information (the user ID of the lender) specifying the borrower of the item from the control unit 10. On the other hand, when the borrowed item is not included in the party organized by the user, the control unit 10 notifies the center server 3 of the cancellation of the borrowing (step S57). After the notification in step S56 or S57, the control unit 10 finishes the party organization process in FIG.

  The control unit 20 of the center server 3 waits for a response from the game machine 2 after providing the lending information in step S73, and when receiving the notification in step S56 or S57, determines whether or not the item has been borrowed (step). S74). When there is a borrowing, the control unit 20 specifies the play data 41 of the lender, records that the borrowing setting is made for the borrowed item, and records the borrower's user ID (step S75). Thereafter, the control unit 20 ends the loan setting process of FIG. If it is determined in step S74 that there is no borrowing, the control unit 20 skips step S75 and ends the lending process. Through the above processing, when an item set to be lent by the lender's user is added to the borrower's user's party, a lending relationship is established, and corresponding information is recorded in each play data 41 of the lender and the borrower ( FIG. 3A state).

  FIG. 8 shows processing performed by the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 when the user plays a game on the game machine 2 and acquires a privilege. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 8 is specifically the game service processing unit 12 of the control unit 10 and the game service management unit 22 of the control unit 20. When the player of the game machine 2 (corresponding to the borrower's user when there is an item borrowed) acquires a privilege, the control unit 10 of the two games machine starts the privilege management processing of FIG. It is determined whether or not the privilege is to be distributed (step S101). For example, when there is a loan relationship between items between users, and there are restrictions on the types of privileges that can be distributed, information for determining whether distribution is possible according to the types of privileges May be set in advance according to the type of privilege, and it may be determined based on the information whether the privilege is to be distributed. However, when all the benefits acquired by the borrower user are distributed to the lender user, the process of step S101 is omitted.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the item is to be distributed, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the borrowed items are included in the parties of the two game players (step S102). The determination may be made with reference to the party information held in the play data 41 of the storage device 11. If the borrowed item exists, the control unit 10 creates distribution information and provides it to the center server 3 (step S103). Distribution information is information which shows the contents of the privilege which should be distributed with respect to a borrower's user. For example, the distribution information is created so that the same privilege as that acquired by the borrower user is distributed to the borrower user. The distribution information may be created so that only a part of the benefits acquired by the borrower user is distributed to the borrower user. The distribution information includes information (user ID) that identifies the user of the lender. After providing the distribution information, the control unit 10 updates the play data 41 recorded in the storage device 11 of the game machine 2 so that the privilege acquired by the player of the own machine is reflected (step S104). For example, when the player acquires a specific item, the play data 41 is updated so that the item is added to the owned item. Thereafter, the control unit 10 notifies the update content of the play data 41 to the center server 3, and requests the update of the play data 41 so that the update content is also reflected in the play data 41 corresponding to the user ID of the player. (Step S105). After the update request, the control unit 10 finishes the privilege management process of FIG. When it is determined that the privilege acquired by the player is not a distribution target in step S101, the control unit 10 skips steps S102 and S103 and proceeds to step S104.

  On the other hand, when the distribution information is provided from the game machine 2, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 starts the privilege distribution process of FIG. Subsequently, the holder information is updated so that the contents of the distributed privilege are recorded in the holder information of the play data 41 corresponding to the user ID of the lender (step S122). Thereafter, the center server 3 finishes the privilege distribution process. Through this process, the holder information of the play data 41 of the lender user contains at least a part of the benefits acquired by the borrower user in the game (state shown in FIG. 3B). When the update of the play data 41 of the player is requested from the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 in step S105, the center server 3 executes the play data update process, and the play data 41 corresponding to the player of the game machine 2 is stored. Then, it is updated so that acquisition of a new privilege is reflected (step S123), and then the play data update process is finished.

  FIG. 9 shows that when there is an item balance relationship between users, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 are used to cancel the balance relationship as the expiration date of each item elapses. Shows the processing to be executed. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 9 is specifically the game service processing unit 12 of the control unit 10 and the game service management unit 22 of the control unit 20. First, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 executes the borrowing management process of FIG. 9 at a predetermined cycle during execution of the game (however, only when a loan relationship exists). When the borrowing management process is started, the control unit 10 first subtracts the remaining time of the borrowed item recorded in the play data 41 of the storage device 11 by a time corresponding to the execution period of the borrowing management process (step S141). The remaining time may be appropriately notified to the player of the game machine 2 by means such as being displayed on the screen of the game machine 2.

  Subsequently, the control unit 10 notifies the center server 3 of the remaining time after subtraction (step S142). The notification at this time includes the borrowed item and information for identifying the lender (the user ID of the lender). When the control unit 20 of the center server 3 receives the notification of the remaining time, it starts the lending management process of FIG. 9, first determines the user ID of the lender based on the notification from the game machine 2 (step S161), and then Regarding the item notified from the game machine 2, the remaining time information recorded in the play data 41 of the lender is updated with the remaining time notified from the game machine 2 (step S163).

  On the other hand, after the notification of the remaining time, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 determines whether or not the borrowed item is type-up, that is, whether or not the expiration date of the borrowed item has passed, based on the remaining time. A determination is made (step S143). If the remaining time is zero or less, the time is up. If it is not time-up, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the item borrowing should be terminated (step S144). For example, even when the remaining time is greater than zero, it is determined that the borrowing has ended when there is a circumstance in which the borrowing should be terminated, such as when the borrower's user has instructed the game to end. When it is determined that the borrowing is completed, the control unit 10 notifies the center server 3 of the borrowing end (step S145). This notification includes information (user ID) that identifies the item determined to be borrowed and its lender. Thereafter, the control unit 10 updates the party information in the play data 41 of the storage device 11 so that the borrowed item is deleted from the party of the player of the game machine 2 (step S146). If it is determined in step S143 that the type is up, the control unit 10 skips steps S144 and S145 and proceeds to step S146. After deleting the item from the party in step S146, the control unit 10 ends the borrow management process of FIG. When it is determined in step S144 that the borrowing is not finished, the control unit 10 skips steps S144 to S146 and finishes the borrowing management process.

  On the other hand, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 updates the information on the remaining time of the item in step S163, and then determines whether or not the item is type-up, that is, whether or not the remaining time after the update is zero or less. (Step S163). When the time is up, the control unit 20 updates the play data 41 of the lender so that the lending setting of the lent item is canceled (step S164). If it is not determined in step S163 that the time is up, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the game machine 2 has notified the end of borrowing (step S165). When the lending setting is canceled in step S164 or when it is determined that the borrowing is completed in step S165, the control unit 20 updates the lender's play data 41 so that the borrowing setting of the lent item is canceled. (Step S166). Thereafter, the control unit 20 finishes the lending management process of FIG. If it is not determined in step S165 that the borrowing has ended, the control unit 20 skips step S166 and ends the lending management process. With the above processing, when the player of the game machine 2 borrows an item from another user and joins the party, the remaining time of the borrowed item decreases according to the elapsed time on the game, and the expiration date of borrowing When the item expires, the item withdraws from the party, and the item cannot be rented to another person unless the lender's user makes a lending setting again from the user terminal 8 (state of FIG. 3C). If the borrowing is completed in a state where the remaining time is greater than zero, the lending setting is maintained in the play data 41 of the lender, and the value at the time of borrowing is stored for the remaining time. Therefore, a fellow user can borrow the remaining time for the item.

  FIG. 10 shows processing executed by the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order for the user to acquire the privilege distributed to the user of the lender. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 10 is specifically the game service processing unit 12 of the control unit 10 and the game service management unit 22 of the control unit 20. In addition, the following processing is performed in a state where the game machine login process is completed by the user of the renter visiting the store 4 and operating the game machine 2. As an example, when the game machine login process is completed, the process of FIG. 10 is subsequently performed.

  First, when the player of the game machine 2 (in this case, the user who was the lender) requests the game machine 2 to obtain a privilege distributed in accordance with the item lending, the control unit 10 performs the privilege acquisition process of FIG. First, the holder information of the play data 41 written in the storage device 11 by the game machine login process is acquired (step S181). Subsequently, the control unit 10 causes the player to select whether or not to acquire the privilege recorded in the holder information (step S182). When acquisition of a privilege is not selected, the control unit 10 finishes this privilege acquisition process. On the other hand, when acquisition of a privilege is selected in step S182, the control unit 10 causes the privilege recorded in the holder information to be reflected in the possessed item or experience value in the player status, and the holder information is deleted. The play data 41 in the storage device 11 is updated (step S183). Thereby, a player acquires the privilege of a holder and can use the privilege in subsequent games (state of FIG. 3D). Subsequently, the control unit 10 notifies the update content to the center server 3 so that the update content in step S183 is also reflected in the play data 41 held in the storage device 21 of the center server 3 (step S184). Thereafter, the control unit 10 stands by until the update completion is notified from the center server 3 (step S185).

  On the other hand, when the update of the play data 41 is notified from the game machine 2, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 starts the privilege registration process of FIG. Update is performed so that the update content notified from the machine 2 is reflected (step S191). Subsequently, the control unit 20 notifies the update completion to the game machine 2 (step S192), and after the notification, the privilege registration process is finished. When the update completion is notified from the center server 3, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 displays a state of acquiring a privilege to the player (step S 186), and then ends the privilege acquisition process.

  FIG. 11 shows a process executed by the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order to allow the lender's user to view information related to the borrowing of items on the user terminal 8. ing. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 11 is specifically the Web service processing unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the Web service management unit 23 of the control unit 20. Further, prior to the following processing, the lender's user accesses the center server 3 via the user terminal 8 and transmits the user ID and password, thereby completing the Web login process in which the center server 3 authenticates the user. It shall be.

  First, when the user of the lender instructs the user terminal 8 to browse information, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 starts the information browsing process of FIG. In the information browsing process, the control unit 30 first requests the center server 3 to browse information (step S201). In response to this, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 also starts the browsing information providing process of FIG. ). Subsequently, the control unit 20 acquires browsing information to be used for browsing by the user as information related to the borrowing of items from the extracted play data 41 (step S212). Information that should be acquired in this case includes holder information of the play data 41, items that are set to be lent out in the play data 41 and the remaining time, items that are set to be borrowed, and information that specifies the borrower. included. These pieces of information are all included in the status of the play data 41 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, the control unit 20 provides the browsing information acquired in step S212 to the game machine 2 (step S213). Thus, the control unit 20 finishes the browsing information provision process.

  The control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 acquires browsing information from the center server 3 (step S202), and displays the browsing information on the user terminal 8 (step S203). For example, the status of benefits that are accommodated in the holder and not yet acquired, items that the user has set to lend, the remaining time, items that are currently borrowed, and the borrower are displayed as browsing information to the lender's user. After the browsing information is displayed, the control unit 30 finishes the information browsing process of FIG. By displaying the browsing information to the user, the user of the lender can grasp the privilege distributed by lending the item. Therefore, the motivation to go to the store 4 and play the game of the game machine 2 can be given to the user for the purpose of acquiring the privilege. Also, since the item lending setting is automatically canceled when the expiration date has passed, the user accesses the center server 3 from the user terminal 8 in a timely manner for the purpose of checking whether or not the lending setting has been made. become. Alternatively, the user accesses the center server 3 from the user terminal 8 for the purpose of knowing what kind of privilege is distributed by lending. Thereby, the use frequency of the Web service can be improved, and the advantage that information desired to be provided to the user terminal 8 can be notified in a timely manner on the Web can be obtained.

  In the first mode, lending is set for the item of the lender user by the process of FIG. 6, and the item is borrowed to the party of the borrower user by the process of FIG. 7, thereby associating the lender user with the game. The right to obtain the privilege is generated. Therefore, each control unit 10, 20, and 30 functions as a right generation means of the present invention by executing the processing of FIGS. Further, by the privilege management process and the privilege distribution process of FIG. 8, at least a part of the privilege acquired by the borrower user is accommodated in the holder of the lender user, and a privilege based on the rights of the lender user is generated. Therefore, the control units 10 and 20 function as privilege generating means of the present invention by executing the privilege management process and the privilege distribution process of FIG. In this case, a condition for the borrower user to acquire a privilege that can be distributed to the borrower user in the game corresponds to the privilege generation condition. Furthermore, the game machine 2 is also used as a specific terminal device in the present invention, and the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 functions as a privilege acquisition control means of the present invention by executing the privilege acquisition process of FIG.

  Further, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 executes the processes of steps S141 to S143 and S146 of FIG. 10, and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 executes the processes of steps S161 to S164 of FIG. By extinguishing the loan relationship between the items, the control units 10 and 20 function as extinction control means of the present invention. Further, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 and the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 execute the processing of FIG. 11 to function as information notification means of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, when the expiration date is set for the privilege accommodated in the holder, and the user does not acquire the privilege by operating the game machine 2 before the expiration date, the privilege in the holder May disappear. An upper limit is set for the number of benefits that can be accommodated in the holder, and after reaching the upper limit, a new privilege may not be accommodated in the holder unless previously distributed benefits are deleted. Furthermore, a limit may be set on the number of benefits that can be accommodated in the holder, and the upper limit number may be increased when the user pays a predetermined fee. An upper limit on the number of items that can be lent may also be set. Fees may be collected for item lending settings and item borrowing settings.

(Second form)
Next, a game system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an example in which a user participates in a lottery event on a user terminal, and the user can acquire a prize (privilege) assigned at the lottery event by operating the game machine. Since the entire configuration of the game system is the same as that of FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is cited as it is, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the main part of the control system related to the game machine 2, the center server 3, and the user terminal 8 of the game system 1 according to the second embodiment. In the example of FIG. 12, a group of vendor data 44 is recorded on the storage device 21 of the center server 3 in order to execute a lottery event by the Web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. The other points are the same as in the example of FIG.

  The vendor data 44 is data for managing a prize lottery by the Web service management unit 23. Vendor data 44 is created for each type of game, and a set of them is a group of vendor data 44. The vendor data 44 includes probability data 44a illustrated in FIG. 13 and premium data 44b illustrated in FIG. The probability data 44a in FIG. 13 is a data table in which a prize prepared in association with a game and a probability that the prize should be drawn by lottery are associated and recorded. In the example of FIG. 13, probabilities Pa to Pn are set for the prizes A to N, respectively. A prize A to a prize N is a group of prizes prepared in association with one type of game. Hereinafter, a group of prizes corresponding to one type of game may be referred to as a prize set. The prize data 44b in FIG. 14 is data describing information (prize contents) for specifying a group of prizes. The contents of the prize are the same as the privilege in the first embodiment described above, and contents such as an item used in the game or an added value to a parameter such as an experience value are set in the prize. The prize contents may be differentiated in association with information such as rank described in the play data 41.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 15A to FIG. 15D, a concept from prize drawing in the game system 1 to actual item acquisition will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 15A, the user can access the center server 3 from the user terminal 8 and participate in a lottery event using a Web vendor realized by a Web service. There is a time limit for the participation, such as once per day. However, on the condition that the lottery fee is paid, the second and subsequent lottery participation may be permitted. When a user participates in a lottery event, a lottery is performed based on the vendor data described above. The prize allocated in the lottery (here, the prize is assumed to be the item 100) is accommodated in the user's holder. The holder is the same as the holder in the first embodiment. In other words, the information on the prize allocated in the lottery is once recorded in the holder information of the play data 41. A predetermined limit number (upper limit number) is set for the number of prizes that can be accommodated in the holder. As an example, the initial value of the limited number is set to three. Below, the range on the holder in which one prize is accommodated may be called an accommodation frame. The number of prizes may be counted according to an appropriate unit. For example, when one item 100 is allocated as a prize, the number of prizes may be counted in units of the number of items. Similarly, when an addition value of a parameter such as an experience value is allocated as a prize, it is possible to count one or two for each addition value. A prize awarded in one lottery may be counted as one.

  As for the item 100 accommodated in the holder, the user cannot use it in the game as it is. In order for the user to acquire the item 100 housed in the holder as his / her own item, the user needs to play a game on the game machine 2 as shown in FIG. 15B. That is, when the user plays a game on the game machine 2, an opportunity to acquire the item 100 in the holder is given, and when the user requests acquisition, the item in the holder is added to the user's owned item. Thereafter, the user can use the newly acquired item 100 in the game. When the user acquires the item 100 in the holder, the holder becomes empty. On the other hand, when the user further participates in the lottery while the item 100 is accommodated in the holder, the new item 100 allocated in the lottery is accommodated in the holder as long as the holder has an empty space. However, as shown in FIG. 15C, when the item 100 is accommodated in the holder up to the limited number, in order to accommodate the new item 100, the item 100 accommodated in the holder in the past lottery is deleted and thereby generated. It is necessary to store the new item 100 in the empty storage frame of the holder. The deleted item 100 does not become a user-owned item. Therefore, the user needs to pay attention to the availability of the holder, and play the game with the game machine 2 to acquire the item 100 in the holder before the holder becomes full.

  As shown in FIG. 15D, the user can avoid the deletion of the item 100 by increasing the number of holders by paying a predetermined purchase fee and increasing the number of holders. In the above example, the case where the item 100 is prepared as a prize (privilege) has been described. However, as already described, the prize is not limited to the item 100 and may be set as appropriate. In any case, if the prizes awarded in one lottery are counted in an appropriate unit and stored in the holder, the user can acquire the prizes in the holder on condition that the game machine 2 plays the game. Good.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18, various processes executed in order for the user to obtain a prize assigned by a lottery by a Web vendor will be described. FIG. 16 is executed by the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order to allow a user to participate in a lottery event by a Web vendor and to store a prize allocated in the lottery in the holder of the user. Shows the processing to be performed. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 16 is specifically the Web service processing unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the Web service management unit 23 of the control unit 20. Prior to the following processing, the user accesses the center server 3 via the user terminal 8 and transmits the user ID and password, whereby the web login processing in which the center server 3 authenticates the user is completed. Shall. Further, on the center server 3, a group of play data 41 corresponding to a plurality of types of games is managed, but the following processing is executed for the same type of game. The type of game to be executed by the game machine 2 may be managed by the center server 3 in association with information specifying the game, for example, with the store ID or the housing ID. Regarding access from the user terminal 8, the user selects the game type on the user terminal 8, or specifies the game type to be processed by changing the URL to be accessed by the user according to the game type. That's fine.

  First, when the user instructs to participate in the lottery on the user terminal 8, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 starts the prize lottery process of FIG. 16 and requests the center server 3 for the lottery (step S221). In response to the request, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 also starts the prize lottery process of FIG. 16, and acquires the user information (for example, user ID) of the user terminal 8 that has requested the lottery (step S241). Subsequently, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the user has a lottery right (step S242). If a limit of once a day is set for participation in the lottery, it is determined whether or not the user has already participated in the lottery by referring to the result of the lottery during the same day. It may be determined that there is no right to draw. In the case of accepting a lottery participation for the second and subsequent times on the same day for a fee, there is a right to try the process of consuming virtual currency equivalent to the lottery fee from the account data 43 corresponding to the user ID. You may judge.

  Subsequently, the control unit 20 notifies the user terminal 8 of the determination result regarding the presence / absence of the lottery right (step S243). Thereafter, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the determination result in step S242 indicates that the lottery right is granted (step S244). ). The lottery result is notified from the control unit 20 to the user terminal 8. Next, the control unit 20 extracts the play data 41 corresponding to the user ID of the user, and acquires the holder information included in the play data 41 (step S246). The acquired holder information is also provided to the user terminal 8. Subsequently, the control unit 20 determines whether or not there is a vacant holder based on the holder information acquired in step S246 (step S247). If there is no vacancy, the control unit 20 waits until a prize to be deleted is notified from the user terminal 8.

  On the other hand, after requesting the lottery in step S221, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 stands by until the center server 3 notifies the lottery right determination result, and whether or not the lottery right is determined according to the determination result. Is determined (step S222). When it is determined that there is a lottery right, the control unit 30 stands by until the lottery result is notified from the center server 3, and acquires the lottery result when notified (step S223). Thereafter, the control unit 30 displays on the screen of the user terminal 8 a state in which a lottery is executed and prizes are allocated. The display can be performed in such a manner that a moving image recorded in advance on the user terminal 8 is displayed and the selected prize is finally displayed. After starting the lottery display, the control unit 30 stands by until the holder information is notified from the center server 3, and acquires the holder information when notified (step S225). Subsequently, the control unit 30 determines whether or not there is a vacant holder based on the acquired holder information (step S226). If there is no space, the control unit 30 causes the user to select a prize (item or the like) to be deleted, and notifies the center server 3 of the selection result (step S227).

  When the center server 3 receives the selection result of the prize to be deleted from the game machine 2, the center server 3 determines the deletion target (step S248), deletes the determined prize from the holder information (step S249), and is newly allocated. The holder information is updated so that the free gift is accommodated in the holder (step S250). After the holder information is updated, the control unit 30 notifies the user terminal 8 that the processing result, for example, the accommodation of the prize winning in the current lottery is completed in the holder, and then the present prize lottery is performed. Finish the process. If it is determined in step S247 that the holder is empty, steps S248 and S249 are skipped, and a new prize is accommodated in the holder in step S250. If it is determined in step S244 that there is no lottery right, steps S245 to S251 are skipped and the prize lottery process ends.

  On the other hand, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 waits until the processing result is notified from the center server 3, and when this is notified, acquires the processing result (step S228), and then notifies the processing result to the user. (Step S229). When the notification is made, the control unit 30 ends the present prize lottery process. If it is determined in step S226 that the holder is empty, the control unit 30 skips step S227 and proceeds to step S228. If it is determined in step S222 that there is no lottery right, the control unit 30 displays to the user that the lottery is not permitted (step S230), and then ends the present prize lottery process. With the above processing, the state of FIG. 15A or FIG. 15C is realized.

  In order to acquire a prize such as an item accommodated in the holder, the user needs to go to the store 4 and perform a login process on the game machine 2. However, the processing necessary for the acquisition can be applied to the second form as it is by replacing “privilege” in FIG. 10 with “prize”. Therefore, description of the details of the acquisition process is omitted. Also in the second embodiment, the same processing as in FIG. 11 is performed between the user terminal 8 and the center server 3 in order to appropriately confirm the contents of the holder from the user terminal 8. However, in the second embodiment, since there is no item lending / relationship relationship, only the holder information included in the play data 41 is sufficient as the browsing information.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if the user operates the user terminal 8 and participates in the lottery, even if the prize is allocated, the prize is only accommodated in the holder, and the acquisition of the prize by the user is reserved. The In order for the user to actually acquire the prize and use it in the game, the user needs to go to the store 4 and operate the game machine 2. Therefore, the motivation to go to the store 4 and play the game of the game machine 2 can be given to the user as one of the purposes for acquiring the prize. In addition, if an expiration date is set for the acquisition of the prize stored in the holder, and the user does not acquire the prize by operating the game machine 2 by the expiration date, the prize may disappear from the holder. Good. According to this, the user's motivation regarding going to the store 4 can be further enhanced.

  FIG. 17 shows a process executed by the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order to enable expansion of the number of holder accommodation frames. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 17 is specifically the Web service processing unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the Web service management unit 23 of the control unit 20. Also, the processing of FIG. 17 is performed in a state where the Web login processing is completed.

  First, when the user instructs extension of the holder on the user terminal 8, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 starts the holder extension process of FIG. 17, and requests the center server 3 for holder extension (step S261). In response to the request, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 also starts the holder expansion process of FIG. 17, and determines the user of the user terminal 8 that requested the expansion based on the user ID (step S271). Subsequently, the control unit 20 uses the account management unit 24 to acquire the amount of virtual currency corresponding to the fee required for holder expansion (sometimes referred to as holder purchase fee) in step S271. Attempt to consume the account data 43 corresponding to the ID. The holder purchase fee is set to be smaller than the amount corresponding to one credit, which is a consumption unit when the user pays the play fee with the game machine 2 through coins. As an example, when a monetary value equivalent to 100 yen is consumed in one game, the holder purchase fee is set to a value corresponding to a monetary value of about 10 yen. However, the holder purchase fee is a unit fee required to increase the number of holder accommodation frames by one. The user may be allowed to specify the number of expansions of the storage frame in one holder expansion process. In this case, the holder purchase fee corresponding to the number of expansions specified by the user may be consumed in step S272.

  Next, the control unit 20 notifies the game machine 2 of the result of consumption processing of the holder purchase fee (step S273). This notification includes information identifying success or failure of consumption. In the next step S274, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 determines whether or not the holder purchase fee has been successfully consumed, and ends the holder expansion process if it has failed. On the other hand, if the holder purchase fee has been successfully consumed, the control unit 20 expands the number of holder accommodation frames (step S275), and notifies the user terminal 8 that the expansion has been completed (step S276). Thereafter, the control unit 20 finishes the holder expansion process of FIG.

  The control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 determines whether or not the holder purchase fee has been successfully consumed based on the consumption result of the holder purchase fee notified from the center server 3 (step S262). A holder extension completion notification notified from the center server 3 is acquired (step S263), and then the fact that the holder has been extended is displayed to the user (step S264). On the other hand, if the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 determines that the consumption has failed in step S262, the control unit 30 displays to the user that the expansion has failed (step S265). When the process of step S264 or S265 is completed, the control unit 30 ends the holder expansion process of FIG.

  Note that the holder storage frame expanded by the process of FIG. 17 may be usable indefinitely, or may be extinguished when a certain expiration date has passed. When an expiration date is set for the extended storage frame (expansion frame), the prize stored in the expansion frame is also deleted when the extension frame disappears with the expiration of the expiration date. If the expiration date is set in this way, the user must go to the store 4 and operate the game machine 2 before the expiration date expires to acquire a free gift for the extended frame. Thereby, the motivation to go to the store 4 and play the game can be given to the user.

  In the second mode, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 executes the process of step S221 in FIG. 16, and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 executes the processes of steps S241 to S244 in FIG. When the participation in the event is permitted, a right to acquire a prize as a privilege associated with the game is generated for the user. Thereby, the control units 30 and 20 function as the right generation means of the present invention. Further, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 executes the processing of steps S245 to S250 in FIG. 16 to accommodate the prizes assigned in the lottery in the user's holder. Benefits occur. Thereby, the control unit 20 functions as a privilege generating means of the present invention. In this case, the conditions such as the probability set for the lottery correspond to the privilege generation conditions. Furthermore, the game machine 2 is also used as a specific terminal device in the present invention, and the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 executes a process similar to the privilege acquisition process of FIG. That is, the privilege reserved for acquisition is recorded in the user status information or the like, thereby functioning as privilege acquisition control means of the present invention.

  Further, by setting an expiration date for the prize stored in the holder, and the user does not acquire the prize in the holder before the expiration date, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 causes the prize to disappear. The control unit 20 can function as the extinction control means of the present invention. Furthermore, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 and the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 execute the same processing as in FIG. 11, thereby functioning as the information notification unit of the present invention.

  This invention is not limited to each form mentioned above, It can implement with a various form. For example, the first form and the second form may be implemented in combination. In the first and second embodiments described above, the commercial game machine 2 is used as the game machine and the specific terminal device in the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. The game machine and the specific terminal device may be physically distinguished and installed in the same store. In this case, the specific terminal device may be connected to the server device via the network so that the user can acquire the privilege reserved for acquisition according to the user's operation. A specific terminal device is not restricted to the example installed as an exclusive terminal in facilities, such as the store 4 as an installation place of a game machine. A personal computer may be installed in the store 4 and the personal computer may function as a specific terminal device. Alternatively, only when a wireless access point is installed in the LAN 5B in the store 4 and the user terminal 8 brought into the store 4 by the user is connected to the router 6 of the store 4 via the wireless access point, the user The terminal 8 may function as a specific terminal device.

  In the present invention, it is sufficient that a privilege is associated with a game, and the present invention is not limited to an example that is given to a user in the form of digital data such as items and experience values. For example, a privilege to be given to the user as physical content may be prepared. As a privilege, a digital game such as image data or barcode data is output to a card or other physical medium in a manner that can be read by the game machine. The above digital data may be read by a game machine and used in a game. Furthermore, the benefits are not limited to those that can be used directly or indirectly in the game. For example, a character product or the like associated with a game is prepared as a privilege, and a user plays a game on a game machine, or in a predetermined terminal device (specific terminal device) existing in a facility as a place where the game machine is installed The user may be able to acquire the privilege as a necessary condition that the user has performed a predetermined acquisition operation.

  The fee for acquiring the upper limit value of the number of benefits that can be accommodated in the holder is not limited to the example of collecting in virtual currency. Any billing method suitable for payment from a credit card or other user terminal device can be used as appropriate. The place where the game machine is installed is not limited to a commercial facility. As long as the game console is configured to allow play in exchange for payment of the play fee, the location of the game console includes public facilities, personal facilities, and other various locations. Can be.

1 game system 2 game machine (specific terminal device)
3 Center server (server device)
4 stores 8 user terminals (personal terminal devices)
10 control unit of game machine 20 control unit of center server 30 control unit of user terminal 41 play data 42 community data 44 vendor data 100 item (privilege)

Claims (11)

A game machine that allows the user to play a game in exchange for payment of a play fee by the user, a specific terminal device that exists in the same location as the game machine, a personal terminal device of the user, and the game In a game system in which a server, a server device that provides a predetermined service to the specific terminal device and the personal terminal device is connected via a network,
A right generating means for generating a right to acquire a privilege associated with the game for a user who has accessed the server device via the personal terminal device;
A privilege generating means for generating a privilege based on the right in a state where acquisition by the user is reserved;
After generation of the privilege, when the user performs the predetermined operation on the specific terminal device, the reservation of the privilege is released according to a predetermined acquisition condition, and the user acquires the privilege. A privilege acquisition control means for controlling the acquisition of the privilege;
A game system with   The game system according to claim 1, further comprising an extinction control unit that extinguishes the right generated by the right generation unit or the privilege reserved for acquisition as a predetermined expiration date passes.   The information notification means which notifies the said user via the said personal terminal device the information required in order for the said user to grasp | ascertain the generation | occurrence | production status of the said right or the reservation status with respect to the acquisition of the privilege. Or the game system of 2. The right generation means generates a right for the user to acquire a privilege associated with playing the game by another person,
The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the privilege generating means generates the privilege in association with the play of the game by the other person. The right generation means generates the right for the user to acquire the privilege by lending the game element acquired by the user in the game of the game machine to another person,
The game system according to claim 4, wherein, when the other person borrows the user's game element and plays a game, the privilege generating means generates the privilege in association with the play of the other person. The server device can provide a community service that forms an exchange place between users via the personal terminal device,
The game system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the right generation means generates the right on the condition that a friendship relationship on the community service is set between the user and the other person. The right generation means generates an opportunity to acquire the privilege as a right by lottery based on a predetermined probability,
The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the privilege generating means generates the privilege by executing the lottery.   The game system according to claim 7, wherein the right generation means generates the right according to a predetermined time limit.   When an upper limit is set for the number of benefits reserved for acquisition by the privilege generating means, and a privilege exceeding the upper limit is generated, the privilege generating means The game system as described in any one of Claims 1-8 which reserves acquisition of the produced | generated privilege.   The game system according to claim 9, further comprising expansion means for increasing the upper limit number in exchange for payment of a predetermined fee by the user.   The game machine is also used as the specific terminal device, and the privilege acquisition control means allows the user to acquire the privilege by releasing the reservation when the user plays the game of the game device. The game system as described in any one of Claims 1-10 which controls acquisition of a privilege.

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