JP2021013483A - Game system, control method thereof and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game system optimized to output a physical medium associated with a game play from a medium output device on a network.SOLUTION: A game system in which a game apparatus 3 allowing a user to play a game and a medium output device 4 generating and outputting a physical medium Cm are connected to a prescribed network is configured to: generate medium information for producing the physical medium Cm associated with the game play by the user, based on the user's reservation operation onto the game apparatus 3; store the acquired medium information as reservation information corresponding to the user; and cause a medium output device 4 to acquire the reservation information corresponding to the user, based on the user's operation of the medium output device 4 and to produce the physical medium Cm based on the acquired reservation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a game system or the like capable of outputting a physical medium such as a card associated with a game to a user.

A game system is known that records and outputs information such as a game screen or an image corresponding to a game result on a physical medium such as a card associated with the game (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP-A-2015-226635 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-151147 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 205-058140

In all conventional game systems, a medium output device such as a printer is housed in the game device, and a physical medium reflecting the information obtained by playing the game of the game device is generated and output by the same game device. It's just that. Therefore, the equipment burden on the game device is large. In addition, since it takes a considerable amount of time to print the card, the time burden on the game device also increases. If a media output device is provided separately from the game device and the device is connected to the network in a network type system configuration, such a burden may be reduced. However, when such a network type is adopted, how to output the physical medium associated with the game play from the medium output device has not been studied.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system or the like suitable for outputting a physical medium associated with a game play from a medium output device on a network.

The game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a game system in which a game device that allows a user to play a game and a medium output device that generates and outputs a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. Based on the user's reservation operation for the device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information is reserved information corresponding to the user. The reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired based on the reservation means stored as, and the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device, and the medium output device is made to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information. It is provided with an output processing means.

The method for controlling a game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling a game system in which a game device for causing a user to play a game and a medium output device for generating and outputting a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. The medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated based on the reservation operation of the user with respect to the game device, and the obtained medium information is used as described above. Based on the reservation procedure for saving as the reservation information corresponding to the user and the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device, the reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired, and the physical medium based on the obtained reservation information is used. The output processing procedure generated by the medium output device is executed by the computer of the game system.

The computer program according to one aspect of the present invention is a computer of a game system in which a game device for causing a user to play a game and a medium output device for generating and outputting a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. Based on the user's reservation operation for the device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the game play by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information is used as the reservation information corresponding to the user. The reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired based on the reservation means stored as, and the user's operation on the medium output device, and the medium output device is made to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information. It is configured to function as an output processing means.

The figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the game system which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which shows the outline of the process performed for printing out a card by the card vendor of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the procedure which a card is printed by lottery printing. The figure which shows an example of the transfer or exchange of a virtual card using a virtual board. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of printing and using a card in profile printing. The figure which shows an example of a profile card. The figure which shows an example of the procedure which a card is printed by a memorial print. The figure which shows an example of the memorial card. The figure which shows the other example of the memorial card. The figure which shows still another example of a memorial card. The figure which shows an example of the structure of the control system of a server. The figure which shows an example of the structure of a game machine, a card vendor and a user terminal. The figure which shows an example of the structure of play data. The figure which shows an example of the structure of virtual board data. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure of print management processing executed by the print management unit of the server. The figure which shows an example of the content selection screen. The figure which shows an example of the content home screen. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of the lottery print processing which is executed mainly by the lottery print processing part of a server. The figure which shows an example of the screen for displaying the lottery result. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of the print card selection process which is executed mainly by the lottery print processing part of a server. The figure which shows an example of the screen for selecting a card to be printed. The figure which shows an example of the screen for selecting the exchange source card. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure of processing executed by a game machine and a server to reserve printing of a profile card. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure of processing executed by the profile print processing unit of the server to print a reserved profile card. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of the process executed by a game machine or a user terminal, and a server in order to set a friend relationship using a profile card. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure of processing executed by a game machine and a server to reserve printing of a memorial card. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the process executed by the memorial print processing part of a server to print a reserved memorial card. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of the process executed by the print management part of a server in order to process a reserved profile card or a memorial card according to an instruction from a user terminal.

(overall structure)
First, an example of the overall configuration of the game system according to one embodiment of the invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 may be referred to as a server 2 and a plurality of game machines 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D (hereinafter, referred to as a game machine 3) capable of functioning as a client of the server 2. ) And card vendor 4. Further, in the game system 1, the user terminal 5 can also be used as a client of the server 2. The server 2 may be configured as one physical server using a single computer device, or may be configured as a logical server in which a plurality of computer devices are combined.

The game machines 3A to 3D are examples of game devices that provide users with games of different types. Although four types of game machines 3A to 3D are shown in FIG. 1, the type of game machine 3 may be appropriate. The content of the game provided by each game machine 3 may be appropriate. For example, a music game, a dance game, a board game such as mahjong, and various other games may be provided by the game machine 3. The types of games may be distinguished from the appropriate point of view. For example, the type of game may be distinguished from the genre, title, version, and other appropriate viewpoints of the game. The game machine 3 is provided as a business-use game machine that allows a user to play a game in exchange for payment of a fee or provides a service related to the game to the user. The game machine 3 is installed in a store 6 as an example of a facility that operates a profitable business using the game machine 3. Although a single store 6 is shown in FIG. 1, there are actually a plurality of stores 6, and at least one game machine 3 is installed in each store 6.

The card vendor 4 is an example of a medium output device that prints a card associated with a game and outputs it to a user. At least one card vendor 4 is installed in each store 6. The user terminal 5 is an information communication device used for personal use by the user. For example, a smartphone may be used as the user terminal 5. An information communication device such as a mobile PC or a portable game machine may be used as the user terminal 5.

Information communication between the server 2, the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5 is possible via the network 7. The network 7 includes a LAN 7a for each store 6 configured to accommodate the game machine 3 and the card vendor 4 in the same store 6, and a WAN 7b for connecting the LAN 7a and the server 2. WAN7b is, for example, the Internet. The LAN 7a is connected to the WAN 7b via a router 7c installed in each store 6. The user terminal 5 is connected to the WAN 7b via an access point 7d prepared by a communication company or the like. The server 2 may also be connected to the WAN 7b with an appropriate configuration.

In the game system 1, there are a virtual card displayed on the screen of the card vendor 4 and the like, and a card as a physical entity printed out to the user by the card vendor 4. In the following, the former may be read as a virtual card and the latter as a real card to distinguish between the two.

(Overview of card printing process)
FIG. 2 shows an outline of the processing performed by the card vendor 4 to print out the actual card. The card vendor 4 first performs a standby process of waiting for a user's start operation while displaying a title screen or the like (step S1). When the user performs a predetermined start operation on the card vendor 4, the server 2 performs a user authentication process for authenticating the user via the card vendor 4 (step S2). When the user authentication is completed, a content selection process for allowing the user to select which type of game the actual card should be printed is performed (step S3). When the type of game is selected, the process shifts to the content home that allows the user to select the type (or type) of the actual card to be printed (step S4). In the content home processing, any one of the three types of lottery print, profile print, and memorial print can be selected. When the type of the actual card is selected, the processing corresponding to the selected type is performed (steps S5 to S7), and when any of the processing is completed, the processing is returned to the content home. Furthermore, if there is no type selection in the content home, the process is returned to the content select. When the user instructs the end of printing (or may be canceled) in the content select, a predetermined end process is performed (step S8), and then the process returns to the standby process.

Next, specific examples of the lottery print, the profile print, and the memorial print performed in steps S5 to S7 of FIG. 2 will be described in order.

(About lottery print)
The lottery print process (step S5 in FIG. 2) is a process of selecting a virtual card associated with the game from a plurality of selection candidates by lottery and printing a real card corresponding to the selected virtual card. FIG. 3 shows an example of a procedure in which a card is printed by lottery printing. In the lottery print, one or a plurality of lottery related to the virtual card Cv is carried out based on the instruction of the user to the card vendor 4. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the lottery is repeated from the first time to the Nth time. An appropriate upper limit may be set for the number of lottery. In one lottery, one virtual card Cv is selected by lottery from the selection candidate group GC as an example of the options including various virtual card Cvs.

When the virtual card Cv is selected in one lottery, the user selects whether to print the selected virtual card Cv as the real card Cr or to keep the print output as the reserved virtual card Cv. be able to. When printing is suspended, the virtual card Cv selected in this lottery is held as a card whose printing is suspended, and the next lottery is performed. In the second and subsequent lottery, the user can suspend the printing of the selected virtual card Cv and select a new lottery. However, if an upper limit is set for the number of lottery, a new lottery cannot be selected after the upper limit is reached. The virtual card Cv whose printing is held can be released from the hold based on the instruction of the user, and the real card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv can be printed. In the example of FIG. 3, after the Nth lottery, the user is instructed to release the hold of the two virtual cards Cv, and the actual card Cr corresponding to those virtual cards Cv is printed out.

In the lottery print, a predetermined fee is charged to the user for each of the lottery and the print. As an example, a basic fee is charged for the first (first) lottery, and an additional lottery fee is charged for the second and subsequent lottery. As an example, the basic fee is set as the sum of the initial lottery unit price and the printing unit price. The initial lottery unit price is the unit price applied to the first lottery, and the printing unit price is the unit price applied to the printing of the actual card Cr as one sheet (an example of the initial value). The additional lottery fee is the unit price per lottery applied to the second and subsequent lottery. Regarding printing, no new charge is incurred when printing only one actual card Cr. On the other hand, when printing two or more actual cards Cr, a print addition fee is additionally charged. That is, since the basic charge corresponding to the first lottery includes the printing unit price for printing one actual card Cr, the additional charge when printing two or more actual card Crs is based on the number of printed sheets. The amount obtained by multiplying the value obtained by subtracting 1 by the additional unit price for printing is charged as the print addition fee. The user may be able to select a special process for printing the actual card Cr, and an additional charge may be further charged in response to the selection. As the special processing, options such as processing for adding glossiness, hologram processing, and selection of a high-quality printing mount may be prepared.

The basic fee, the additional lottery fee, the printing addition fee, and the unit price for calculating these fees may be set in consideration of various factors such as the cost required for processing, the profit, or the feeling of burden on the user. For example, the initial lottery unit price and the additional lottery fee are unit prices corresponding to one lottery, but they do not necessarily have to be set to the same amount. The printing unit price included in the basic charge and the additional unit price for calculating the printing addition charge are also unit prices corresponding to the printing of one actual card Cr, but it is not always necessary to set the same amount.

The selection candidate group GC may include a plurality of types of virtual cards Cv having different values. The value of a card includes an objective value determined by the high and low values of parameters set on the card and a subjective value from the user's point of view. Some cards have high objective and subjective values, some cards have high value for one and low value for the other, and some cards have low value. The objective value of a card is associated with the probability of a draw. Cards with high objective value have a relatively low probability of appearing in a lottery, and cards with low objective value have a relatively high probability of appearing in a lottery. Cards with a significantly lower probability are more rare and are sometimes called rare cards. When the probability that a rare card is selected by lottery is taken as the appearance rate of the rare card, in the example of FIG. 3, the appearance rate is differentiated according to the number of lottery. That is, when the appearance rate of rare cards in the first lottery is Pb1, the appearance rate of rare cards in the second lottery is Pb2, and the appearance rate of rare cards in the Nth lottery is PbN, the appearance rate Pb2 is the appearance rate. Higher than Pb1, the appearance rate PbN is set to be the same as the appearance rate Pb2 or even higher than the appearance rate Pb2. It is not always essential to increase the appearance rate of rare cards for each lottery. The appearance rate of rare cards may be gradually increased as the lottery is repeated. An upper limit may be set for the appearance rate. Alternatively, the appearance rate may be controlled so that the appearance rate becomes 100% when the number of lottery times reaches a predetermined value and the appearance of the rare card is confirmed.

As described above, in the lottery print, the next lottery can be selected while leaving the virtual card Cv selected in the lottery as the print pending state. Therefore, when the virtual card Cv that the user does not necessarily need is selected by the lottery, the user can temporarily suspend the printing of the actual card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv and select the next lottery. If the desired virtual card Cv is not selected in the next lottery, the user releases the hold of at least one virtual card Cv from the virtual card Cv selected in the first and second times and prints the actual card Cr. You may choose a further lottery. In this way, in the lottery print, it is possible to increase the virtual card Cv of the print candidate by repeating the lottery, appropriately select the virtual card Cv that the user wants to print from those candidates, and print the actual card Cr. Is. As a result, it is possible to reduce the waste of printing a card that the user does not necessarily need, or to reduce the burden of labor, time, and the like required for printing.

In the lottery print, since the fee is set for each lottery, the possibility that the lottery will be repeated without limitation until the desired card is obtained can be suppressed or eliminated. On the other hand, since the appearance rate of rare cards increases as the lottery is repeated, it is possible to motivate the user to suspend printing and select the lottery. Furthermore, with regard to printing, since the print addition fee is charged for each number of prints exceeding the minimum required number (one sheet as an example), it is possible to reduce the waste of printing even unnecessary or low cards. It is possible to reduce the burden on the user in terms of cost required for printing.

As an example, the actual card Cr printed by the lottery print may be a card in which information such as parameters that can be reflected in the control of the game is recorded by being read by the game machine 3. .. Examples of this type of card include cards in which the values of parameters that change the value of items used by the user in a game are recorded. However, the actual card Cr is not necessarily limited to an example in which information is recorded in a manner that can be read by the game machine 3. For example, when a card game associated with a game on the game machine 3 is played offline using the actual card Cr, the card incorporated in the deck or the like in the card game is printed out as the actual card Cr. You may. Further, the actual card Cr may be printed as a card whose main purpose is to collect users. Therefore, the game machine 3 is not limited to the example having a function of reading the information of the actual card Cr.

In FIG. 3, the holding of the virtual card Cv and the printing of the actual card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv are managed separately for each store 6, and the printing of the actual card Cr is performed at the store 6 where the corresponding virtual card Cv is acquired. It may be possible to print only the card vendor 4 in the card vendor 4. That is, the lottery of the virtual card Cv, the print hold, and the printing of the actual card Cr may be managed so that they can be performed only in the same store 6. The lottery and printing involve charges, and those charges are recorded as sales at store 6. Therefore, assuming that the lottery and printing are carried out at different stores 6, for example, the store 6 that records the basic fee associated with the first lottery as sales and the printing cost corresponding to the basic fee are calculated. This will be different from the store 6 that bears the burden, and there will be an accounting effort such that the printing unit price must be settled between the two stores 6. In order to save such trouble, it is preferable to limit the lottery, print hold, and printing to the same store 6. However, if there are circumstances in which such settlement does not matter, the difference between the store 6 where the lottery is performed and the store 6 where the printing is performed may be allowed.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which all of the virtual cards Cv that the user can hold in the print hold state are selected by lottery. However, in the lottery print, the virtual card Cv for which one user has suspended printing is exchanged for the virtual card Cv acquired by another user, or the virtual card Cv for which printing is suspended can be acquired by another user. It is also possible to transfer as. FIG. 4 shows an example of the mechanism. In FIG. 4, a virtual board VB for a plurality of users is prepared. The virtual board VB is prepared as a storage place for the virtual card Cv shared between users, and is virtually set on the server 2, for example.

In FIG. 4, for example, each of the users A and B can move at least one virtual card Cv whose printing is suspended to the virtual board VB. In exchange for the movement, by acquiring another virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB as its own virtual card Cv, each user A and B obtains the virtual card Cv acquired by the other user. It can be exchanged for Cv. Further, when the user moves the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB and does not acquire any virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB, the virtual card Cv can be transferred to another user. The virtual card Cv acquired from the virtual board VB is added as a virtual card Cv held by the user who acquired the virtual card Cv in the print pending state. Therefore, it is possible to release the hold and select it as a print target in the same manner as the virtual card Cv set by the user. The storage period of the virtual card Cv in the virtual board VB may be limited, and the virtual card Cv whose storage period has expired may be deleted.

As described above, when the virtual board VB is provided, when a virtual card Cv that the user does not necessarily need is given to the user, it is transferred to another user without printing, or another It can be exchanged with the user. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or eliminate the waste of printing the actual card Cr that the user does not need. It is possible to provide an opportunity for the user to acquire a desired actual card Cr without necessarily depending on the method of increasing the number of print candidates by repeating the lottery. On the other hand, even if unnecessary virtual card Cv increases due to repeated lottery, the virtual board VB can be used as a place to dispose of it. When a part of the plurality of virtual card Cvs is selected as the output target card and the actual card Cr is printed, the virtual card Cv left in the print pending state may be erased.

The virtual board VB may also be installed separately for each store 6. For example, the virtual card Cv acquired by the user at the card vendor 4 of a specific store 6 can be moved only to the virtual board VB corresponding to the store 6, and the virtual card Cv acquired from the virtual board VB. Printing may be limited to the same store 6. The reason for operating the virtual board VB for each store 6 in this way is that, as in the example of FIG. 3, the store 6 where the lottery is performed and the store 6 where the printing is performed do not cause the trouble of settlement. Is. However, the virtual board VB may be installed beyond the frame of the store 6 when there is a situation in which the trouble of settlement does not matter. Further, the virtual board VB is not limited to the example in which one is set in the store 6. Even in the same store 6, virtual boards VB may be installed separately for each game. In this case, the exchange and transfer of the virtual card Cv using the virtual board VB is performed within the scope of the same game. On the other hand, a virtual board VB may be installed in common for a plurality of types of games. In that case, it is also possible to exchange virtual card Cv between different games. On the other hand, the virtual board VB may be installed separately for each user. In this case, the user who wishes to exchange the virtual card Cv browses the virtual board VB of another user and searches for the virtual card Cv to be exchanged. Therefore, it is convenient to control the permission or restriction (or prohibition) of viewing the virtual board VB on a user-by-user basis.

The virtual card Cv placed on the virtual board VB may be associated with owner information that identifies the user who provided the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB as the owner's user. As an example, user identification information (for example, a user ID) that identifies the owner's user may be associated with the virtual card Cv in the virtual board VB as the owner information. In this case, the virtual board VB can function as a place to realize the exchange or transfer that clarifies the owner of the virtual card Cv. For example, by providing a function of identifying a user who desires to exchange or transfer a virtual card Cv using the owner information as a clue and providing an opportunity for communication for forming an agreement between the users, the users can interact with each other. It is possible to realize a transaction that identifies the other party with. It is also possible to set exchange conditions when providing the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB, and realize a two-way transaction such as exchanging the virtual card Cv between users who meet the conditions. On the other hand, the virtual card Cv of the virtual board VB does not have to be associated with the information indicating the owner. In this case, the virtual card Cv placed on the virtual board VB has no owner. Therefore, the virtual board VB can be positioned as a storage place for other users to acquire the virtual card Cv that each user deems unnecessary. The user who acquires the virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB does not need to be aware of or know the user of the original owner. Therefore, it is possible to easily use the virtual board VB.

The exchange of the virtual card Cv via the virtual board VB is not limited to the mode in which the exchange source virtual card CV and the exchange destination card Cv are exchanged at the same time. For example, after the user moves a specific virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB, he reserves the right to import any virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB, and then exercises the right at an appropriate time to desire. It may be possible to exchange the virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB with a time lag. Since the virtual card Cv placed on the virtual board VB fluctuates, the virtual card Cv desired to be exchanged may not always exist at the time when the user moves the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB. If the exchange with a time lag is allowed, it becomes possible to move the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB and to take in the virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB at an appropriate timing according to the convenience of the user. The possibility of acquiring the virtual card Cv according to the user's wishes increases.

Some usage conditions may be set for the use of the virtual board VB. For example, moving at least one virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB may be set as a usage condition. By setting such a condition, the deviation between the number of virtual card Cvs taken into the virtual board VB and the number of virtual card Cvs taken out from the virtual board VB can be suppressed, and the number of virtual card Cvs in the virtual board VB It is possible to prevent a significant increase or decrease in the number of sheets. The virtual card Cv may be appropriately added to the virtual board VB at the discretion of the print management unit 21 of the server 2, for example, the virtual board management unit 24. For example, when it is determined that the number of virtual card Cv of the virtual board VB is insufficient, the virtual board management unit 24 may appropriately generate the virtual card Cv and arrange it on the virtual board VB. .. Such a virtual card Cv may be owned by, for example, a virtual user.

(About profile print)
The profile print process (step S6 in FIG. 2) is a process of printing a card (actual card) that can be used to set a predetermined game-related relationship between users. The predetermined relationship is a relationship reflected in the control of the game, and corresponds to, for example, a relationship such as a friend, a group, or a rival. The influence of the relationship between users on the control of the game is that the game is controlled, for example, the users who have a friend relationship are cooperated in playing the game, or the characters and other items are lent and borrowed. Good. Alternatively, control may be performed such that chat is possible during the game only between users who have a friend relationship. The relationship between users is not limited to one-to-one, and may be realized, for example, in a manner in which users participate in the same group or community.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a procedure for printing and using a card in profile printing. In order to print a card by profile printing, a user (target user) who wants to print the card first performs a predetermined reservation operation on the game machine 3 and sends the server 2 the card in profile printing (hereinafter, profile card). (Sometimes referred to as)) is reserved for printing (FIG. 5 (a)). The reservation operation is an operation for designating the print contents of the profile card, and the server 2 stores the print reservation information for printing the profile card corresponding to the reservation contents. It may be possible for the target user to browse the print reservation information of the profile card stored in the server 2 on the user terminal 5 and make adjustments such as processing, correction, and addition of the print contents.

The print reservation information of the target user stored in the server 2 is provided to the card vendor 4 based on the instruction of the target user. When the target user selects profile print at the card vendor 4, the profile card Cp as a real card is printed out to the target user based on the given print reservation information ((b) in FIG. 5). )). The profile card Cp contains a two-dimensional code 100 in which setting information necessary for setting the above-mentioned predetermined relationship between the target user and another user (other party user) is embedded, and a visible symbol symbolizing the target user. Symbolic information 101 is recorded. "Visible" means that it is expressed so that the viewer can grasp the meaning and content through sight.

The printed profile card Cp is provided to the other user whose target user wants to set a relationship such as a friend ((c) in FIG. 5). The provision of the profile card Cp is sufficient as long as it is provided so that the other user can use the profile card Cp at least temporarily, and may be realized in various forms such as transfer and lending. When the other user who has acquired the profile card Cp holds the two-dimensional code 100 of the profile card Cp over a shooting device such as a camera of the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 and causes the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 to acquire the setting information. From the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 that has acquired this, the server 2 is requested to set the relationship such as a friend by adding the setting information. In response to this, the server 2 sets a relationship such as a friend between the target user and the other user based on the setting information ((d) in FIG. 5). The other user can be identified by using user authentication via, for example, the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5. The setting of the relationship such as friends may require approval by the target user. That is, the setting of the relationship after the two-dimensional code 100 is read may be processed in the same manner as a normal friend application or the like.

As described above, since the information necessary for setting the relationship of friends and the like is recorded in the profile card Cp, the setting information such as the two-dimensional code 100 of the profile card Cp is transmitted to the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5. You can set the relationship just by reading it. The target user who wants to set a friend only needs to pass the profile card Cp to the other user, and does not need to take manual measures such as sharing the user ID between the users. Therefore, even in a situation where the game machine 3 cannot be used immediately, for example, when a user who has met outside the store 6 wants to be added as a friend, by passing the profile card Cp, the relationship such as a friend can be surely made at a later date. Can be set. Further, since the symbol information 101 of the target user is recorded in the profile card Cp, the user who receives the profile card Cp can easily recall the target user through the symbol information 101. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the possibility that the other user forgets the target user.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the profile card Cp. The profile card Cp of FIG. 6 is a card printed out in association with a dance game. On the surface of the profile card Cp, a play image 101a of the target user being played, a name 101b of the target user in the game, and a play time 101c are recorded as an example of symbolic information 101 symbolizing the target user. A two-dimensional code 100 and an image 102 symbolizing the game title are recorded on the back surface of the profile card Cp. Note that "front side" and "back side" are terms used to distinguish both sides of the profile card Cp, and are not intended to include other concepts such as a master-slave relationship of each side. In FIG. 6, the play image 101a shows the user in a white state, but an image of the user is actually recorded as the play image 101a. The name 101b is not limited to the real name, but may be a handle name or other alias used in the game.

In the two-dimensional code 100, setting information necessary for setting a friend relationship between the target user who printed the profile card Cp and the other user is embedded. For example, a user ID as user identification information for identifying the target user is embedded in the two-dimensional code 100. The user ID corresponds to an example of setting information necessary for setting a friend relationship. When the target user belongs to some group and wants to set a relationship in which another user belongs to the same group, the two-dimensional code 100 uses information for identifying the group, for example, a group ID as setting information. It may be embedded in. A temporary identification code for setting a predetermined relationship is stored in the server 2 in association with the processing to be performed for setting the relationship, and the issued identification code is used as setting information in the two-dimensional code 100. It may be embedded. When the relationship of friends and the like is set only in the same type of game, information for determining the type of the target game may be added as setting information to the two-dimensional code 100.

On the other hand, the symbol information 101 of the profile card Cp may include contents that symbolize the target user to the extent that the viewer can recall the target user. In other words, by observing the symbolic information 101, it can be used as the symbolic information 101 as long as it includes a specific expression that reminds us of what kind of person the target user was in relation to the game. For example, the above-mentioned play image 101a and name 101b are items sufficient to remind the target user, but in place of or in addition to these items, the title of the target user in the game and the target user use it uniquely. Matters based on play-related information obtained in association with the play of the game by the target user, such as a game character (avatar, etc.), may be used as the symbol information 101. In this case, the play-related information may include various types of information that can be collected in association with the play, such as the results in the game, the progress status, the achievement status, and the success or failure of some conditions. Matters such as game scores, rankings, and stats are generally difficult to remind a particular user by themselves, but for example, significantly higher scores, higher rankings, or stats that only a limited number of users can get. , If it is a matter with prominence, it may be used as a symbol that can recall the target user.

Whether or not the target user can be recalled does not need to be based on all users of the game or general users. The profile card Cp is used to set a predetermined relationship between the target user and the other user, and it is up to the target user to decide what range of users to give the profile card Cp to. Is. Therefore, if the target user is a matter that is valid as an expression that symbolizes the target user within the range of the user who is supposed to distribute the profile card Cp, it may be recorded in the profile card Cp as symbol information 101.

As the play-related information, the image being played may be used as the symbol information 101. The play image 101a described above is an example of an image being played, but instead of this, a screenshot of a game image acquired while the target user is playing the game may be reminiscent of the target user. As long as it is included, it may be used as an image during play. Alternatively, even when an image taken by the user is used as an image during play, it is not always necessary to use an image including the user's face. For example, even an image of a user's hand operating a game machine 3 or an image of a part other than the user's face, such as a step of a user playing a dance game, is impressive and peculiar to the user. When an expression or an expression having prominence is included, it is possible to recall the user through the image, and it is possible to use it as at least a part of the symbolic information 101.

The setting information for setting the relationship of friends and the like does not necessarily have to be recorded in the profile card Cp in a manner embedded in the two-dimensional code 100. For example, the setting information may be recorded in a one-dimensional code such as a bar code, or may be recorded in various other formats. When the mount used for the profile card Cp includes a storage area such as RFID or a magnetic stripe layer, the setting information may be recorded electronically or electromagnetically in the storage area. That is, the setting information does not necessarily have to be recorded in a mode that can be read by the optical reading means, and the setting information is recorded in a mode that can be read via the electronic or electromagnetic reading means. May be good.

(About memorial print)
The memorial print process (step S7 in FIG. 2) is a process of printing out a card (actual card) as a memorial to the user playing the game. FIG. 7 shows an example of the procedure for printing a card by memorial printing. In order to print a card in the memorial print, the user first performs a predetermined reservation operation on the game machine 3 to print the card in the memorial print (hereinafter, may be referred to as a memorial card) to the server 2. Make a reservation (Fig. 7 (a)). The reservation operation is an operation for designating the print contents of the memorial card, and the server 2 stores the print reservation information for printing the memorial card corresponding to the reservation contents. The target user can also browse the print reservation information of the memorial card stored in the server 2 on the user terminal 5 and perform adjustment operations such as processing, modifying, and adding the print contents.

The user's print reservation information stored in the server 2 is provided to the card vendor 4 based on the instruction of the target user. When the target user selects the memorial print at the card vendor 4, the memorial card Cm as the actual card is printed out to the user based on the print reservation information ((b) in FIG. 7). The memorial card Cm records commemorative information 110 that the user wants to keep as a commemoration of playing the game in the game. The commemorative information 110 may include content that expresses the play content of the game to the extent that the viewer is reminded of matters related to the play content such as the achievement achieved by the user and the record of the play. In other words, by observing the commemorative information 110, it may be used as the commemorative information 110 as long as it includes a specific expression reminiscent of the user's play content. The play content to be expressed in the commemorative information 110 may be appropriately selected as long as it is associated with the game. For example, when a user reaches a predetermined level in a game, obtains a predetermined title, acquires a predetermined item, decides a predetermined technique, forms a predetermined role, and wins. When the user achieves certain achievements, commemorative information 110 corresponding to those achievements may be recorded in the memorial card Cm. Alternatively, when the user plays at a specific store 6, commemorative information 110 such as a store visit commemoration may be recorded on the memorial card Cm. In other words, it is possible to capture as commemorative information 110 the matters that the user wants to keep as a record on the actual card regarding the game.

The commemorative information 110 may be recorded using various expression elements such as images and texts. For example, commemorative information 110, which is a combination of the achievements achieved by the user, the text indicating the progress during the game, the snapshot of the game screen, the image of the user during the game, etc., is recorded on the memorial card Cm. May be done. Further, an image such as a certificate or a certificate indicating that the user has achieved some achievement may be recorded on the memorial card Cm as commemorative information 110.

The symbolic information 101 of the profile card Cp and the commemorative information 110 of the memorial card Cm do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. The same content as at least a part of the symbol information 101 may be recorded as commemorative information 110 on the memorial card Cm, or the same content as at least a part of the commemorative information 110 is recorded as symbol information 101 on the profile card Cp. May be good. In short, the profile card Cp and the memorial card Cm may be distinguished by the presence or absence of the two-dimensional code 100.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the memorial card Cm output in association with the dance game. In the memorial card Cm of FIG. 8, the image 110a being played by the user is recorded as commemorative information on the front surface, and the text 110b indicating the user's name and the date and time of play is recorded as commemorative information on the back surface. Further, in the memorial card Cm of FIG. 8, an object 111 for decorating the image 110a and a background image 112 showing a game title and the like are also recorded. These objects 111 and the background image 112 may be designated by the user, for example, on the game machine 3, or may be designated by the user via the user terminal 5.

Further, FIG. 9 shows an example of the memorial card Cm output in association with the mahjong game, and FIG. 10 shows another example of the memorial card Cm output in association with the mahjong game. In the memorial card Cm of FIG. 9, a screenshot 110c when the user goes up in a specific role is recorded as commemorative information. On the other hand, in the memorial card Cm of FIG. 10, the image 110d of the certificate certifying that the user has won the first place in the mahjong game tournament is recorded as commemorative information. The images 110a to 110d of FIGS. 8 to 10 are examples of the commemorative information 110, and as described above, various information that the user wants to record on the card may be recorded on the memorial card Cm as the commemorative information 110. The memorial card Cm in FIG. 10 indicates that the user has satisfied the conditions preset in the game. Such a memorial card Cm is permitted to be reserved and output only when the corresponding conditions are satisfied. The conditions may be set as appropriate, and when the conditions are met, the memorial card Cm may be output as a memorial to the achievement of the conditions.

Since the profile print and the memorial print described above both print the cards Cp and Cm by the card vendor 4 installed separately from the game machine 3, various types such as the equipment burden and the time burden required for printing them are various. The game machine 3 can be released from the burden. Moreover, at least a part of the printed contents of the card, for example, symbol information 101 or commemorative information 110 is acquired on the game machine 3 side to reserve printing, and the card vendor 4 prints the cards Cp and Cm according to the reservation. The contents of Cp and Cm can be dynamically changed according to each user's game play. Therefore, as compared with the case where a uniform card having a predetermined content is printed out by the card vendor 4, a wide variety of cards can be output, and thereby the interest in card printing can be enhanced.

Since the game machine 3 and the card vendor 4 are distinguished as different devices, for example, when the user wants a card while playing a game on the game machine 3, the game is played at that time. A reservation operation can be performed on the machine 3 to prepare for printing. After that, the user can obtain the desired card simply by instructing the card vendor 4 to print the reserved card. Assuming that all the operations necessary for printing the card are performed by the card vendor 4, even if a card request occurs during game play, the game machine 3 cannot perform the operation in response to the request. Moreover, if the card vendor 4 performs all operations necessary for printing such as selection of a game type and designation of print contents, the burden of operation of the card vendor 4 increases. Such a feeling of burden can also be a factor that reduces the demand for cards that arises during game play. The risk is particularly high when there are circumstances such as the card vendor 4 is not available or is separated. On the other hand, if the printing is reserved when a card request is made during game play, the burden on the user for the operation of the card vendor 4 is small, and the user's card acquisition request can be appropriately met. be able to.

(Game system control system)
Next, an example of the configuration of the control system of the game system 1 for printing the various cards described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows an example of a main part of the control system in the server 2. The server 2 includes a control unit 10 and a storage unit 11. The control unit 10 is configured as a computer unit including a microprocessor and an internal storage device necessary for its operation. The storage unit 11 is a storage device capable of holding a memory using a magnetic disk or the like, and functions as an external storage device for the control unit 10. The database server may be used as at least part of the storage unit 11.

In the storage unit 11, for example, game data Dg, play data Dp, and virtual board data Dv are recorded as data to be referred to by the server 2. The game data Dg includes various data such as image data and audio data to be used in the game played on the game machine 3. The game data Dg also includes basic data of the card Cv and Cr such as layout, format, and template necessary for displaying the virtual card Cv or printing the actual card Cr. The play data Dp is data for each user in which information related to the user's game play is stored. FIG. 11 shows the play data Dp corresponding to one user. Information on the virtual card Cv acquired by the user at the card vendor 4, information on the profile card Cp reserved by the user on the game machine 3, and information on the memorial card Cm are also stored in the play data Dp. The virtual board data Dv is data for determining the virtual card Cv placed on the virtual board VB.

The control unit 10 is provided with a game management unit 20 and a print management unit 21 as logical devices realized by combining the hardware and predetermined server programs PGs. The game management unit 20 provides the game machine 3 with various services related to the game played on the game machine 3. For example, the game management unit 20 provides services such as providing play data Dp to the game machine 3, saving play data Dp updated by the game machine 3, and matching users with each other. The game management unit 20 is provided with a relationship management unit 22 for managing the above-mentioned relationships such as friends between users as a further logical device.

On the other hand, the print management unit 21 provides various services related to card printing by the card vendor 4 to the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5. In order to provide these services, the print management unit 21 is provided with a lottery print processing unit 23, a virtual board management unit 24, a profile print processing unit 25, and a memorial print processing unit 26 as further logical devices. The lottery print processing unit 23 is in charge of processing related to the lottery print, such as lottery of the virtual card Cv in the lottery print, hold, and generation of data necessary for printing the actual card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv. The virtual board management unit 24 is in charge of processing related to the management of the virtual board data Dv. The profile print processing unit 25 is in charge of processing related to profile printing such as reservation of printing related to the profile card Cp and generation of data necessary for printing. The memorial print processing unit 26 is in charge of processing related to memorial printing, such as reservation of printing related to the memorial card Cm and generation of data necessary for printing.

The control unit 10 of the server 2 is provided with a user authentication unit 27 and a payment processing unit 28 as further logical devices. The user authentication unit 27 authenticates the user in response to requests from the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5 as clients. The payment processing unit 28 executes payment processing for collecting charges from the user in response to requests from the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5. As the payment process, various payment processes using the network 7, such as payment by electronic currency, payment by credit card, and online payment provided by a financial institution, may be used. However, with respect to the payment in the game machine 3 and the card vendor 4, cash payment using currency may be used instead of or in addition to the payment using the network 7.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a main part of the control system in each of the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5. The game machine 3 includes a control unit 30 configured as a computer unit including a microprocessor and an internal storage device necessary for its operation. A card reader 31, a camera 32, and an operation detection device 33 are connected to the control unit 30 as input devices, and a display device 34 is connected as an output device. The card reader 31 is provided to read the user identification information required for user authentication from the authentication medium possessed by the user. As an example of the authentication medium, a card including a storage unit such as a magnetic stripe or RFID is used. The card referred to here is different from the actual card Cr printed by the card vendor 4. The camera 32 is used for acquiring an image of the user during the game or reading the two-dimensional code 100 of the profile card Cp. The operation detection device 33 detects the user's operation. For example, a touch panel arranged on the screen of the display device 34 may be used as at least a part of the operation detection device 33. The display device 34 is used for displaying a game screen or the like.

The control unit 30 is provided with a game control unit 35 and a print management unit 36 as logical devices realized by combining the hardware and a predetermined game machine program PGg. The game control unit 35 controls the progress of the game played by the user while referring to the output of the operation detection device 33. The print management unit 36 executes the process associated with the printing of the actual card Cr by the card vendor 4 according to the instruction of the server 2. For example, the print management unit 36 acquires information necessary for reserving printing of the profile card Cp and the memorial card Cm and provides the information to the server 2. That is, the print management unit 36 is a logical device that imparts a control function related to printing of the actual card Cr to the game machine 3.

The card vendor 4 includes a control unit 40 configured as a computer unit including a microprocessor and an internal storage device necessary for its operation. A card reader 41 and an operation detection device 42 are connected to the control unit 40 as input devices, and a display device 43 and a printer 44 are connected as output devices, respectively. The card reader 41 is provided to read the user identification information required for user authentication from the authentication medium possessed by the user. The authentication medium is as described above. The operation detection device 42 detects the user's operation. For example, a touch panel arranged on the screen of the display device 43 may be used as at least a part of the operation detection device 42. The display device 43 is used to display a guidance screen or the like on the card vendor 4. The printer 44 functions as an example of the medium output device by printing and outputting the actual card Cr.

The control unit 40 is provided with a print management unit 45 and a printer control unit 46 as logical devices realized by combining the hardware and a predetermined vendor program PGv. The print management unit 45 executes the process associated with the printing of the actual card Cr by the card vendor 4 according to the instruction of the server 2. For example, the print management unit 45 acquires information necessary for providing the lottery print, profile print, and memorial print services to the user according to the instruction of the server 2 and provides the information to the server 2. That is, the print management unit 45 is a logical device that imparts a user interface function related to printing of the actual card Cr to the card vendor 4. The printer control unit 46 controls the printer 44 according to the information provided by the server 2.

The user terminal 5 includes a control unit 50 configured as a computer unit including a microprocessor and an internal storage device necessary for its operation. A camera 51 and an operation detection device 52 are connected to the control unit 50 as input devices, and a display device 53 is connected as an output device. Each of the camera 51, the operation detection device 52, and the display device 53 is general-purpose hardware provided in an information communication terminal such as a smartphone.

The control unit 50 is provided with a service management unit 55 as a logical device realized by a combination of the hardware and a predetermined user terminal program PGu. The service management unit 55 provides the user terminal 5 with an interface function necessary for providing the service related to the game of the game machine 3 and the service related to the printing of the actual card Cr by the card vendor 4 to the user of the user terminal 5. It is a logical device to be given. For example, the service management unit 55 has an interface function for adjusting the contents of the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm reserved by the user on the game machine 3, such as processing and correction, or a two-dimensional code of the profile card Cp. An interface function for setting a relationship such as a friend by using 100 is provided.

Various hardware such as a storage unit that functions as an external storage device for the control units 30, 40, and 50, and an output device such as a speaker may be appropriately provided in each of the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5. However, their illustrations are omitted. Further, each of the control units 30, 40, and 50 may be appropriately provided with a logical device other than those shown in the drawings. The programs PGs, PGg, PGv, and PGu shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are provided and installed in a state of being recorded on a predetermined storage medium. However, the programs PGg, PGv, and PGu directed to the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5 as clients may be distributed from the server 2 via the network 7.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of play data Dp. As described above, the play data Dp is data provided separately for each user. In the example of FIG. 13, the play data Dp includes a user ID, a content ID, a play record, friend information, and print-related information. The user ID is an example of user identification information that identifies a user, and is uniquely set for each user. The content ID is an example of game identification information for identifying the type of game, and is uniquely set for each type of game. The user ID and the content ID specify which game the play data Dp is for which user. The play record is a record of the user's play related to the game corresponding to the content ID. The play record includes various information necessary for continuing the game from the end of the previous game, and corresponds to so-called game save data. For example, various information for determining the progress state, results, etc. of the game is saved as a play record. The friend information is for identifying another user who has a friend relationship with the user, and for example, the user ID of the friend user is recorded as friend information.

The print-related information is data associated with printing of the card by the card vendor 4, and includes information on the reserved card and information on the print reservation. The information on the hold card is information for determining the virtual card Cv for which the user has held the print in the lottery print. For example, as the information of the holding card, the card ID as an example of the card identification information for identifying the virtual card Cv whose printing is held, the date and time when the virtual card Cv was acquired by the user, and the virtual card Cv were acquired. A store ID is included as an example of store identification information for identifying the store 6. The card Id is uniquely set for each virtual card Cv. The store ID is uniquely set for each store 6. For the store ID, for example, a table associated with unique identification information (MAC address as an example) is prepared in advance on the game machine 3 or router 7c of the store 6, and when the information is acquired from the game machine 3, the store 6 side The identification information of the game machine 3 or the router 7c can be used as a clue to determine.

The print reservation information is information for determining the contents of the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm reserved by the game machine 3. For example, print reservation information includes card ID, reservation date and time, store ID, type, and content information. The card ID is identification information uniquely set for the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm to be printed. The store ID is a store ID corresponding to the store 6 for which printing of the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm is reserved. The type information is information for identifying whether the print-reserved card is of the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm. The content is information for identifying the two-dimensional code 100, the symbolic information 101, or the commemorative information 110 to be recorded on the reserved profile card Cp or memorial card Cm. For example, the content information includes information for specifying the card layout, format, card background image, etc. included in the game data Dg, a screenshot acquired by the game machine 3, a user image, and the like. When recorded on the cards Cp and Cm, those images may be stored in the server 2 in association with the image identification number, and the image identification number may be included in the content information. The image data of the virtual card Cv may be generated on the server 2 and the image data may be included in the print reservation information.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of one record RDv corresponding to one virtual card Cv in the virtual board data Dv. The virtual board data Dv is a set of records RDv created for each virtual card Cv. The record RDv illustrated in FIG. 14 includes information on a store ID, a content ID, a card ID, a storage date and time, an owner, and exchange conditions. The store ID is the store ID of the store 6 to which the virtual board VB on which the virtual card Cv is placed is applied. The content ID is a content ID assigned to the type of game corresponding to the virtual card Cv. The card ID is identification information uniquely set for each virtual card Cv. The storage date and time is information indicating the date and time when the virtual card Cv specified by the card ID is placed on the virtual board VB. The owner is information indicating a user who has placed the virtual card Cv specified by the card ID on the virtual board VB, and for example, the user ID of the user is recorded as the owner information. The exchange condition is information indicating the content of the exchange condition when the owner user sets some exchange condition for the virtual card Cv. If the concept of the owner is not applied to the virtual card Cv of the virtual board VB, the owner information and the exchange condition information may be omitted. Even when applying the concept of owner, it is not always necessary to provide information on exchange terms.

(Game system processing)
Next, specific examples of various processes performed in the game system 1 in relation to card printing will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 15.

(Overall processing)
FIG. 15 shows a print management process executed by the print management unit 21 of the server 2 in cooperation with the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 in order to manage the progress in the card vendor 4 according to steps S2 to S8 of FIG. An example of the procedure is shown. If the user instructs the card vendor 4 to start the process while the card vendor 4 repeats the standby process, the print management unit 45 requests the server 2 to start the process shown in FIG. When the process of FIG. 15 is started, the print management unit 21 of the server 2 requests the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 to acquire the information necessary for user authentication, and provides the obtained information to the user authentication unit 27. Then, user authentication is performed (step S101). In this case, the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 obtains, for example, the information required for user authentication by the user ID via the card reader 41 and the password via the operation detection device 42, and obtains the obtained information. Provided to server 2.

When the user authentication is completed, the print management unit 21 starts the content selection process (step S102), and subsequently corresponds to the user ID acquired by the user authentication and the store ID of the store 6 in which the card vendor 4 is installed. Acquire play data Dp (step S103). After that, the print management unit 21 causes the display device 43 to display the content select screen (step S104). For example, the illustrated content select screen 200 is displayed. The content select screen 200 includes a list 201 of game titles T1, T2, and T3 as selection candidates. When the print reservation information exists in the play data Dp acquired in step S103, the print reservation is made by adding the index 202 to the game title in which the print reservation exists on the content select screen 200. May be shown to the user.

After that, the print management unit 21 determines whether or not the user has selected any game title (game type) from the list 201 of the content select screen 200 (step S105). When any of the game titles is selected, the print management unit 21 determines whether or not the play data Dp acquired in step S103 includes data corresponding to the content ID of the selected game title. (Step S106). When it is determined that there is data, the print management unit 21 proceeds to the content home process, and switches the screen of the display device 43 from the content select screen 200 to the content home screen (step S107). For example, the content home screen 210 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display device 43. The content home screen 210 is displayed to allow the user to select either a lottery print, a profile print, or a memorial print. For example, tabs 211, 212, 213 corresponding to each print are provided, and the type of card is selected when the user selects one of the tabs and instructs the start thereof. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the lottery print tab is selected. When the reservation information exists for the profile print or the memorial print, the index 216 may be displayed on the content home screen 210 for the tab 212 or 213 of the type in which the reservation information exists.

When the lottery print tab 211 is selected, the content home screen 210 displays an information unit 214 for the purpose of explaining the lottery print, a lottery button 215 for instructing the lottery, and a content select screen. A back button 217 for returning to 200 is displayed. When the lottery button 215 is operated by the user, the start of the lottery print is instructed. When the profile print tab 212 or the memorial print tab 213 is selected, for example, the reservation content is displayed in the part corresponding to the information unit 214, and a button for instructing printing is displayed in the part corresponding to the lottery button 215. It may be displayed and instructed to start a profile print or a memorial print when it is manipulated.

Returning to FIG. 15, when the content home screen 210 is displayed, the print management unit 21 determines whether or not the user has instructed to start any of the lottery print, profile print, and memorial print (step S108). When the start is instructed, the print management unit 21 instructs the lottery print processing unit 23, the profile print processing unit 25, or the memorial print processing unit 26 to perform processing according to the type selected by the user (step S1090). When the corresponding process is completed, the process is returned to step S107. During this time, the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 may display an appropriate screen on the display device 43 according to the instruction from the server 2.

When the start of the process is not instructed in step S108, the print management unit 21 determines, for example, whether or not the return button 217 in FIG. 17 is operated to instruct the return to the content select screen 200 (step S110). When the return is instructed, the print management unit 21 returns to the process of step S102. This is to give the user the opportunity to select another game and print the card. On the other hand, when the return to the content select screen 200 is not instructed for a certain period of time or longer, the print management unit 21 executes a predetermined end process (step S111; corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 2) to end the process of FIG. The end process of step S211 is a process of terminating the play by the user at the card vendor 4, and may be executed as a so-called log-out process of discarding the information acquired by the user authentication.

When it is determined in step S106 that the play data Dp does not exist, the print management unit 21 determines whether or not the user has performed a return operation (step S112). The process is the same as in step S110. If there is a return operation, the process is returned to step S102, and if there is no return operation, the process proceeds to step S111. Even if it is determined in step S105 that the title is not selected, the print management unit 21 determines whether or not there is a return operation (step S113). Since the content select screen 200 is displayed at this stage, it may be determined whether or not there is a return operation depending on whether or not the return button 203 is operated on the content select screen 200, for example. When there is a return operation in step S113, the print management unit 21 returns to the process of step S101. On the other hand, if there is no return operation, the process proceeds to step S111.

Next, the process of the print management unit 21 in step S109 of FIG. 15 will be described.

(Lottery print processing)
FIG. 18 shows an example of a procedure of lottery print processing executed by the print management unit 21 of the server 2 mainly by the lottery print processing unit 23 when the start of the lottery print is instructed. When the lottery print is instructed, the lottery print processing unit 23 first setstle the fee corresponding to the first lottery, that is, the basic fee shown in FIG. 3 (step S201), and when the settlement is completed, the virtual card Cv to be given to the user Lottery (step S202). The settlement is executed in cooperation with, for example, the settlement processing unit 28. However, in the case of payment by cash, it may be determined through the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 whether or not the charged fee has been paid by the card vendor 4. The lottery print processing unit 23 may display an appropriate screen on the display device 43 of the card vendor 4 to confirm the execution of the payment process or the lottery process to the user via the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4.

When the lottery is completed, the lottery print processing unit 23 sets the virtual card Cv selected in the lottery as a hold card (step S203). For example, the selected virtual card Cv may be added as a hold card by recording information such as the card ID of the selected virtual card Cv in the play data Dp in association with the user ID and the store ID. Subsequently, the lottery print processing unit 23 notifies the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 of the virtual card Cv selected by the lottery, and displays this on the display device 43 (step S204). In this case, for example, FIG. The lottery result screen 220 shown in the above is displayed. The lottery result screen 220 is displayed so as to include, for example, the lottery virtual card Cv, the re-lottery button 221 and the print button 222.

After displaying the lottery result screen 220, the lottery print processing unit 23 determines whether or not the number of lottery has reached the upper limit (step S205 in FIG. 18). If the upper limit has not been reached, the lottery print processing unit 23 determines whether or not the user has selected the re-lottery (step S206). For example, when the re-lottery button 221 is operated on the lottery result screen 220 of FIG. 19, it is determined that the re-lottery has been selected.

When the user selects the re-lottery, the lottery print processing unit 23 executes the settlement of the fee corresponding to the second and subsequent lottery, that is, the additional lottery fee shown in FIG. 3 (step S207), and sets the lottery probability to a value according to the number of lottery. Is set to (step S208). After that, the lottery print processing unit 23 returns to the process of step S202 and draws a virtual card Cv. By repeating the processes of steps S202 to S208, the lottery is repeated until the number of lottery times reaches the upper limit value, and the drawn virtual card Cv is sequentially recorded in the play data Dp as a hold card.

When it is determined in step S205 that the number of lottery has reached the upper limit, or when it is determined in step S206 that the user has not selected the re-lottery (for example, when the print button 222 in FIG. 19 is operated). , The lottery print processing unit 23 proceeds to the print card selection process (step S210). The print card selection process is a process of displaying a list of reserved cards and allowing the user to select a virtual card Cv to be printed. The details of the print card selection process will be described later.

When the print card is selected, the lottery print processing unit 23 counts the number of virtual cards Cv selected as the print target (step S211), and then settles the charge according to the number of sheets, that is, the print addition charge of FIG. (Step S212). The settlement in this case may also be executed in cooperation with the settlement processing unit 28, or may be executed via the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4. When the number of printed sheets is one, the printing fee is included in the basic fee, so step S212 may be processed as no charge. However, if the user selects a special process such as gloss processing related to printing, an additional charge corresponding to the process may be settled in step S212.

When the payment is completed, the lottery print processing unit 23 instructs the card vendor 4 to print (step S213). In this case, at least a part of the print information necessary for printing the real card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv selected as the print target, for example, the print data is provided from the server 2 to the card vendor 4. If data such as a layout, format, or template for printing the actual card Cr has already been provided to the card vendor 4, the value of the parameter not specified in those layouts or the like is used as print information on the server 2. May be provided to the card vendor 4. In the card vendor 4, the print information provided by the server 2 is provided to the printer control unit 46, and the printer 44 is controlled according to the instruction of the printer control unit 46 to print the actual card Cr. While the printing of the actual card Cr is in progress, the print management unit 45 of the card vendor 4 may display an appropriate screen showing the progress on the display device 43.

After instructing printing in step S213, the lottery print processing unit 23 of the server 2 waits until the card vendor 4 notifies the completion of printing, and when printing is completed, updates the information on the reserved card (step S214). In this case, the information on the reserved card is updated so that the virtual card Cv selected as the print target is deleted from the play data Dp. After that, the lottery print processing unit 23 finishes the process of FIG. 18, and the print management unit 21 returns to step S107 of FIG. 15 accordingly.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a more specific procedure of the print card selection process (step S210 in FIG. 18) executed mainly by the lottery print processing unit 23. The print card selection process of FIG. 20 is a process for selecting a virtual card Cv to be printed from the virtual card Cv set on hold, but the procedure is based on the assumption that the virtual card Cv is replaced using the virtual board VB. It is set.

In the print card selection process of FIG. 20, the lottery print processing unit 23 confirms the hold card based on the hold card information recorded in the play data Dp (step S231), and subsequently, the information for identifying the hold card. Is provided to the card vendor 4 to display a selection screen for allowing the user to select a print card on the display device 43 (step S232). For example, the card selection screen 230 shown in FIG. 21 is displayed. The card selection screen 230 includes, for example, a card display unit 231 in which virtual cards Cv whose printing is suspended are displayed side by side, a confirmation button 232, and a virtual board button 233. A check box 234 for selecting as a print target is attached in the vicinity of the virtual card Cv, for example, on the lower side. When the user operates the check box 234, the virtual card Cv corresponding to the check box 234 is selected as the print target. However, instead of the check box 234, the virtual card Cv may be directly selected.

After the print card selection screen 230 is displayed, the lottery print processing unit 23 determines whether or not the user has selected to use the virtual board VB (step S233). For example, when the virtual board button 233 of FIG. 21 is operated, it may be determined that the use of the virtual board VB is selected. When the use of the virtual board VB is selected, the lottery print processing unit 23 causes the user to select the virtual card Cv to be moved to the virtual board VB as the exchange source card (step S234). In this case, for example, the exchange source card selection screen 240 shown in FIG. 22 may be displayed. Similar to the print card selection screen 230 of FIG. 21, the exchange source card selection screen 240 includes a card display unit 241 in which virtual cards Cv whose printing is suspended are displayed side by side, and a confirmation button 242. A back button 243 for canceling the use of the virtual board VB may be further included. A check box 244 for selecting as an exchange target is attached in the vicinity of the virtual card Cv, for example, on the lower side. When the user operates the check box 244, the virtual card Cv corresponding to the check box 244 is selected as the exchange source card. However, instead of the check box 244, the virtual card Cv may be directly selected.

Returning to FIG. 20, when the exchange source card is selected by the user, the lottery print processing unit 23 sets the exchange conditions regarding the exchange source card based on the user's instruction (step S235). However, if the exchange condition is not added, the process of step S235 may be skipped. Next, the lottery print processing unit 23 requests the virtual board management unit 24 to extract the exchangeable virtual card Cv, and in response to this, the virtual board management unit 24 requests the virtual board management unit 24 to exchange the card with the exchange source card. Is extracted as a candidate for the exchange destination card (step S236). In this case, the virtual board management unit 24 extracts the record DRv (see FIG. 14) of the virtual card Cv associated with the store ID of the store 6 in which the card vendor 4 is installed from the virtual board data Dv. The created virtual card Cv may be used as a candidate for the exchange destination card. When the exchange condition is set for the virtual card Cv of the virtual board VB, it may be extracted as a candidate for the exchange destination card only when the exchange condition is satisfied.

When the virtual card Cv as a candidate to be exchanged is extracted by the virtual board management unit 24, the lottery print processing unit 23 receives the information, presents the candidate of the exchange destination card to the user, and based on the user's instruction. The virtual card Cv to be exchanged is selected as the exchange destination card (step S237). In this case, a screen similar to the exchange source card selection screen 240 of FIG. 22 may be displayed. However, in step S237, it is not always necessary to select the exchange destination card. That is, the user may select his / her own holding card as a card to move to the virtual board VB and do not ask for the exchange destination card, or may not specify the exchange destination card at this time. When the user finishes selecting the card, the lottery print processing unit 23 determines the exchange content (step S238), and executes the exchange in cooperation with the virtual board management unit 24 (step S239). The number of virtual card Cvs that can be selected as the exchange destination card may be limited to the number of virtual card Cvs that the user has selected as the exchange source card.

The exchange in step S239 may be performed, for example, as follows. First, when the user selects an exchange destination card, the play data Dp is updated so that the exchange destination card is recorded as a hold card in the user's play data Dp. At the same time, the exchange destination card is removed from the virtual board VB by deleting the record RDv of the exchange destination card from the virtual board data Dv. If the exchange card is not selected, those processes are not performed. On the other hand, with respect to the exchange source card, the play data Dp is first updated so that the exchange source card is deleted from the hold card recorded in the user's play data Dp. At the same time, information about the exchange source card is recorded in the virtual board data Dv. As a result, the exchange source card is moved to the virtual board VB, and thereafter, any user can select it as the exchange destination card.

If the user does not select the exchange destination card in step S237, the exchange source card is simply deleted from the user's hold card and moved to the virtual board VB. Instead, the replacement card will not be added to the user's hold card in this process. In this case, only the process of step S239 is executed so that the exchange source card moves to the virtual board VB. For example, such a process can be applied when a card determined by the user to be unprintable is unconditionally provided to the virtual board VB for use by a third party. Alternatively, if the user moves the card to the virtual board VB with some exchange conditions set for the exchange source card, and then another user specifies the exchange so that the exchange conditions are satisfied, the exchange is specified between those users. The process of step S239 may be executed so that the cards are exchanged via the virtual board VB. In this case, the process of recording the exchange source card in the information of the reserved card is performed with respect to the play data Dp of both parties to the exchange. Even if the exchange condition is not set for the card, if one user moves his / her holding card to the virtual board VB for the time being, and then another user selects the card and instructs the exchange. , Cards may be exchanged with each other via the virtual board VB.

When the card exchange is processed in step S239, the lottery print processing unit 23 returns to the display of the card selection screen 230 shown in FIG. 21 and selects the card to be printed based on the user's instruction (step S240). ). In step S240, at least one card is selected. The reason is that in the lottery print, the basic fee including the printing unit price of one actual card Cr is collected at the time of the first lottery, and the user has the right to print one card. This is to be consumed during the processing of the lottery print. That is, setting the virtual card Cv to the print hold state means that the right to print the card Cr is reserved. In step S240, at least one card is selected as the printing target so that the lottery printing does not end without consuming the right. Therefore, when selecting the exchange destination card in step S237, it is necessary to limit the number of exchange destination cards in step S237 so that the number of reserved cards possessed by the user does not become 0 by the process of step S239.

When the print target is selected in step S240, the lottery print processing unit 23 proceeds to the process of step S211 in FIG. If the use of the virtual board is not selected in step S233 of FIG. 20, the lottery print processing unit 23 skips the processes of steps S234 to S239 and proceeds to the process of step S240.

As described above, according to various processes related to lottery printing, when a virtual card Cv that the user does not necessarily desire is selected by lottery, the user further holds the virtual card Cv in a state in which printing is held. You can select a lottery to increase the virtual card Cv of print candidates. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or eliminate the waste of printing the real card Cr corresponding to the virtual card Cv regardless of whether or not the user desires it. In addition, the virtual card Cv in the print pending state can be exchanged for the virtual card Cv acquired by another user by using the virtual board VB, or the virtual card Cv can be transferred for printing by another user. It is possible to promote the effective utilization of the virtual card Cv among users and further suppress the waste of printing unnecessary cards.

As described above, a valid period may be set for the storage of the virtual card Cv in the virtual board VB. For example, the virtual board management unit 24 periodically confirms the storage date and time of the virtual card Cv recorded in the virtual board data Dv, and the virtual board management unit 24 deletes the record RDv of the virtual card Cv whose validity period has expired. You may.

In the above description, it is assumed that the transfer or exchange of the virtual card Cv using the virtual board VB is performed as a part of the lottery print processing, but the use of the virtual board VB is not limited to such an example. Good. For example, the processes of steps S234 to S239 in FIG. 20 are prepared as processes that can be executed separately from the lottery print process, and when the user instructs to use the virtual board VB, this is executed and the virtual card Cv is executed. The transfer or exchange may be performed independently of the lottery print. In this case, the virtual board VB can be used not only by the card vendor 4 but also by another terminal device. For example, the virtual board VB may be accessed from the user terminal 5 so that the virtual card Cv can be transferred or exchanged. When the virtual board VB is used from the user terminal 5, the store 6 may be selected by the user. Further, the process of setting the virtual card Cv in the pending state as the output target and printing the corresponding real card Cr can be executed separately from the lottery print based on the user's instruction from the card vendor 4. May be good. In this case, since the lottery for the virtual card Cv is omitted, the fee required for printing may be charged instead of the charge for the first lottery.

(Profile print processing)
Next, a specific example of the process related to the profile print will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 25. The profile print will be described in the following order because there are stages of reservation, printing of the profile card Cp, and use of the profile card Cp.

FIG. 23 shows an example of the procedure of the profile print reservation process executed in collaboration between the print management unit 36 of the game machine 3 and the print management unit 21 of the server 2 in order to reserve the profile print. The process of FIG. 23 is a process incidentally executed when the user has an opportunity to play a game on the game machine 3. Therefore, it is assumed that the user authentication process necessary for identifying the user has already been executed between the game machine 3 and the server 2 at the start of the game, and the server 2 has already acquired the user ID.

In the game machine 3, the process of FIG. 23 is started mainly by the print management unit 36 at a predetermined timing associated with the play of the game by the user. For example, the process of FIG. 23 is started at the timing when the game play is finished. Alternatively, when the game play is divided into a plurality of stages and sequentially advanced, the process of FIG. 23 may be started at the stage when one stage is completed.

When the process of FIG. 23 is started, the print management unit 36 first displays a predetermined guidance screen on the display device 34, and causes the user to select the print content of the profile card Cp (step S301). For example, when a plurality of layouts, templates, etc. are prepared as card options as the profile card Cp, the user is allowed to select one of the options. Further, the print management unit 36 causes the user to select the symbol information 101 to be recorded on the profile card Cp. For example, when the user is playing the game, since the play data Dp of the game is held in the game machine 3, the user's name, current grade, progress status, etc. can be obtained by referring to the play data Dp. The determination may be made, and the user may appropriately select these as symbol information 101. When the game machine 3 appropriately acquires a screenshot of the game screen in progress of the game or an image being played by the user, the obtained image is presented to the user and used as symbol information 101. May be selected by the user.

When the print content is selected, the print management unit 36 instructs the server 2 to reserve printing with information for designating the print content (step S302). As a result, the processing on the game machine 3 side is completed. When the print reservation is instructed, the profile print processing unit 25 of the server 2 starts the reservation management process of FIG. 24. In that process, the profile print processing unit 25 confirms the user ID already acquired in the server 2 (step S251), and generates a two-dimensional code 100 in which the user ID is embedded as setting information (step S252). Subsequently, the profile print processing unit 25 makes a print reservation necessary for printing the profile card Cp based on the print reservation information sent from the game machine 3 and the two-dimensional code 100 generated in step S252. Information is generated (step S253), and the obtained information is recorded in the play data Dp in association with the user ID of the user and the store ID of the store 6 in which the game machine 3 is installed (step S254). After that, the profile print processing unit 25 finishes the process of FIG. 23. The completion of the print reservation may be notified to the game machine 3 side, and the user may be informed that the reservation is completed.

The print reservation information generated in step S253 is for causing the printer 44 of the card vendor 4 to print the profile card Cp including the print content selected in step S301 and the two-dimensional code 100 generated in step S252. Any information necessary for printing may be generated in an appropriate format. For example, the print reservation information may be generated so that the print content selected in step S301 and the two-dimensional code 100 generated in step S252 are included as the contents in the print reservation information shown in FIG. .. Image data in which the two-dimensional code 100 is added to the print content selected in step S301 may be generated in step S253 and recorded in the play data Dp.

In FIG. 24, when the card vendor 4 instructs the start of profile printing, the print management unit 21 of the server 2 executes the profile print processing unit 25 as the main body as the process of step S109 in FIG. An example of the processing procedure is shown. When the profile print is instructed, the profile print processing unit 25 first sets the user ID of the user who operates the card vendor 4 (the user ID acquired in step S101 of FIG. 15) and the card vendor 4. The print reservation information regarding the profile card Cp is acquired from the play data Dp corresponding to the store ID of the placed store 6 (step S261).

Next, the profile print processing unit 25 displays the print candidates of the profile card Cp on the display device 43 based on the acquired print reservation information, and causes the user to select the card to be printed (step S262). The screen in this case may be the same as the screens 230 and 240 illustrated in FIG. 21 or FIG. 22, for example.

When the user selects a card to be printed, the profile print processing unit 25 causes the user to specify the number of prints (step S263), and then settles the charge according to the number of prints (step S264). In this case, the printing unit price per sheet is multiplied by the number of printed sheets to determine the charge, and the charge may be processed by the settlement processing unit 28 or the cash settlement by the card vendor 4. The printing unit price of the profile card Cp may be set to be the same as or different from the printing unit price of the basic charge in the lottery print or the additional unit price in the print addition charge. Additional charges may be added if special processing is specified by the user. An upper limit may be set for the number of prints in step S263.

When the payment process is completed, the profile print processing unit 25 provides the card vendor 4 with print reservation information corresponding to the card to be printed selected in step S262, and instructs the card vendor 4 to start printing (step S265). In response to this, the card vendor 4 passes the print reservation information from the print management unit 45 to the printer control unit 46, and starts printing the selected profile card Cp. The profile print processing unit 25 of the server 2 waits until the printing is completed by the card vendor 4, and when the printing is completed, the print reservation information regarding the card selected as the print target is deleted (step S266). After that, the profile print processing unit 25 finishes the process of FIG. 24, whereby the print management unit 21 of the server 2 returns to the process of step S107 of FIG.

FIG. 25 shows an example of a procedure of processing performed by the game system 1 in order to set a predetermined relationship between users using the profile card Cp. Note that FIG. 25 shows an example of setting a friend relationship between users, but the relationship between users is not limited to friends as described above. Further, it is possible to set the relationship by using either the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5, and FIG. 25 shows the case where the game machine 3 is used and the case where the user terminal 5 is used. .. Actually, either the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 is used.

First, a case where the relationship is set by using the game machine 3 will be described. When the user requests the game machine 3 to set the relationship, the game control unit 35 of the game machine 3 starts the friend setting process, first acquires the information necessary for user authentication from the user, and notifies the server 2 of this. (Step S311). The user in this case is the other user in FIG. In response to this, the relationship management unit 22 of the server 2 performs user authentication using the user authentication unit 27 (step S271). If the user authentication is completed before the process of FIG. 25 is started, the user authentication may be omitted.

Next, the game control unit 35 of the game machine 3 photographs the user's profile card Cp with the camera 32, acquires the two-dimensional code 100 (step S312), and attaches the information of the obtained two-dimensional code 100. Request the server 2 to set the friend relationship (step S313). In response to this, the relationship management unit 22 of the server 2 confirms the user ID of the user for whom the friend relationship should be set, that is, the target user of FIG. 5 based on the information of the two-dimensional code 100 (step S272). After that, the relationship management unit 22 sets the play data Dp corresponding to both user IDs so that a friend relationship is set between the user ID acquired by the user authentication in step S271 and the user ID confirmed in step S272. Is updated (step S273). As a result, a friend relationship is set between the target user of FIG. 5 and the other user. When the friend relationship is set, the relationship management unit 22 notifies the game machine 3 of the setting result (step S274), and in response to this, the game control unit 35 of the game machine 3 notifies the user of the setting result. Notify (step S314). As a result, the process of FIG. 25 is completed.

When the friend relationship is set independently for each game type (game title), the two-dimensional code 100 is generated so that the content ID of FIG. 13 is embedded in the two-dimensional code 100 (step S252 of FIG. 23). , The content ID may be confirmed in addition to the target user in step S272 of FIG. 25, and the friend relationship may be recorded only for the corresponding content ID in step S273. In this case, the friend relationship can be set only for the type of the game indicated by the symbol information 101 or the like of the profile card Cp. In order to embed the content ID in the two-dimensional code 100, for example, in the process of FIG. 13, the server 2 may acquire the content ID or information for identifying the content ID from the game machine 3.

On the other hand, the same procedure may be used when setting a friend relationship using the user terminal 5. That is, the service management unit 55 of the user terminal 5 is made to execute the processing of steps S401 to S404 corresponding to steps S311 to S314 of FIG. 25, or the relationship management unit 22 of the server 2 controls the service management unit 55 to control the user interface. While using it, the processes of steps S401 to S404 may be executed.

As described above, according to the mechanism for setting the friend relationship using the profile card Cp, the user causes the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 to read the two-dimensional code 100 of the profile card Cp, thereby causing the target user. You can set up a friend relationship with. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a manual method such as teaching each other user IDs and writing them down. Even in a situation where the game machine 3 or the user terminal 5 cannot be used immediately, the friend relationship can be surely set. Since the symbol information 101 of the target user is recorded in the profile card Cp, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the possibility of forgetting who the target user was.

(Memorial print processing)
Next, a specific example of the process related to the memorial print will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. The memorial print will be described in the following order because there are stages of reservation and printing of the memorial card Cm.

FIG. 26 shows an example of a procedure of the memorial print profile print reservation process executed in collaboration between the print management unit 36 of the game machine 3 and the print management unit 21 of the server 2 in order to reserve the memorial print. The process of FIG. 26 is a process incidentally executed when the user has an opportunity to play a game on the game machine 3. Therefore, it is assumed that the user authentication process necessary for identifying the user has already been executed between the game machine 3 and the server 2 at the start of the game, and the server 2 has already acquired the user ID.

In the game machine 3, the process of FIG. 26 is started mainly by the print management unit 36 at a predetermined timing associated with the play of the game by the user. For example, the process of FIG. 26 is started at the timing when the game play is finished. Alternatively, when the game play is divided into a plurality of stages and sequentially advanced, the process of FIG. 26 may be started at the stage when one stage is completed. However, if it is possible to print the memorial card Cm when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, the process of FIG. 26 may be started at an appropriate timing after the time when the condition is satisfied.

When the process of FIG. 26 is started, the print management unit 36 first displays a predetermined guidance screen on the display device 34 and causes the user to select the print content of the memorial card Cm (step S331). For example, when a plurality of layouts, templates, etc. are prepared as card options for the memorial card Cm, the user is allowed to select one of the options. Further, the print management unit 36 causes the user to select the commemorative information 110 to be recorded on the memorial card Cm. For example, when options for commemorative information 110 according to the user's grades, such as a certificate, are prepared, the options may be presented to the user for selection. When the commemorative information 110 includes the user's performance or the like, the user may be made to specify the information to be included in the commemorative information 110 from the play data Dp. When the game machine 3 appropriately acquires a screenshot of the game screen in progress of the game or an image being played by the user, the obtained image is presented to the user and used as commemorative information 110. May be selected by the user.

When the print content is selected, the print management unit 36 instructs the server 2 to reserve printing with information for designating the print content (step S332). As a result, the processing on the game machine 3 side is completed. When the print reservation is instructed, the memorial print processing unit 26 of the server 2 starts the reservation management process of FIG. 26. In that process, the memorial print processing unit 26 generates and obtains print reservation information necessary for printing the memorial card Cm based on the print reservation information sent from the game machine 3 (step S281). The information is recorded in the play data Dp in association with the user ID of the user and the store ID of the store 6 in which the game machine 3 is installed (step S282). After that, the memorial print processing unit 26 finishes the processing of FIG. 26. The completion of the print reservation may be notified to the game machine 3 side, and the user may be informed that the reservation is completed.

The print reservation information generated in step S281 is generated in an appropriate format as long as it is information necessary for printing the memorial card Cm including the print contents selected in step S331 on the printer 44 of the card vendor 4. May be done. For example, the print reservation information may be generated so that the print content selected in step S331 is included as the content in the print reservation information shown in FIG. The image data corresponding to the print content selected in step S331 may be generated in step S281 and recorded in the play data Dp.

In FIG. 27, when the card vendor 4 instructs the start of the memorial print, the print management unit 21 of the server 2 executes the memorial print mainly by the memorial print processing unit 26 as the process of step S109 of FIG. An example of the processing procedure is shown. When the memorial print is instructed, the memorial print processing unit 26 first sets the user ID of the user who operates the card vendor 4 (the user ID acquired in step S101 of FIG. 15) and the card vendor 4. The print reservation information regarding the memorial card Cm is acquired from the play data Dp corresponding to the store ID of the placed store 6 (step S291).

Next, the memorial print processing unit 26 displays the print candidates of the memorial card Cm on the display device 43 based on the acquired print reservation information, and causes the user to select the card to be printed (step S292). The screen in this case may be the same as the screens 230 and 240 illustrated in FIG. 21 or FIG. 22, for example.

When the user selects a card to be printed, the memorial print processing unit 26 causes the user to specify the number of prints (step S293), and then settles the charge according to the number of prints (step S294). In this case, the printing unit price per sheet is multiplied by the number of printed sheets to determine the charge, and the charge may be processed by the settlement processing unit 28 or the cash settlement by the card vendor 4. The printing unit price of the memorial card Cm may be set to be the same as or different from the printing unit price of the basic charge in the lottery print or the additional unit price in the print addition charge. The printing unit price of the memorial card Cm may be the same as or different from the printing unit price of the profile card Cp. Additional charges may be added if special processing is specified by the user. An upper limit may be set for the number of prints in step S293.

When the payment process is completed, the memorial print processing unit 26 provides the card vendor 4 with print reservation information corresponding to the card to be printed selected in step S292, and instructs the card vendor 4 to start printing (step S295). In response to this, in the card vendor 4, print reservation information is passed from the print management unit 45 to the printer control unit 46, and printing of the selected memorial card Cm is started. The memorial print processing unit 26 of the server 2 waits until the printing is completed by the card vendor 4, and when the printing is completed, the print reservation information regarding the card selected as the printing target is deleted (step S296). After that, the memorial print processing unit 26 finishes the processing of FIG. 27, whereby the print management unit 21 of the server 2 returns to the processing of step S107 of FIG.

As is clear from the above explanation, the processing related to the reservation and printing of the profile card Cp and the processing related to the reservation and printing of the memorial card Cm are whether the information recorded on the card is the symbolic information 101 or the commemorative information 110. It differs depending on whether or not the two-dimensional code 100 is printed. Since the symbol information 101 and the commemorative information 110 are not exclusive, for example, only when the profile print processing unit 25 and the memorial print processing unit 26 are integrated and printing of the profile card Cp is specified, the print content is two. The procedure of the printing process may be distinguished so that the dimension code 100 is included.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the card reserved for printing on the server 2 may be viewed on the user terminal 5 or adjusted for processing or the like. FIG. 28 shows an example of processing for realizing such adjustment. FIG. 28 shows, for example, a process in which the server 2 executes the service management unit 55 of the user terminal 5 while using it for controlling the user interface. For example, when a user requests access to the server 2 on the user terminal 5, the print management unit 21 of the server 2 acquires information necessary for user authentication from the user terminal 5 and provides this to the user authentication unit 27 to provide the user. Is authenticated (step S501). Next, the print management unit 21 determines the card reserved for printing by the user based on the print reservation information stored in the play data Dp in association with the user ID of the user, and uses that card for the user terminal 5. It is displayed on the display device 53 to select the card to be adjusted (step S502). In this case, the print reservation information corresponding to the specific game title or the specific store 6 may be narrowed down according to the user's instruction, and only the obtained card may be presented to the user.

When the user selects a card, the print management unit 21 causes the user to adjust the print content of the card (step S503). For example, a tool for processing or modifying the printed content of the card may be displayed on the display device 53 of the user terminal 5, and the content of the card may be adjusted by using the tool. As the adjustment contents, for example, addition of frames and stamps, addition of text, effect processing, and the like may be possible. When the adjustment of the print content by the user is completed, the print management unit 21 updates the print reservation information according to the adjusted print content (step S504), and then ends the process of FIG. 28.

As described above, regarding the profile print and the memorial print, the symbol information 101 or the commemorative information 110 to be printed on the cards Cp and Cm is acquired on the game machine 3 side, and the information 101 and 110 are included in the print contents. The print reservation information is stored in the server 2 in this way. Then, on the card vendor 4 side, the cards Cp and Cm are printed according to the stored print reservation information. Therefore, the game machine 3 can be released from various burdens such as the equipment burden and the time burden required when printing the cards Cp and Cm on the game machine 3 side. The contents of the cards Cp and Cm can be dynamically changed according to each user's game play, and since the card vendor 4 supports multiple types of games, it is possible to output a wide variety of cards. As a result, the interest in card printing can be enhanced.

Next, a modified example of the game system 1 described above will be described.

The game system 1 is not limited to an example including the server 2, the game machine 3, the card vendor 4, and the user terminal 5, and the overall configuration thereof may be appropriately changed according to the functions to be realized by the game system 1. .. For example, regarding lottery printing, if it is not necessary to share a card vendor for a plurality of types of games, the card vendor is omitted, a printer is mounted on the game machine 3, and processing related to lottery printing is performed between the server 2 and the game machine 3. May be executed as appropriate. Furthermore, a function to execute various processes related to lottery printing is implemented in a so-called stand-alone game machine that is not connected to the network, and processing such as lottery of virtual card Cv, setting of print hold, and print output after canceling hold is performed. It may be completed in the machine 3. In that case, if the game machine 3 can hold the play data of a plurality of users, the function of the virtual board VB is implemented in the single game machine 3, and the virtual card Cv is transferred or exchanged in the game machine 3. It is also possible to realize.

Regarding profile print and memorial print, if it is not necessary to support multiple types of games, the card vendor is omitted and the printer is mounted on the game machine 3 as described above, and the profile is displayed between the server 2 and the game machine 3. The process related to the print or the memorial print may be appropriately executed, or the process of the profile print or the memorial print may be completed in the game machine 3.

Further, a server may be installed in the store 6 instead of or in addition to the server 2, and at least a part of the above-described processing may be executed by the server in the store. When executing various processes on the in-store server, management based on the store ID may be omitted. The game machine is not limited to an example in which a single type of game is played, and a single game machine may be capable of selectively playing a plurality of types of games. Instead of or in addition to the game control unit 35 of the game machine 3, the game control unit may be mounted on the server 2 to cause the server 2 to execute at least a part of various processes related to the game. The user terminal 5 is not indispensable, and the game system may be configured without using it.

In the above-described embodiment, the print management process of FIG. 15, the lottery print process of FIG. 18, and the print card selection process of FIG. 20 are mainly executed by the print management unit 21 of the server 2, and the print management unit of the card vendor 4 Although 45 is in charge of the user interface, at least a part of those processes may be executed on the card vendor 4 side.

The charge setting in the lottery print described above is an example, and the charge to the user may be changed as appropriate. For example, a charge may be set so that the printing unit price is not required at the time of the first lottery, and a charge according to the number of printed sheets may be collected at the time of printing. In this case, since the printing consideration is not charged at the time of the first lottery, it is not necessary to have the user set the right to print at least one actual card. Therefore, with respect to the use of the virtual board VB, it is possible to end the lottery print with all the reserved cards moved to the virtual board VB. The change in probability with the repetition of the lottery is not essential, and the lottery may be repeated with a certain probability. If the probability is not changed, for example, an additional lottery fee may be set appropriately to motivate the user to select the re-lottery.

In the above embodiment, the virtual board VB common to each store 6 is used, but for example, the virtual board VB may be set separately for each user. In that case, for example, the information of the hold card may be used as the virtual board VB for each user, and the virtual card Cv set to be held by each user may be selected by another user as the exchange destination card. In this case, if the exchange conditions are set appropriately, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the reserved card is exchanged without the user's knowledge. You may set a non-exchangeable condition for a virtual card Cv that you do not want to exchange. When the virtual board VB is set for each user, the ownership can be set for the virtual board VB itself by associating the entire virtual board VB with the user ID. In that case, it is possible to clarify which user owns the virtual card Cv in the virtual board VB without associating the owner information for each virtual card Cv. If the virtual board VB is set for each user, there is an advantage that the virtual card Cv can be held, the hold released, or the designation as the exchange source card can be collectively managed in the virtual board VB.

The exchange of virtual card Cv using the virtual board VB does not necessarily have to be limited to between virtual card Cv related to the same type of game. The virtual card Cv may be exchangeable between different types of games. Further, when the user moves the virtual card Cv to the virtual board VB and does not acquire the virtual card Cv in place of the virtual card Cv from the virtual board VB, some reward, for example, points that can be used in the game, is given to the user. May be good.

In the lottery print described above, the virtual card Cv is an example of an item to be given to the user, and is a virtual or ideological existence that expresses the item in a visually recognizable manner. Therefore, the item does not necessarily have to be represented in the form of a virtual card Cv. Elements such as characters and objects expressed in a certain form on the screen may be used as items to be given to the user.

On the other hand, the actual card Cr corresponds to an example of a physical medium output corresponding to an item. A real card embodies attributes such as the appearance of the corresponding virtual card and parameters such as ability values on a physical article such as a printing mount. However, the appearance of the actual card does not necessarily have to be the same as the item. It suffices that the item and the physical medium are associated with each other so that the viewer can recognize that the attribute of the virtual card or the like is recorded on the article such as the printing mount. The physical medium is not limited to a two-dimensional printed matter, and may be, for example, a three-dimensional article in which the characteristics of the item are fixed.

On the other hand, in profile print or memorial print, since the purpose is to print out the profile card Cp or the memorial card Cm as a real card, the virtual card Cv virtually represents those cards Cp and Cm. It may be represented on the screen as an object.

In the above form, the card vendor 4 can select lottery print, profile print, or memorial print, and print out the actual card according to the selected type. However, these types can be printed alone or in combination as appropriate. It may be implemented in the game system. The lottery print does not necessarily have to be provided as part of the function of the game system. The lottery print function may be implemented for a medium providing system applicable to various uses for outputting a physical medium to a user. Further, the lottery print is not limited to the example of selecting an item by using a lottery, and may be selected by a method other than the lottery such as selecting an item according to a condition.

Various aspects of the invention derived from each of the above-described embodiments and modifications are described below.

The game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a game system in which a game device that allows a user to play a game and a medium output device that generates and outputs a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. Based on the user's reservation operation for the device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information is reserved information corresponding to the user. Reservation means to save as and
An output processing means for acquiring the reservation information corresponding to the user based on the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device and causing the medium output device to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information. It is a thing.

The method for controlling a game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling a game system in which a game device for causing a user to play a game and a medium output device for generating and outputting a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. The medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated based on the reservation operation of the user with respect to the game device, and the obtained medium information is used as described above. Based on the reservation procedure for saving as the reservation information corresponding to the user and the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device, the reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired, and the physical medium based on the obtained reservation information is used. The output processing procedure generated by the medium output device is executed by the computer of the game system.

The computer program according to one aspect of the present invention is a computer of a game system in which a game device for causing a user to play a game and a medium output device for generating and outputting a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network. Based on the user's reservation operation for the device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the game play by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information is used as the reservation information corresponding to the user. The reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired based on the reservation means stored as, and the user's operation on the medium output device, and the medium output device is made to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information. It is configured to function as an output processing means.

According to the above aspect, when the user performs a reservation operation on the game device, medium information for generating a physical medium associated with the play of the user's game is generated, and the medium information corresponds to the user. It is saved as reservation information. When the user operates the medium output device, the user's reservation information is acquired based on the operation, and the physical medium corresponding to the obtained reservation information is generated and output by the medium output device. Since the reservation operation in the game device and the operation in the medium output device are distinguished by interposing the storage of the reservation information, the user performs the reservation operation, for example, when playing the game to output the physical medium. After making a reservation, the medium output device can be operated at an appropriate time to acquire the physical medium reserved by the user.

The computer program according to one aspect of the present invention may be provided in a state of being stored in a storage medium. By using this storage medium, for example, by installing and executing the computer program according to the present invention on a computer, the system of the present invention can be realized by using the computer. The storage medium for storing the computer program may be a non-transient storage medium such as a CDROM.

In the above aspect, the reservation means may generate the medium information based on the play-related information obtained in association with the play of the game by the user. This makes it possible to appropriately reflect the user's play on the physical medium. Moreover, since the reservation information is temporarily stored and acquired when the physical medium is generated, the user can acquire the physical medium associated with his / her play at an appropriate time without being limited to the play. it can.

The reservation means acquires information on the performance of the game played by the user as the play-related information, and generates the medium information so that the visible information on the performance is recorded on the physical medium. May be good. Alternatively, the reservation means may acquire an image of the game being played by the user as the play-related information, and generate the medium information so that the obtained image is recorded on the physical medium. .. Further, the reservation means may acquire an image of a user who plays the game as the play-related information, and generate the medium information so that the obtained image is recorded on the physical medium. According to these aspects, the user acquires a physical medium in which his / her own performance, the image being played, and the image of himself / herself being played are recorded, and uses this as a memorial to himself / herself or to others. Can be used as a means of showing off.

Further, the reservation means stores the medium information so that when the user satisfies a predetermined condition in the game, visible information indicating that the condition is satisfied is recorded on the physical medium. It may be generated. In this case, the user can use the physical medium as a memorial for satisfying a predetermined condition in playing the game or as a means for showing to another person that the condition is satisfied.

In the above aspect, the game system includes a server and a plurality of terminal devices that function as clients with respect to the server, with at least one terminal device as the game device and at least one other terminal device as the medium output device. The reservation information may be provided and stored on the server. According to this, it is possible to provide the medium information necessary for generating the physical medium from the game machine to the medium output device via the server.

Further, at least two terminal devices are provided as game devices that provide users with different types of games, and the reservation means is associated with the type of game in the game device on which the reservation operation is performed. The output processing means may allow the user to select the type of the game via the medium output device and acquire the reservation information corresponding to the selected type of game. According to this, the medium output device is made compatible with a plurality of types of games, whereby a wide variety of physical media corresponding to the type of game and the user's play are generated by the medium output device and output to the user. can do. Therefore, it is possible to increase the value of the medium output device by taking advantage of the network type.

Further, the output processing means confirms the presence or absence of the reservation information corresponding to the user who operates the medium output device for each type of the game, and determines the type of game in which the reservation information exists in the medium output device. May be presented to the user who operates. According to this, the user can grasp which kind of game the reservation information exists for. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with useful information regarding the selection of the game type in the medium output device.

In order to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the invention described above, the correspondence between each aspect and the embodiment is shown below. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated form.

In the above embodiment, the game machine 3 corresponds to an example of a game device, and the card vendor 4 corresponds to an example of a medium output device. In the server 2, the profile print processing unit 25 functions as an example of the reservation means by executing steps S253 and S254 in FIG. 23, and the memorial print processing unit 26 executes steps S281 and S282 in FIG. 26. It functions as an example of reservation means. Further, the profile print processing unit 25 functions as an example of the output processing means by executing steps S261 to S266 in FIG. 24, and the memorial print processing unit 26 executes the output processing means by executing steps S291 to S296 in FIG. 27. It serves as an example.

1 Game system 2 Server 3 Game machine 4 Card vendor 5 User terminal 6 Store 10, 30, 40, 50 Control unit 21 Print management department 22 Relationship management department 23 Lottery print processing department 24 Virtual board management department 25 Profile print processing department 26 Memorial Print processing unit 35 Game control unit 36 Print management unit 44 Printer 45 Print management unit 46 Printer control unit 55 Service management unit 100 Two-dimensional code 101 Symbolic information 110 Commemorative information 200 Content select screen 210 Content home screen 220 Lottery result screen 230 Print card Selection screen 240 Exchange source card selection screen Cm Memorial card Cp Profile card Cr Real card Cv Virtual card VB Virtual board

Claims (11)

A game system in which a game device that allows a user to play a game and a medium output device that generates and outputs a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network.
Based on the user's reservation operation for the game device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information corresponds to the user. Reservation means to save as reservation information and
An output processing means for acquiring the reservation information corresponding to the user based on the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device and causing the medium output device to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information.
Game system with. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the reservation means generates the medium information based on the play-related information obtained in association with the play of the game by the user. The reservation means obtains information on the performance of the game played by the user as the play-related information, and generates the media information so that the visible information on the performance is recorded on the physical medium. Item 2. The game system according to item 2. The reservation means acquires the image of the game being played by the user as the play-related information, and generates the medium information so that the obtained image is recorded on the physical medium. The game system described in. Any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the reservation means acquires an image of a user who plays the game as the play-related information, and generates the medium information so that the obtained image is recorded on the physical medium. The game system described in item 1. When the user satisfies a predetermined condition in the game, the reservation means generates the medium information so that visible information indicating that the condition is satisfied is recorded on the physical medium. The game system according to any one of claims 2 to 5. Includes a server and a plurality of terminal devices that act as clients to the server.
At least one terminal device is provided as the game device, and at least one other terminal device is provided as the medium output device.
The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reservation information is stored on the server. At least two terminal devices are provided as game devices that provide users with different types of games.
The reservation means generates the reservation information in association with the type of game in the game device on which the reservation operation is performed.
The game system according to claim 7, wherein the output processing means causes the user to select the type of the game via the medium output device, and acquires the reservation information corresponding to the selected type of game. The output processing means confirms the presence or absence of the reservation information corresponding to the user who operates the medium output device for each type of the game, and operates the medium output device for the type of game in which the reservation information exists. The game system according to claim 8, which is presented to the user. A control method for a game system in which a game device that allows a user to play a game and a medium output device that generates and outputs a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network.
Based on the user's reservation operation for the game device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information corresponds to the user. Reservation procedure to save as reservation information and
An output processing procedure for acquiring the reservation information corresponding to the user based on the operation of the user with respect to the medium output device and causing the medium output device to generate a physical medium based on the obtained reservation information.
A game system control method for causing the computer of the game system to execute. A computer of a game system in which a game device that allows a user to play a game and a medium output device that generates and outputs a physical medium are connected to a predetermined network.
Based on the user's reservation operation with respect to the game device, medium information for generating the physical medium associated with the play of the game by the user is generated, and the obtained medium information corresponds to the user. Based on the reservation means stored as reservation information and the user's operation on the medium output device, the reservation information corresponding to the user is acquired, and the physical medium based on the obtained reservation information is used in the medium output device. Output processing means to generate,
A computer program configured to function as.

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