JP5277305B2 - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

The game system grants rewards to a user according to the results of the user playing a game on an individual terminal device (8). When the reward reaches a prescribed state, the system allows the user to play a game in a specified mode on a game machine (2) in exchange for spending said reward. When the user plays the game in the specified mode on the game machine (2), the system grants the user a privilege associated with a service that the user can receive on the individual terminal device (8) according to the results of playing in the specified mode.

Description

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

  An online game system that allows a user to play a game using a personal terminal device that can be connected to a network is widely used. A game system that provides information associated with a game in a commercial game machine as a Web content to a user's personal terminal device is also known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-175004 A

  While game systems using personal terminal devices have the advantage that they can easily enjoy the game at any time, the game grades such as game screen size, resolution, and video quality are limited due to the limitations of the terminal device performance. It is inferior to that of games offered on commercial game machines. However, in order to play a commercial game machine, it is necessary for the user to visit a place where the game machine is installed such as an amusement facility. Therefore, in order for the user to enjoy the high-grade game provided by the commercial game machine, it is necessary to take measures to attract the user to the place where the commercial game machine is installed.

  Therefore, the present invention links the game to be executed on the user's personal terminal device and the game to be executed on the commercial game machine, thereby allowing the user to enter the facility where the commercial game machine is installed. An object is to provide a game system that can be attracted.

The game system (1) of the present invention is installed in a predetermined facility (4), and is a commercial game machine (2) that permits the user to play the first game in exchange for payment of the play fee by the user. A personal terminal device (8) of a user and a server device (3) that provides a predetermined service to the game machine and the personal terminal device are connected via a network (5), and the server An apparatus can provide a service for allowing the user to play a second game on the personal terminal device to the personal terminal device , and the user can use the second game on the personal terminal device. Reward granting means (23, S201 to S203) for granting a reward to the user according to the result of playing the game, and when the reward given to the user by the reward granting means reaches a predetermined state The specific mode that allows the user to play in the specific mode in the first game in exchange for consumption of the reward, and prohibits the play in the specific mode when the reward does not reach the predetermined state Permit means (12, S303 to S305) and when the user plays the first game in the specific mode, the user can enjoy it on the personal terminal device according to the play result of the specific mode A privilege granting means (22, S223, S225, S226) for granting a privilege associated with a service to the user , wherein the server device assigns a predetermined person to the user. Register as a user with a connection, and provide a place for users with the connection to interact via the network A service can be further provided as a kind of the predetermined service, a predetermined point is given to the user in association with the exchange through the network between the users, and the server device is configured to consume a predetermined amount of the point. In exchange, the user is allowed to play the second game, and the privilege granting means gives the user a privilege that favors the acquisition of the points to the user who has played the first game in the specific mode. It is given.

According to the present invention, when the user plays the second game on the personal terminal device, a reward corresponding to the play result is given to the user. When the reward reaches a predetermined state, it becomes possible to play the first game by the game machine in the specific mode, and a privilege is given to the user according to the play result in the specific mode. You can enjoy the benefits of services that you can enjoy in Thereby, the user is motivated to play the first game of the game machine for the purpose of acquiring the privilege, and thereby the user can be attracted to the facility where the game machine is installed. In particular, in the case of the present invention, in order for the user to play the second game on the personal terminal device, it is necessary to exchange points with other users via the network to accumulate points. Playing in a specific mode and gaining benefits will be advantageous for earning points. As a result, the effect of attracting the user to the facility where the game machine is installed is further enhanced, and the user's interaction is activated to increase the interest of many users in the game, thereby expanding the user population of the game system. And improve profitability.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the game system further includes permission notification means (32, S104, S105) for notifying the user through the personal terminal device that the play in the specific mode is permitted. Good. Thereby, the user's attracting effect to the facility where the game machine is installed can be surely exhibited.

  Furthermore, an upper limit is set for the number of people who can be registered as the user having the predetermined connection, and the privilege granting unit responds to the user who played the first game according to the play result of the specific mode. It is also possible to increase the upper limit number related to the user and thereby give the user a privilege advantageous for acquiring the points. By increasing the upper limit of the number of users who can interact with each other, each user can interact with a larger number of users, and the number of points can be increased. As a result, it is possible to further expand the user population of the game system and further improve profitability.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the game system further includes a task setting unit (12, S305) for setting a task to be achieved by the user in the specific mode, and the privilege granting unit is configured so that the user achieves the task. When it does, it is good also as what gives the said privilege to the said user. By setting the assignment, the user's willingness to challenge the first game can be increased, and the user's attraction effect to the facility where the game machine is installed can be more reliably exhibited.

  The task setting means may set the task so that the difficulty level of the task increases as the number of times the user has achieved the task increases. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the willingness to play with the increase in the user's proficiency level with respect to the first game, and to stimulate the user's willingness to challenge through the setting of a task with a higher degree of difficulty.

  In the present invention, the term “personal terminal device” is a terminal device that is assigned or loaned to a user mainly on the premise of personal use, regardless of whether the transfer or loan is paid or free of charge. The name is not limited as long as it can be connected to the server apparatus via the network. For example, various personal information communication terminal devices such as personal computers, home game machines, and mobile phones (including so-called smartphones) can be used as personal terminal devices in the present invention. In addition, “commercial game machine” means a game machine that is configured on the assumption that an operator receives or transfers all or part of hardware and software and allows the user to use them for a fee. means. The “facility” is sufficient if it has a facility for operating a commercial game machine, and it does not matter whether the facility itself is commercial, public, or private.

  In addition, in the above description, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the reference sign of the accompanying drawing was attached in parenthesis, but this invention is not limited to the form of illustration by it.

  As described above, according to the game system of the present invention, the reward given to the user as a result of the user playing the second game on the personal terminal device is specified as the first game in the game machine. A privilege is given to the user according to the play result of the specific mode in the game machine in relation to the play permission condition of the mode so that the user can benefit from the privilege in a service that can be enjoyed by the personal terminal device Therefore, linking the first game and the second game to create a willingness to play the first game of the game machine, thereby attracting the user to the facility where the game machine is installed Can do.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the game system which concerns on one form of this invention. The functional block diagram in the principal part of the game system which concerns on a 1st form. The figure for demonstrating the concept of the fight point acquisition in a community service. The figure for demonstrating the concept of the mobile game which should be performed on a user terminal in association with a fight point. The figure for demonstrating the concept of the challenge mode of the arcade game which should be performed on a game machine in cooperation with a mobile game. The figure which shows an example of a structure of assignment data. The figure which shows an example of a structure of play data. The figure which shows an example of a structure of community data. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a user terminal and a center server performs in order to increase the number of plates according to the play result of a mobile game. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs when starting an arcade game with a game machine. The flowchart which shows the process which each control unit of a game machine and a center server performs in order to process the play result of challenge mode.

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

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

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

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

  The center server 3 provides various services via the network 5 to the game machine 2, users (players), and operators. For example, the center server 3 provides various game machine services to the game machine 2 or its players. As a service for the game machine, for example, a service for receiving player identification information from the game machine 2 and authenticating the player, and receiving and storing the play data of the player from the game machine 2 or providing the game machine 2; There are a service for updating a program or data of the game machine 2 via the network 5, a service for matching users when a plurality of users play a common game via the network 5, and the like. The center server 3 also provides various Web services to the user terminal 8 that is accessed via the network 5. Examples of the Web service include a service for playing a predetermined game in response to an access from the user terminal 8, and a game information service for providing a user with various information related to a game to be executed on the game machine 2 or the user terminal 8. There is a service such as a community service that provides a place for exchange such as information transmission, exchange and sharing by the user. In the following description, a game to be executed on the game machine 2 may be referred to as an arcade game, and a game to be executed on the user terminal 8 may be referred to as a mobile game to distinguish between the two games.

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

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

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

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

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

  Next, the game machine 2 is provided with a control unit 10 and a storage device 11. The control unit 10 is configured as a computer unit that combines a microprocessor and peripheral devices such as an internal storage device necessary for the operation of the microprocessor. The storage device 11 is a storage device capable of storing data, such as a hard disk storage device. The storage device 11 stores a game machine program to be executed by the control unit 10 and various data to be referred to by the program. As an example, at the time of execution of the arcade game, at least a part of the play data 43 associated with the player is provided from the center server 3 to the game machine 2 and recorded in the storage device 11. The play data 43 will be described later.

  In addition to the above, the control unit 10 is provided with various input / output devices such as an input operation device, a display device, a sound reproduction device, a card reader, and a coin authentication device, as in known game machines, but these are not shown. did. The card reader is provided for reading information on the card 9 possessed by the player and outputting a signal corresponding to the information to the control unit 10. The card 9 is provided with a non-volatile storage medium (not shown) such as an IC chip or a magnetic stripe, and the medium has a unique ID for each card 9 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a card ID). It is recorded. The card ID is used to call the play data 43 stored on the center server 3. The center server 3 identifies a user (player) using a unique user ID for each user, and the play data 43 is also recorded in a one-to-one correspondence with the user ID. The card ID is associated with the user ID one-to-one or many-to-one. By referring to the ID management data 40, the center server 3 can determine the correspondence between the card ID and the user ID and specify the user ID of the player. That is, in this embodiment, both the card ID and the user ID function as user identification information. The card ID may be recorded on the card 9 in the form of a barcode or the like. Alternatively, instead of the card 9, the card ID may be recorded on a storage medium such as an IC chip mounted on a mobile phone or the like.

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

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

  Further, the user terminal 8 is also provided with a control unit 30 as a computer unit and a storage device 31. The control unit 30 is provided with a Web service processing unit 32 as a logical device realized by a combination of computer hardware and predetermined software. The web service processing unit 32 executes processes necessary for causing the user to use the web service in cooperation with the web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. For example, the web service processing unit 32 cooperates with the web service management unit 23 of the center server 3 to execute processing necessary for causing the user to play the mobile game. Further, the Web service processing unit 32 operates the user terminal 8 as a terminal device for using the community service. The community service function may be realized by using software installed in each of the Web server and the user terminal in order to realize a known communication service such as SNS. In the community service, it is possible to set a friendship relationship between users by a predetermined procedure. “Buddy” is a term used as a concept indicating that a predetermined connection exists between users.

  The storage device 31 is a storage device capable of storing data such as a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device. The storage device 31 stores a mobile game program to be executed by the control unit 30 and various data to be referred to by the program. As an example, at the time of executing a mobile game, at least a part of the play data 43 associated with the player is provided from the center server 3 to the user terminal 8 and recorded in the storage device 31.

  Next, a mechanism of cooperation of various services in the game system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C. FIG. 3A shows the concept of the community service provided by the Web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. The user A can use the community service to register another user as a friend and communicate with the fellow through the user terminal 8 such as message exchange. In the community service, the user A acquires fight points according to a predetermined condition. However, in the community service, it may be possible to send and receive comments from the game machine 2. Conditions for acquiring fight points may be set as appropriate in association with communication between users.

  FIG. 3B shows the concept of a mobile game provided by the Web service management unit 23 of the center server 3. User A can play a predetermined mobile game in exchange for consumption of fight points acquired through the use of the community service. In the mobile game, the user A can obtain a game item called “plate” as a reward. The number of plates that can be acquired is set according to the play results in the mobile game. For example, the better the grade, the greater the number of acquired plates. The mobile game here may be the entire game that can be executed on the user terminal 8, or may be prepared as a mode that constitutes a part of the game that can be executed on the user terminal 8. Good.

  FIG. 3C shows the concept of the challenge mode of the arcade game provided by the game machine service management unit 22 of the center server 3 in association with the plate described above. In the arcade game, various modes are prepared. The challenge mode is a mode prepared in consideration of cooperation with the mobile game. When the number of plates acquired by the user A reaches a predetermined number (for example, five), the user A can play the challenge mode in exchange for consumption of the predetermined number of plates. In the challenge mode, a problem is imposed on the user A. When the challenge mode is achieved, the user A is subjected to a process of increasing the upper limit number of friends that can be registered in the community service as a privilege associated with the mobile game. The more friends there are, the more chances to acquire fight points, and more mobile games can be played. With such a cooperation mechanism, motivation to go to the store 4 and play an arcade game can be given to a user who plays a mobile game.

  Next, details of data recorded in the storage device 21 of the center server 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage device 21 of the center server 3 includes ID management data 40, arcade game data 41, mobile game data 42, a group of play data 43, a group of community data 44, and account data. Forty-five groups are recorded. The ID management data ID 40 is data describing the correspondence between various IDs used in the game system 1. For example, the correspondence relationship between the card ID and the user ID described above is recorded in the ID management data 40. In the community service provided by the center server 3, a community ID different from the user ID is set. The correspondence relationship between the community ID and the user ID is also recorded in the ID management data 40. The account data 45 is data in which a user ID and the amount (balance) of virtual currency held by the user are recorded in association with each other.

  The arcade game data 41 is data that is appropriately referred to by the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in relation to an arcade game to be executed on the game machine 2. For example, the task data 46 shown in FIG. 4 is prepared as a part of the arcade game data 41 as data to be referred to in the challenge mode in the arcade game. The assignment data 46 is data in which the challenge level of the user and the contents of the assignment are associated and recorded. The challenge level is a parameter indicating the rank of the user in the challenge mode. The higher the challenge level, the higher the difficulty of the task. The assignment data 46 is appropriately distributed from the center server 3 to the game machine 2 and recorded in the storage device 11 of the game machine 2. The assignment is set in association with the content of the arcade game. For example, the task of winning an online match or acquiring the first place among three or more players is set.

  Also, the mobile game data 42 shown in FIG. 2 is data that the control unit 20 of the center server 3 appropriately refers to in relation to the mobile game to be executed on the user terminal 8. A plurality of types of arcade game data 41 and mobile game data 42 are prepared according to the type of game, but FIG. 2 shows only data corresponding to a set of arcade games and mobile games for which a cooperative relationship is set. ing. Note that the arcade game and the mobile game for which a cooperative relationship should be set are configured based on a common motif. For example, when a mobile game is configured with mahjong as a motif, an arcade game to be linked with the mobile game is also configured with mahjong as a motif. Motifs are not limited to mahjong, but card games, shogi, and other various motifs can be used.

  The play data 43 is created for each user ID, and a set of them is a group of play data 43. When a player plays an arcade game on any of the game machines 2, the card ID that the player has recognized by the game machine 2 is provided to the center server 3 and corresponds to the user ID associated with the card ID. At least a part of the play data 43 is provided from the center server 3 to the game machine 2 and stored in the storage device 11 of the game machine 2. An example of the play data 43 is shown in FIG. In the play data 43 of FIG. 5, arcade data and mobile data are recorded in association with the user ID. The arcade data includes information associated with the play of the arcade game such as the results recorded by the user in the arcade game and the items acquired. On the other hand, the mobile data includes information associated with the play of the mobile game such as the results recorded by the user in the mobile game and the items acquired. In order to realize the above-described cooperation between games, in the example of FIG. 5, information on fight points, challenge levels, and plate acquisition numbers is included in the mobile data. However, these pieces of information may be recorded in the arcade data, or may be recorded in the community data 44 described later. In any case, it is only necessary that the fight point, the challenge level, and the number of acquired plates can be specified in association with the user ID.

  The community data 44 shown in FIG. 2 is data in which various types of information to be referred to when the user uses the community service, and is created for each community ID. A set of these data is a group of community data 44. An example of the community data 44 is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, the community data 44 includes comment data in which a user sends a comment to a friend or records a comment received from the friend, an upper limit number of users that can be registered as a friend, and community IDs of registered friends ( Fellow ID) is recorded in association with the community ID of the user. In addition, the procedure for registering a friend is similar to that of a general community service, and the center server 3 is accessed from the user terminal 8 to send an invitation as a friend to another user, and the consent of the transmission partner is obtained. In such a case, a process of recording the other party's community ID in the friend ID of each user may be performed, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the setting of the friend relationship is not limited to the online processing via the network 5, but may be applied offline, and the operator of the center server 3 may describe the application content in the community data 44 at an appropriate time.

  Each data mentioned above is only an example of data recorded in the storage devices 11, 21, 31. In addition to the illustrated data, the storage devices 11, 21, and 31 record various data necessary for processing such as game execution, collection of play fees, and distribution of revenue between the operator and the service provider. However, those descriptions are omitted.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, various processes executed in association with the cooperation between the mobile game and the arcade game will be described. FIG. 7 shows a process executed by the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 in order to update the number of plates according to the game play result when the mobile game play ends. ing. However, the execution subject of the processing of FIG. 7 is specifically the Web service processing unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the Web service management unit 23 of the control unit 20. Prior to the following processing, the user accesses the center server 3 via the user terminal 8 and transmits the user ID and password, whereby the web login processing in which the center server 3 authenticates the user is completed. Shall. When playing a mobile game, the Web service processing unit 23 of the center server 3 specifies the user's play data 43 using the user ID as a clue, and the fight points recorded in the play data 43 are consumed by a predetermined unit amount. Let

  When the mobile game ends, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 starts the plate number update process of FIG. 7 and first notifies the center server 3 of the game play result (step S101). Upon receiving the play result notification from the user terminal 8, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 starts the plate number management process of FIG. 7, and first evaluates the play result provided from the user terminal 8 (step S201). The number of plates to be given to the user is determined according to the evaluation result (step S202). The correspondence between the play result and the number of plates is recorded in advance in the mobile game data 42, for example. The relationship is set so that the better the game results, the greater the number of plates. For example, if the mobile game has a mahjong motif, a plate is given when the user forms a combination and the number of plates increases as the evaluation of the combination increases.

  After determining the number of plates, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 updates the value of the number of plates recorded in the user play data 43 so that the number of plates acquired this time is added (step S203). The obtained number of plates and the updated number of plates are notified to the user terminal 8 as an update result (step S204). Thereafter, the control unit 20 finishes the plate number management process of FIG. On the other hand, the control unit 30 of the user terminal 8 acquires the update result notified from the center server 3 (step S102), displays the update result to the user (step S103), and then notified from the center server 3. Based on the update result, it is determined whether or not the number of plates of the user is 5 or more (step S104). When the number of plates is 5 or more, the control unit 30 notifies the user that the right to challenge the arcade game challenge mode has been acquired (step S105). By this notification, if an arcade game is played on the game machine 2, it is possible to make the user recognize that the upper limit number of friends can be increased. After the notification in step S105, the control unit 30 finishes the process of FIG. When the number of plates is less than 5, the process of step S105 is omitted.

  FIG. 8 shows a login management process executed by the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 of the center server 3 when the user starts an arcade game on the game machine 2. When the user instructs the game machine 2 to start an arcade game, the control unit 10 requests the user to scan the card 9, and in response to this, the user scans the card 9 and the game machine 2 When the card ID is read, the control unit 10 (game service processing unit 12) starts the login management process of FIG. 8, notifies the read card ID to the center server 3 and requests the login process (step S301). In response to this, the control unit 20 (game machine service management unit 22) of the center server 3 also starts the login management process of FIG. 8, and first identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID by referring to the ID management data 40 ( In step S211, the play data 43 associated with the user ID is extracted (step S212). Subsequently, the control unit 20 provides the extracted play data 43 to the game machine 2 (step S213), and thereafter ends the login management process.

  On the other hand, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 acquires the play data 43 provided from the center server 3 (step S302), and determines whether or not the number of plates recorded in the play data 43 is 5 or more ( Step S303). If the number of plates is less than 5, the control unit 10 sets the game environment so that the arcade game is started in the normal mode (not the challenge mode) (step S304). On the other hand, if the number of plates is 5 or more, the control unit 10 sets the game environment so that the arcade game is started in the challenge mode (step S305). Subsequently, the control unit 10 discriminates the challenge level recorded in the play data 43, and sets a task corresponding to the challenge level with reference to the task data 46 (step S306). Thereafter, the control unit 10 notifies the user of the problem (step S307). When the process of step S304 or S307 is completed, the control unit 10 ends the login management process. When the login management process ends, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 requests the user to pay a predetermined play fee, and starts the arcade game in the normal mode or the challenge mode in exchange for the payment.

  FIG. 9 shows a process executed by the control unit 10 (game machine service processing unit 22) of the game machine 2 and the control unit 20 (game machine service management unit 22) of the center server 3 in order to process the play result of the challenge mode. Is shown. When the challenge mode game ends, the control unit 10 of the game machine 2 starts the challenge mode process of FIG. 9, first evaluates the play result of the challenge mode (step S311), and determines whether or not the task has been achieved. (Step S312). When the task is achieved, the control unit 10 starts a predetermined challenge success presentation on the screen of the display device of the game machine 2 (step S313), and the challenge level of the play data 43 held in the storage device 11 is set to 1. Are added (step S314). On the other hand, if the task has not been achieved, the control unit 10 starts a predetermined challenge failure effect on the screen of the display device of the game machine 2 (step S315). After the processing of step S314 or S315, the control unit 10 instructs the center server 3 to update data according to the challenge mode play result (step S316). In this case, it is notified to the center server 3 whether or not the challenge mode has been achieved, and the data update according to the result is instructed. After the instruction in step S316, the control unit 10 finishes the process of FIG.

  On the other hand, when data update is instructed from the game machine 2, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 starts the data management process of FIG. 9, and first identifies the user ID of the game machine 2 (step S221). Subsequently, the control unit 20 extracts the play data 43 and community data 44 recorded in the storage device 21 in association with the user ID (step S222), and further refers to the data update instruction from the game machine 2. Then, it is determined whether or not the user has achieved the task (step S223). If the task has been achieved, the control unit 20 adds 1 to the challenge level in the user's play data 43 (step S224), and increases the upper limit number of friends recorded in the community data 44 by a predetermined number (step S225). ). Thereafter, the control unit 20 subtracts 5 from the number of plates recorded in the user's play data 43 (step S226). This process is a process of consuming the number of plates in exchange for the challenge mode play. After the process of step S226, the control unit 20 finishes the process of FIG. If it is determined in step S223 that the task has not been achieved, the control unit 20 skips steps S224 and S225 and executes the process of step S226.

  In the above embodiment, the arcade game executed on the game machine 2 corresponds to the first game, and the mobile game executed on the user terminal 8 corresponds to the second game. The plate given to the user according to the play result of the mobile game corresponds to the reward in the present invention, and the Web service management unit 23 of the center server 3 executes the processes of steps S201 to S203 in FIG. Function as a reward granting means. The challenge mode executed in the game machine 2 corresponds to the specific mode of the first game in the present invention, and the game service processing unit 12 of the game machine 2 executes the processes of steps S303 to S305 in FIG. Function as specific mode permission means. The increase process of the upper limit number of friends executed when the task is achieved in the challenge mode corresponds to a privilege in the present invention, and the game machine service management unit 22 of the center server 3 performs the processes of steps S223, S225, and S226 in FIG. It functions as a privilege provision means of this invention by performing. The Web service processing unit 32 of the user terminal 8 functions as the permission notification unit of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S104 and S105 of FIG. Further, the game service processing unit 12 of the game machine 2 functions as a problem setting unit of the present invention by executing the process of step S305 in FIG.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, in the above-described form, a privilege is given to the user by increasing the upper limit number that can be registered as a friend according to the result of the user playing the first game in the specific mode. As long as it is associated with a service that can be enjoyed on the terminal device, various modifications are possible. As an example, privilege granting to a user may be realized by executing processing such as relaxing the conditions for acquiring points in an exchange place or increasing the number of points that can be acquired under the same conditions. In the present invention, it is not always necessary to provide a place for exchange between users registered as friends. For example, when the second game in the personal terminal device is permitted in exchange for the payment of the play fee by the user, as a privilege in the first game, points equivalent to the play fee in the second game and other parameters The setting value may be given to the user. Furthermore, the privilege does not necessarily need to be associated with the second game. When a user acquires a privilege in the first game, it is sufficient that the user can receive the benefit of the privilege in some form when using the service in the personal terminal device.

1 Game System 2 Commercial Game Machine 3 Center Server (Server Device)
8 User terminal (personal terminal device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game machine control unit 12 Game service processing part 20 Center server control unit 22 Game machine service management part 23 Web service processing part 30 User terminal control unit

Claims (5)

A commercial game machine installed in a predetermined facility and allowing the user to play the first game in exchange for payment of a play fee by the user, the user's personal terminal device, the game machine, and the personal A server device that provides a predetermined service to the terminal device is connected via a network, and the server device provides a service that allows the user to play a second game on the personal terminal device. Can be provided as a kind of service that can be provided to the terminal device ,
Reward granting means for rewarding the user in accordance with a result of the user playing the second game on the personal terminal device;
When the reward granted to the user by the reward granting means reaches a predetermined state, the user is allowed to play in the specific mode in the first game in exchange for consumption of the reward, and the reward is Specific mode permission means for prohibiting play in the specific mode when the predetermined state is not reached;
When the user plays the first game in the specific mode, a privilege associated with a service that can be enjoyed by the user on the personal terminal device is given to the user according to a play result of the specific mode. A privilege granting means to be granted;
A game system comprising :
The server device is a type of the predetermined service that provides a service for allowing the user to register another user as a user having a predetermined connection and providing a place where the users having the connection interact with each other via the network. As further available
A predetermined point is given to the user in association with the exchange through the network between the users,
The server device causes the user to play the second game in exchange for a predetermined amount of the point,
The said privilege provision means is a game system which provides the said user with the privilege which acts advantageously on acquisition of the said point with respect to the user who played the said 1st game in the said specific mode.   The game system according to claim 1, further comprising permission notifying means for notifying the user through the personal terminal device that play in the specific mode is permitted. An upper limit is set for the number of people that can be registered as the user having the predetermined connection,
The privilege granting unit increases the upper limit number related to the user according to the play result of the specific mode for the user who played the first game, thereby giving the privilege advantageous for acquiring the points. The game system according to claim 1 or 2 given to a user. A task setting means for setting a task to be achieved by the user in the specific mode;
The said privilege provision means is a game system as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which provides the said privilege to the said user, when the said user achieves the said subject. The game system according to claim 4 , wherein the task setting unit sets the task so that the difficulty level of the tentative title increases as the number of times the user has achieved the task increases.

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