JP6772407B2 - Amusement system - Google Patents

Description

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

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

JP-A-2007-206823 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-422333

In an online amusement system such as Patent Document 1 described above, a wide variety of contents (or content usage rights) such as items and characters used in a game are sequentially obtained by a user in association with predetermined conditions. Is commonly done. In that case, in order to add chance and suspicion to the acquisition of the content, a method of executing a lottery in which the content is positioned as a prize and having the user obtain the winning prize may be adopted. However, the user can only get the opportunity to obtain the prize in the closed virtual world of the online game only by drawing the prize in association with the operation of the game terminal device in the online amusement system.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an amusement system that expands the opportunity for the user to obtain a prize associated with the game.

The present invention includes a server device (2) to which a game terminal device (7) for playing a predetermined game can be connected via a network (4), and the server device is associated with the game. At least a part of the plurality of prizes in association with a storage means (21) for storing the prize data (D11) corresponding to each of the plurality of prizes (a card as an example) and a user's operation on the game terminal device. The prizes to be given to the user are drawn from the prize group of the lottery candidates for the game terminal set for the above (S202), and the prize data corresponding to the lottered prizes is used by the user in the game. In the amusement system (1) provided with the lottery means (22) for executing the process (S204), the amusement system (1) is configured as a physical device different from the game terminal device, and is connected to the server device via the network. The vendor device (3) is further provided, and the vendor device includes a lottery requesting means (30, S302) that requests the server device to draw the prize based on the operation of the user, and the prize data from the server device. Alternatively, data equivalent to the prize data is acquired as prize output data (S306), and the prize is output to the user in a predetermined mode (as an example, a physical card CDp mode) based on the prize output data. The prize output means (30, 35, S307) is provided, and the lottery means of the server device responds to the lottery request from the lottery requesting means of the vendor device, and at least of the plurality of prizes. A prize to be given to the user is drawn from the prize group of lottery candidates for vendors set for a part (S221), and information for identifying the lottered prize (card number as an example) is notified to the vendor device. (S222), the prize output means of the vendor device identifies the lottered prize based on the information notified from the lottery means, and the prize output data corresponding to the identified prize is used. The prize is output to the user.

According to the amusement system of the present invention, the lottery means draws a prize in association with the user's operation on the game terminal device, and the user is made to use the prize data corresponding to the lottered prize. In addition, the lottery means executes the lottery based on the user's operation on the vendor device, and the server device provides the prize data or equivalent data to the vendor device as the prize output data, and is based on the prize output data. The prize is output to the user in a predetermined manner. Therefore, the user not only has the opportunity to obtain the prize in the closed virtual world of the online game, but also can obtain the prize by using the vendor device. In other words, it is possible to provide not only the user who operates the game terminal device but also the user who operates the vendor device with an opportunity to obtain a prize associated with the game. Therefore, it is possible to expand the opportunity for the user to obtain the prize, and the effect becomes more remarkable as the number of installed vendor devices and the installation location are increased. The existence of the vendor device itself or the prize paid out from the vendor device is used to promote the existence of the game, raise the awareness of the game in the real world, motivate many users to play the game, and play the game. It is possible to expand the number of users and the user base.

According to the present invention, the prize group of the lottery candidate for the game terminal and the prize group of the lottery candidate for the vendor provide at least a part of the plurality of prizes corresponding to the prize data recorded in the storage means of the server device. It is set as a target. That is, the maximum range of prize groups that are candidates for lottery is standardized. Therefore, when new prize data is added to the storage means of the server device due to a game update or the like, not only the new prize corresponding to this can be added to the lottery candidates for the game terminal, but also It can be added to the lottery candidates for vendors as well. It is not necessary to prepare prize data separately for each lottery candidate, the labor of storing the data can be reduced, and the storage capacity of the server device can also be reduced.

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

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

The prize output means displays an identification information unit (P5) in which information for identifying the lottery prize is expressed in a manner readable by the game terminal device, together with images of the prize (P1 to P4). It is printed out on a print medium, and the server device acquires information for identifying the prize read from the identification information unit by the game terminal device from the game terminal device, and is based on the acquired information. Further provided with information processing means (22, S231, S232) for identifying the prize output by the prize output means and executing a process for causing the user to use the prize data corresponding to the identified prize in the game. You may. According to this, by having the game terminal device read the information of the prize identification information unit provided to the user from the vendor device, the server device identifies the prize corresponding to the information, and the prize corresponding to the prize is identified. The process of making the user use the data is performed. Therefore, the prize provided to the user as a physical existence can be replaced with a virtual prize and used by the user on the game terminal device. As a result, it is possible to raise the interest of the user who has acquired the card by the vendor device for the game and to give the user a stronger motivation for playing the game.

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

The prize group of the lottery candidate for the vendor may include a prize (for example, a prize of rank 2s, 2 + s, Xs in FIG. 6) which is not included in the prize group of the lottery candidate for the game terminal. According to this, it is possible to generate a prize that can be obtained only by a lottery for the vendor device, and to guide the user to a lottery for the vendor device for the purpose of obtaining such a card.

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

In the lottery table, a probability setting unit for game terminals (in FIG. 6, SNS free and SNS) in which the probability distribution for each rank to be referred to when drawing prizes from the prize group of the lottery candidates for game terminals is described. Probability setting unit for vendors (probability corresponding to vendor lottery) that describes the probability distribution for each rank that should be referred to when drawing prizes from the prize group of lottery candidates for vendors (probability distribution part corresponding to pay) (Distribution part) and may be provided. According to this, by adjusting the probability distribution in each probability setting unit, while sharing a plurality of prizes as a population, the lottery probability distribution of the lottery candidate prize group and the prizes included in them can be distributed to the game terminal device. It is possible to flexibly set the lottery for the vendor device and the lottery for the vendor device. Of course, the prize group and the probability distribution of the lottery candidates may be matched between the lottery for the game terminal device and the lottery for the vendor device.

In the probability setting unit for game terminals, a zero probability is set for some ranks, and in the probability setting unit for vendors, at least a rank in which a probability of zero is set in the probability setting unit for game terminals. A probability greater than zero may be set for one. Ranks with a probability of zero are unlikely to be selected by lottery and will be excluded from the lottery candidates. Thereby, the range of the prize group of the lottery candidates can be appropriately set. Moreover, if at least one of the ranks for which the probability of zero is set in the probability setting unit for game terminals is set with a probability greater than zero in the probability setting unit for vendors, the prize of that rank is vendored. It can be set as a prize that can only be obtained by lottery for the device.

The vendor device is provided with a fee collecting means (34) for collecting a lottery fee from a user, and the lottery requesting means of the vendor device is said to be subject to the condition that the fee collecting means collects the lottery fee. The server device may be requested to draw the prize. According to this, while eliminating the risk of excessive output of prizes in the lottery using the vendor device, the value commensurate with the lottery fee is added to the prizes paid out from the vendor device, thereby providing the vendor device. It is possible to increase the user's sense of conviction for obtaining the prize through the product.

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

In the present invention, the game terminal device is sufficient as long as it is possible for the user to play the game and the service can be provided from the server device via the network. , The terminal device for the purpose may be used as a game terminal device. As an example, the user's personal terminal device may be used as a game terminal device.

In the above description, reference numerals of the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated form.

As described above, according to the amusement system of the present invention, not only the user is provided with an opportunity to obtain a prize in the closed virtual world of the online game, but also the prize using the vendor device is used. Since the opportunity for acquisition can be provided to the user, the opportunity for the user to obtain the prize can be expanded. The existence of the vendor device itself or the prize paid out from the vendor device is used to promote the existence of the game, raise the awareness of the game in the real world, motivate many users to play the game, and play the game. It is possible to expand the number of users and the user base.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the amusement system which concerns on one form of this invention. The functional block diagram in the main part of the amusement system which concerns on the 1st form. The figure which shows the mutual relationship between a card data and a virtual and physical card output based on the card data. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of a card data. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of play data. The figure which shows the contents of a lottery table in a table format. A flowchart showing the procedure of the prize lottery executed for the user terminal. A flowchart showing the procedure of the prize lottery executed for the vendor device. A flowchart showing a procedure for allowing a user to use card data corresponding to a card output by a vendor device in a game played on a user terminal.

Hereinafter, the amusement system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is for an amusement system in which a user is allowed to play a game using a plurality of cards, at least a part of those cards is selected as a lottery candidate, and the drawn card is provided to the user as a prize. This is an example to which the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of the system will be described with reference to FIG. The amusement system 1 includes a center server 2 as a server device and a plurality of vendor devices 3. The center server 2 and the vendor device 3 are connected to each other via the network 4. The center server 2 is configured to function as one logical server device by combining a plurality of server units 2A and 2B. However, a single server unit may function as the center server 2. One logical center server 2 may be configured by using cloud computing.

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

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

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

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

A game server unit 22 and a vendor server unit 23 are provided inside the control unit 20. The server units 22 and 23 are both logical devices realized by a combination of the computer hardware of the control unit 20 and predetermined software. The game server unit 22 provides a game service to the user terminal 7 in response to an access from the user terminal 7. As an example, the game server unit 22 provides a user terminal 7 with an SNS (abbreviation of social network king service) function, and provides a service for playing a card game on the SNS. On the other hand, the vendor server unit 23 provides the vendor device 3 with a vendor service associated with the output of the prize. The center server 2 has a billing function that charges the user of the user terminal 7 for a service usage fee such as a game play fee in cooperation with the user terminal 7, and collects the usage fee using a predetermined payment method. Is also implemented. However, the billing function need only be constructed in the same manner as a well-known system, and details will be omitted.

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

An input device 32 such as an operation button, a monitor 33 as an output device, a coin selector 34, and a printer 35 are connected to the control unit 30. The coin selector 34 is provided as a fee collecting means, determines the authenticity of coins (or alternative currency medals) inserted by the user into the vendor device, and determines the number or amount of coins inserted that are determined to be genuine. Outputs the signal corresponding to. The printer 35 is a well-known printing device that outputs information such as images and characters to be printed to a predetermined printing paper in accordance with a printing command from the control unit 30. However, the printing paper of the printer 35 is unified to a card mount having a predetermined size. The printer 35 is built in the housing of the vendor device 3, and the card CDp printed by the printer 35 is paid out to the user from the outlet of the vendor device 3.

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

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

The physical card CDp is provided with an identification information unit P5 that expresses the card number in a manner that can be read by the user terminal 7. As an example, the card number is converted into a two-dimensional bar code and displayed on the identification information unit P5. The virtual card CDv is the same as the physical card CDp, but the identification information unit P5 is omitted.

In a game played on the user terminal 7, the user collects card CDs to build a deck, and while appropriately selecting and using the card CDs of the deck, challenges a predetermined task or fights against an opponent. Modes such as are included. The characteristics of the card CD described above are parameters that are referred to when calculating the degree of achievement of a task and the superiority or inferiority of a match. Further, as one of the means for the user to obtain the card CD, the amusement system 1 provides a means for giving the card CD as a prize to the user through a lottery by the center server 2. The card number recorded in the identification information unit P5 is used by the user to use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained by the vendor device 3 in the game.

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

Next, the play data D2 will be described with reference to FIG. The play data D2 is data that records the result of the user playing the game, and is data stored in the storage device 21 for the purpose of causing the user to play the game from the continuation of the previous time. In the play data D2, as an example, information such as a play log, a status, and a owned card is recorded in association with a user ID. The play log is information that records past play contents such as the user's past number of plays and battle results. The status is information for determining various index values indicating the progress of the game, such as the position acquired by the user in the game, the achievement level, and the achievement level. The owned card information is information for determining the card CD obtained by the user in the game, and as an example, the card number of the card CD obtained by the user is recorded as the owned card information.

If it is possible to change the image or characteristic of the character CR of the card CD according to the achievement status of the game after the user obtains the card CD, the initial value of the image ID or characteristic is input to the card data D11. For the card CD that is stored and obtained by the user, the card data D11 may be copied to the user's play data D2, and the image ID and parameter group of the copied card data may be changed.

Next, the lottery table D3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information recorded in the lottery table D3 in a tabular format. As is clear from the example of FIG. 6, the lottery table D3 describes the probability that the card CD should be assigned in the lottery (the unit is%) in association with the rank of the card CD and the mode of the lottery. It's a table. The game server unit 22 of the center server 2 refers to the lottery table D3 and draws a card CD to be given to the user as a prize.

In the example of FIG. 6, there are three modes of lottery: SNS free, SNS paid, and vendor lottery. SNS free is a lottery executed free of charge for users accessing from user terminal 7, and SNS pay is a lottery executed for users accessing from user terminal 7 in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee. is there. The vendor lottery is a lottery executed in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee to the user of the vendor device 3. The lottery fee may be the same or different between the SNS fee and the vendor lottery. A limit such as once a day may be imposed on the SNS free lottery. The SNS free lottery may be permitted if certain conditions associated with the game are met.

The rank of the card CD is set so that the degree of difficulty in obtaining the card CD increases in order from the left to the right in FIG. 6, the rank of the most easily available card is 1, and the rank of the most difficult to obtain card is Xs. The probability for each rank is distributed so that the higher the difficulty of obtaining the rank, the smaller the value. When comparing SNS free and SNS paid, the probabilities are distributed so that the SNS paid card CD has a relatively higher rank and is easier to win. Further, when comparing the SNS pay and the vendor lottery, the probabilities are distributed so that the vendor lottery makes it easier to win the card CD having a relatively high rank. Furthermore, the ranks with the subscript s (2s, 2 + s, Xs, etc.) are ranks that can be obtained only by the vendor lottery, and the probability for SNS free and SNS paid is zero (indicated by-in FIG. 6). Is set to. A set of card CDs with a rank higher than zero for free SNS and paid SNS is a group of prizes for lottery candidates for game terminals, and card CDs with a rank higher than zero for vendor lottery. Is a group of prizes for lottery candidates for vendors. The probability distribution portion corresponding to SNS free and SNS paid in FIG. 6 corresponds to the probability setting unit for game terminals in the present invention, and the probability distribution portion corresponding to the vendor lottery corresponds to the probability setting unit for vendors in the present invention. ..

Next, various processes executed by the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 in relation to the prize lottery will be described. FIG. 7 shows the processing of the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 for carrying out the SNS pay lottery in association with the user's operation on the user terminal 7. The process of FIG. 7 is a process performed after the user operates the user terminal 7 to notify the game server unit 22 of the center server 2 of its own identification information (user ID) and completes user authentication. When the user instructs the user terminal 7 to start the SNS paid lottery, the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 cooperate to collect a lottery fee corresponding to the SNS paid lottery from the user (step). S701, S201). The collection of the fee is sufficient as long as it is realized by transmitting and receiving electronic information between the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22. For example, a payment method such as collection of charges using virtual currency such as electronic money or collection of charges using a credit card may be used.

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

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

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

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

When the lottery is completed, the game server unit 22 notifies the vendor server unit 23 of the card number of the drawn card CD (step S222). The vendor server unit 23 notifies the vendor device 3 of the card number as a lottery result (step S212). The vendor device 3 acquires the card number notified from the vendor server unit 23 (step S303), and determines whether or not the card data D11 corresponding to the card number exists in its own storage device 31 (step S304). .. If it is determined that the card data D11 does not exist, the vendor device 3 requests the vendor server unit 23 for the card data D11 corresponding to the notified card number (step S305), and the vendor server unit 23 requests the request. Transfer to the game server unit 22 (step S213). The game server unit 22 acquires the requested card data D11 from its own storage device 21 (step S223), and provides the card data D11 to the vendor server unit 23 (step S224). The vendor server unit 23 provides the provided card data D11 to the vendor device 3 (step S214). The vendor device 3 acquires the card data D11 provided by the vendor server unit 23 and records it in its own storage device 31 (step S306), and subsequently prints a card CD corresponding to the card data D11 by the printer 35. (Step S307). If it is determined in step S304 that the card data D11 exists, the vendor device 3 skips the processes of steps S305 and S306 and proceeds to step S307. In this case, the card CDp is printed based on the card data D11 already recorded in the storage device 31. With the above, the process of FIG. 8 is completed. The SNS lottery (whether free or paid) and the vendor lottery differ in the probability distribution to be referred to in the lottery table D3 and the information to be included in the notification of the lottery result. Therefore, it is necessary for the game server unit 22 to distinguish them. The distinction can be realized by determining whether the lottery is requested by the user terminal 7 or the vendor server unit 23.

By the process of FIG. 8, the user can pay out the physical card CDp from the vendor device 3. FIG. 9 shows a process executed by the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 to record the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained by the user in the play data D2 as the user's own card in the game. In the following, recording the card CDv as a user's own card in the play data D2 may be expressed as registration.

In the process of FIG. 9, the user terminal 7 first reads the two-dimensional bar code recorded in the identification information unit P5 of the card CDp and acquires the card number embedded in the two-dimensional bar code (step S311). Subsequently, the user terminal 7 notifies the game server unit 22 of the acquired card number (step S312). That is, the user terminal 7 specifies the card number read from the card CDp and requests the registration of the card CDv corresponding to the card number. In this case, in order for the game server unit 22 to identify the user, the user ID may also be notified. When the user authentication is completed between the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 prior to the process of FIG. 9, the user ID acquired by the game server unit 22 at the time of the authentication is the process of FIG. It may be used as user authentication information.

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

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

As described above, according to the amusement system 1 of the present embodiment, the user obtains a card CD prepared in advance as a prize in the game in the form of a virtual card CDv via the user terminal 7. Not only that, but also because it is possible for the user to obtain it in the form of a physical card CDp via a vendor device 3 configured as a physical device different from the user terminal 7, the user can give a prize. You can expand your chances of getting it. The effect becomes more remarkable as the number of vendor devices 3 installed and the installation location are increased. The existence of the vendor device 3 itself or the card CDp paid out from the vendor device 3 is used to promote the existence of the game and raise the awareness of the game in the real world, thereby increasing the motivation to play the game. It can be given to users to expand the number of game users and the user base. By applying a game-related design (for example, a character CR design appearing in the game, a design imitating a game symbol, etc.) to the appearance of the vendor device 3, the eye-catching effect of the vendor device 3 itself can be enhanced, and the game It is possible to further improve the recognition.

The virtual card CDv and the physical card CDp having the same card number are displayed or printed by the user based on the common card data D11. Therefore, the card CDv, which is a virtual existence that is only displayed on the screen of the user terminal 7, can be replaced with the card CDp that is a real physical existence and provided to the user. As a result, the user's willingness to collect the card CD can be increased, or the user's satisfaction with owning the card can be increased. When adding a new card CD in accordance with a game update, etc., as long as the rank of the new card CD belongs to any of the ranks recorded in the existing lottery table D3, it corresponds to the new card CD. By simply recording the card data D11 in the storage device 21 of the center server 2, the new card CD can be added to the prize group of the lottery candidate for the game terminal or the prize group of the lottery candidate for the vendor according to the rank. Even when creating a new rank, it is only necessary to rewrite the lottery table D3. Since the maximum range of the prize group of the lottery candidates is standardized, it is not necessary to prepare a group of card data D11 separately for each mode of the lottery, reducing the labor of the work of storing the data and on the storage device 21. It is possible to reduce the data storage capacity that should be secured.

In this way, the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3 standardize the set of card CDs, which is the maximum range to be set as the lottery candidate, and the lottery table D3 is used for the lottery mode. By setting the probability distribution for each rank according to the lottery, the prize group of the lottery candidates is set for each mode of the lottery. Therefore, the basic procedure of the lottery, that is, the probability distribution is read from the lottery table D3 to determine the rank. The procedure of drawing a lottery and randomly selecting a predetermined number of cards from the assigned ranks can be shared regardless of the mode of the lottery. As a result, the man-hours for programming work related to the lottery can be reduced. By adjusting the probability distribution of the lottery table D3, the lottery candidates can be selected while suppressing the possibility that the lottery tendency will be biased due to the difference in the lottery procedure between the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3. The prize group can be flexibly set for each lottery mode, or the probability that a prize of each rank will be drawn can be differentiated according to the lottery mode. Regardless of the difference in the lottery mode, the prize group and the probability distribution of the lottery candidates may be the same.

An identification information unit P5 is provided on the physical card CDp, and the card number as the card identification information for associating the card CDp with the card data D11 is expressed in a manner readable by the user terminal 7. Through this, the physical card CDp can be associated with the card data D11 and the virtual card CDv corresponding to the data D11. As a result, the user who has obtained the physical card CDp can use the card data D11 corresponding to the physical card CDp in playing the game, and can use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card data D11 by himself / herself. The card can be displayed and output on the user terminal 7 as a card owned by the user, and the game can be advanced using the card CDv. As a result, the user who has obtained the physical card CDp can further increase the interest in the game and give a strong motivation to the game play.

In the lottery table D3, the probability distribution is set so that a rank that can be obtained only by the vendor lottery is generated, so that a card CD that cannot be obtained only by playing the game on the user terminal 7 is generated. The user can be guided to the lottery of the vendor device 3 for the purpose of obtaining such a card. As a result, the effect of providing the vendor device 3 can be enhanced. If the probability of a card CDp that can only be obtained by a vendor lottery is set low, such a card CDp can be positioned as a rare card that can only be obtained rarely. As a result, the effect of guiding the user to the vendor lottery can be further enhanced. Further, by having the user terminal 7 read the card number of the identification information unit P5 of the rare card, the user can use the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp in the game, so that the rare card can be used. It is possible to motivate the user to obtain the product even more strongly, and to significantly enhance the effect of providing the vendor device 3.

In the above embodiment, the game server unit 22 functions as a lottery means for the game terminal device of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S202 and S204 of FIG. 7, and the control unit 30 of the vendor device 3 is shown in FIG. By executing the process of step S302 of 8, it functions as the lottery requesting means of the present invention, the control unit 30 executes the processes of steps S306 and S307 of the figure, and the printer 35 responds to the process of step S307 and the card. Is printed out to function as a prize output means of the present invention, and the game server unit 22 functions as a lottery means for the vendor device of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S221 and S222 of FIG. Further, the game server unit 22 functions as the information processing means of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S231 and S232 of FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned forms, and can be carried out in various forms. For example, in the present invention, the game terminal device is not limited to the user's personal terminal device, and various game terminal devices such as arcade game machines may be targeted. The monitor in the vendor device is not essential and can be omitted as appropriate. When the lottery for the vendor device is performed on the server device, an additional lottery may be performed on the vendor device in association with the lottery. In the additional lottery, as an example, a lottery is made as to whether or not to give a further prize to the user, and if the user wins, a further lottery is requested from the server device, and the lottery prize is passed through the vendor device. May be further output to the user. If the vendor device has a monitor (display device), the status of the additional lottery may be presented to the user.

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

The output of the prize in the vendor device is not limited to the print output. Instead of or in addition to the print output, the prize data may be output to a storage medium brought in by the user. A physical molded product corresponding to the lottery prize, for example, a molded product imitating the appearance and form of a character or item as a prize may be output from the vendor device as a physical prize. For such a molded product, as an example, a molding device such as a 3D printer using a stereolithography method is replaced with a printer for print output, or in addition, it is built in a vendor device, and the vendor device is based on the data for prize output. A molded product may be created and output inside. Physical prizes such as printed matter and molded matter may be created and stored in the vendor device in advance prior to the lottery. Alternatively, when the molded product is given to the user as a prize, printed matter such as a ticket or a voucher that records information for exchanging the molded product for the prize is physically based on the prize output data acquired from the server device. It may be output as a part of the prize, and the user can obtain the prize by using the printed matter. When giving a physical prize to a user through a ticket or the like, the ticket or the like does not necessarily have to be a physical entity, and even if the information such as the ticket is output as data to a storage medium brought in by the user. Good. The data output to the storage medium is effective when sound data used in a game (for example, music data in a music game) is set as a prize. Alternatively, a data communication function such as infrared communication or short-range wireless communication is added to the vendor device, data communication is performed between the user's personal terminal device and the vendor device, and prize data is output to the user. May be.

In the above embodiment, by providing the identification information unit P5 on the physical card CDp, the card CDp is replaced with a virtual card CDv so that the user can use it in the game, but the identification information unit P5 is omitted. By providing the image of the card CDp from the user terminal 7 to the server device and performing the image analysis process, the server device may be able to identify the card data D11 corresponding to the card CDp. Alternatively, the physical card CDp may be provided to the user as an item to be collected, omitting the means of replacing the physical card CDp with a virtual card CDv. Alternatively, a deck of physical card CDp may be sold so that users can perform actual card battles using the deck. In that case, the vendor device 3 also functions as a means for the user to obtain a card that can be used in an actual card battle. Even if it is impossible to replace the physical prize with the virtual prize in this way, the user who obtained the real prize through the vendor device obtains the virtual prize by lottery for the game terminal device. You may wish to do so, which can motivate the user to play the game. The prize is not limited to cards, and various elements can be set as prizes as long as they are associated with the game. For example, various items such as weapons, armor, tools, magic, spells, special moves, and costumes used by the user or the character set as the operation target of the user in the game may be set as a prize. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the sound data used in the game may be set as a prize. The title screen of the game, the wallpaper of the game screen, and other elements may be set as prizes.

1 Amusement system 2 Center server (server device)
3 Vendor device 4 Network 5A, 5B store 7 User terminal (game terminal device)
20 Center server control unit 21 Center server storage device (storage means)
22 Game server section (lottery means, information processing means)
23 Vendor server unit 30 Vendor device control unit (lottery request means, prize output means)
31 Vendor device storage device (storage means)
34 Coin selector (charge collection method)
35 Printer (Premium output means)
CD card (prize)
CDp Physical card CDv Virtual card D11 Card data (prize data)
D3 lottery table P5 identification information section

Claims (2)

In a vendor device that provides a user with a winning prize determined based on a lottery from a plurality of prizes associated with a predetermined game.
When the game terminal device that provides the predetermined game is configured as a physical device different from the vendor device and is connected via a network, the plurality of types of cards function as the plurality of prizes, respectively. A storage means for storing at least a part of the prize data corresponding to the plurality of types of cards or data equivalent to the prize data as prize output data.
A printer that provides the user as a prize by generating a card corresponding to the winning prize based on the prize output data.
The prize data corresponding to the winning card or the prize data is equivalent to the prize output data so that the printer generates the winning card determined based on the lottery from the plurality of types of cards as the winning prize. A control unit that provides data to the printer
With
The printer is provided with an information unit that expresses information for identifying the winning card in a manner that can be read by the game terminal device in order to use the winning card in the game. To generate
In the prize data, the lottery is executed in response to the request of the vendor device, while the terminal lottery in which the prize is drawn from the plurality of types of cards in response to the request of the game terminal device is separate from the lottery. When executed, it is configured to be further used in the awarding of prizes in the terminal lottery .
The game terminal device is a physical device having a function different from that of the vendor device, and is configured as a device in which the printer is not mounted . When the server device that stores the prize data is connected to the control unit via a network, whether or not the prize data corresponding to the winning card or data equivalent to the prize data exists in the storage means. If it exists, the prize data corresponding to the winning card of the storage means or data equivalent to the prize data is provided to the printer, and the prize data corresponding to the winning card or the prize is provided. If there is no data equivalent to the data, the prize data or data equivalent to the prize data is acquired from the server device, and the prize data or data equivalent to the prize data is stored in the storage means. The vendor device according to 1.

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