JP7239838B2 - Game program and game system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to game programs and game systems.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a game system in which a game device operated by a user and a server device operated by a game operator or the like are interconnected for communication through a network (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 6651195

In games realized by such game systems, limited-time game events and software updates are often held. It will be possible to play the latest games. However, there is a tendency for accesses from game devices to the server device to be concentrated during times when the latest game can be played, and such access concentration may lead to a server down or a delay in the progress of the game.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a game program capable of suppressing concentration of accesses from the game device to the server device in a game system in which a game device operated by a user and a server device are interconnected for communication via a network. The purpose is to provide a game system.

In order to solve the above problems, a first invention provides a game including a plurality of game devices that are operated and input by a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the plurality of game devices via a network. In the system, a game program executed by a computer of at least one of the game device and the server device, wherein a storage unit of the game device or the server device stores an existing game playable by the plurality of users. additional game data for executing an additional game, which is a game event or a game element added by the computer, is stored; functioning as permitting means for permitting play of the additional game, wherein the permitting means permits the user to whom the early play right has been granted to play the additional game after a predetermined first time; The game program permits a user to whom the early play right has not been granted to play the additional game after a predetermined second time point after the first time point.

According to the first invention, the time during which play of the additional game is permitted differs depending on whether the user is granted early play rights. As a result, the access from the game device to the server device is distributed, so that the concentration of access to the server device can be suppressed.

In the first invention, the rights granting means executes a rights granting event in the existing game based on the user's operation input to the game device before the second time point, and the rights granting event It may be determined whether or not to grant the early play right to the user according to the result of the above. By making the granting of the early-play right itself an event within the existing game, it is possible to improve the interest of the existing game.

Further, in the first invention, the rights-granting event may be of a plurality of types by using a predetermined item or paying a predetermined price in the existing game by the user's operation input to the game device. is a lottery event for drawing a lottery for game media to be given to the user from among the game media, and the right granting means grants the early play right to the user when a predetermined game media is won in the lottery event. may decide to Thus, in a game including a lottery event (so-called gacha) in which game media to be given to the user are drawn by lottery on the condition of payment of consideration, it is decided by a simple method whether to give the user the right to play early. be able to.

Further, in the first invention, the right granting means may determine whether to grant the early play right to the user according to a user ID for identifying the user. Whether or not to grant the early play right to the user can be determined by a simple method.

Further, in the first invention, when the user's operation input to the game device causes the user to use a predetermined item or pay a predetermined price in the existing game, the user may be given the early play right. Fairness between users who are granted early play rights and users who are not granted early play rights by granting early play rights to users as compensation for using specified items and paying specified prices in existing games can ensure the integrity of the

Further, in the first invention, the authorization means allows the user to play the early game when a game play situation serving as an index indicating how much the user has played the existing game satisfies a predetermined condition. The game play status includes the degree of progress of the existing game, the frequency of playing the existing game, the playing time of the existing game, and the degree of game progress, the playing frequency, and the playing time. a parameter that increases with an increase in at least one. As a result, it is determined whether or not to grant the early play right to the user according to the degree of involvement in the existing game, so it is possible to encourage the user to increase the degree of involvement in the existing game.

Further, in the first invention, the permitting means permits the game device of the user to whom the early-play right has been granted from the server device to download the additional game data after the first point of time. Downloading of the additional game data after the second time point may be permitted from the device to the game device of the user to whom the early play right has not been granted. As a result, the time during which the additional game data is permitted to be downloaded can be changed depending on whether the game device is of a user who has been granted early play rights. Concentration of accesses to the device can be suppressed.

A second invention is a game system comprising a program storage unit storing any one of the above game programs, and a computer executing the program stored in the program storage unit.

The program storage unit storing the game program is a readable/writable or readable storage device or storage medium built-in or external to the device included in the game system. be able to. The program stored in the program storage unit may be executed in a device directly connected to the program storage unit, or may be downloaded in a device connected to the program storage unit via a network (e.g., Internet). may be executed

According to the present invention, in a game system in which a game device operated by a user and a server device are interconnected for communication via a network, it is possible to prevent the concentration of accesses from the game device to the server device.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of a game system according to one embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the game screen displayed on a game device. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schedule that permits play of additional events; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game system shown in FIG. 1; FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a play permission process. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a game screen displayed on the game device;

A game system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[System overview]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of a game system 1 according to this embodiment. A game system 1 includes a server device 2 and a plurality of game devices 3 . The server device 2 is a device managed by an operator of the game implemented by the game system 1 or the like. A plurality of game devices 3 are devices that are operated and input by a plurality of users. For example, the game device 3 is a mobile terminal device such as a multi-function mobile phone (smartphone). Realize

FIG. 2 shows an example of the game screen 101 displayed on the game device 3. As shown in FIG. In the game described in this embodiment, the game device 3 displays a game screen 101 (hereinafter referred to as "event selection screen") including one or more game events. A game event is, for example, a stage in an action game or a shooting game, or a course in a sports game such as a racing game or a golf game.

Each user can play a game event by selecting one game event from one or more game events 102 , 103 , 104 included in the event selection screen 101 . User-playable game events are added periodically or irregularly by game operators. In the following description, a game event that is newly added from a certain point in time to an existing game event that can be played by the user will be referred to as an additional event. Further, in the following description, a portion of the game that was playable before the addition of the additional event may be referred to as an existing game for convenience.

For example, prior to the date and time when an Additional Event becomes playable, the Game Operator may provide information about the Additional Event (e.g., the date and time when the Additional Event becomes playable, the content of the Additional Event, etc.) in-game or through another medium. is notified to the user. Then, at a time set in advance by the game operator or the like (hereinafter referred to as "normal start time"), the user can select and play an additional event 104 on the event selection screen 101.

In this embodiment, early play rights are granted to some of the users. A user who has been given the right to play early can play the additional event earlier than the normal start time.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schedule that permits play of additional events. In this embodiment, a game event (hereinafter referred to as a "right granting event") for granting the right to play early in the game starts at a certain time before the normal start time of the additional event. The time at which the rights granting event is permitted to start is set in advance by, for example, the game operator. A user who has been granted the right to play early at the right grant event (hereinafter referred to as "right acquisition user") will be able to add additional You can play the event. On the other hand, users to whom the early play right has not been granted (hereinafter referred to as "users without rights") cannot play the additional event until the normal start time. It should be noted that the user can play the existing game at any time regardless of whether the user has the early play right.

[Hardware Configuration of Server Device]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game system 1. As shown in FIG. The hardware configuration of the server device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The server device 2 manages game data of each game device 3 (account). Also, it communicates with each game device 3 at a predetermined timing, and advances the game played by the user on each game device 3 .

The server device 2 has a control unit 20 . The control unit 20 controls operations of the server device 2 . The control unit 20 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). A storage unit 21 and a communication I/F unit 22 are connected to the control unit 20 via a bus 20a.

The storage unit 21 includes, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) which is a large-capacity recording medium, a ROM (Read Only Memory) which is a semiconductor memory such as mask ROM or PROM, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) such as DRAM or SRAM. )including. The storage unit 21 stores game data for realizing the game. Game data includes a game program. The game data also includes user data 21a and game event data 21c. Details of the user data 21a and the game event data 21c will be described later.

The communication I/F unit 22 is an interface that connects the server device 2 to the communication network 4 such as the Internet or LAN. The server device 2 transmits and receives data to and from the game device 3 via the communication I/F section 22 .

[Hardware Configuration of Game Device]
Next, the hardware configuration of game device 3 will be described. The game device 3 is a computer that progresses a game according to user's operation input.

The game device 3 has a control section 30 . The control unit 30 controls operations of the game device 3 . The control unit 30 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). A touch screen 31, a storage unit 32, an audio output unit 33, and a communication I/F unit 34 are connected to the control unit 30 via a bus 30a.

The touch screen 31 receives a user's operation for playing a game and displays a game image. That is, the touch screen 31 functions as an input device for inputting operation information corresponding to a user's operation to the control unit 30, and also functions as a display device for displaying game images and the like under the control of the control unit 30. FIG.

The storage unit 32 includes, for example, an HDD as a large-capacity recording medium, a ROM as a semiconductor memory such as mask ROM or PROM, and a RAM such as DRAM or SRAM. The storage unit 32 stores game data downloaded from the outside via the communication network 4 or the like. Game data includes a game program.

The sound output unit 33 is a device that outputs game sound in accordance with the progress of the game under the control of the control unit 30 .

The communication I/F unit 34 is an interface that connects the game device 3 to the communication network 4 such as the Internet or LAN. The game device 3 transmits/receives data to/from another game device 3 and to/from the server device 2 via the communication I/F section 34 .

[Functional Configuration of Server Device]
FIG. 4 shows the functional configuration of the control unit 20 of the server device 2. As shown in FIG. The control unit 20 of the server device 2 functions as data management means 41 , rights granting means 42 and permission means 43 by executing the game program stored in the storage unit 21 .

The data management means 41 manages data stored in the storage unit 21 of the server device 2, such as the user data 21a and the game event data 21c.

The user data 21a is a user account (user ID) for identifying a user and data associated with it. The data associated with the user ID includes save data indicating the progress of games that the user has progressed in the past. In addition, the data associated with the user ID includes early play right data 21b. The early play right data 21b is data that makes it possible to determine whether or not the user identified by the user ID has acquired the early play right. Note that the early-play right data (information) indicating that the early-play right has been acquired is linked to the user IDs of not all the users who play the game, but some of them.

The game event data 21c is data for executing a game event. The game event data 21c includes one or more event data that can be played by the user. The game event data 21c also includes additional game data 21d. The additional game data 21d is data for executing an additional game, which is a game event or game element added to an existing game playable by the user. In this embodiment, the additional game data 21d is event data for executing an additional event, which is a newly added game event.

The rights granting means 42 grants early play rights to some of the users. Giving the user the early-play right means storing early-play right information indicating that the user has acquired the early-play right in association with the user ID of the user.

In this embodiment, the entitlement means 42 executes the entitlement event before the preset normal start time. Then, the right granting means 42 determines whether or not to grant the early play right to the user according to the result of the rights granting event. The time at which the user can play the rights-granting event, that is, the time at which permission to execute the rights-granting event is started may be before the early start time. It may be the same as the start time.

In this embodiment, the rights granting event is a lottery event for executing a lottery to decide whether to grant the early play right to the user. A lottery event as a right-granting event is executed based on a user's operation input to the game device 3 . That is, a lottery request for requesting a lottery for granting the right to play early is sent from the game device 3 to the server device 2 based on the user's operation input to the game device 3, and the right granting means 42 receives the lottery. Executes the lottery event based on the request.

In the present embodiment, the lottery event is executed by the user's operation input to the game device 3 to use a predetermined item or pay a predetermined price in the existing game, so that the user can choose among a plurality of types of game media. It is a so-called gacha, a game event in which game media to be given to the player are drawn by lottery. That is, in this game, the lottery for whether or not to grant the early play right in the lottery event is performed in conjunction with the lottery for game media such as characters and items. For example, the right granting means 42 selects game media to be granted to the user from a plurality of types of game media, and when a predetermined game media is won, grants the user an early play right as well as the winning game media. do.

However, the lottery event as the right granting event may include only a lottery to decide whether to grant the right to play early. In addition, the lottery event as a rights grant event is a condition different from the use of predetermined items in the game and the payment of a predetermined price (for example, clearing the quest prepared for granting early play rights) ).

The permitting means 43 permits multiple users to play the additional event. The permitting means 43 allows the right-acquiring user, among the plurality of users, to be granted the right to play early, to play the additional event after a predetermined early start time (corresponding to the "first time point" of the present invention). To give permission. That is, the permitting means 43 permits the right-acquiring user to play the additional event during a period after the early start time and before the normal start time (hereinafter referred to as "early play period").

In addition, the permitting means 43, of the plurality of users, for the unprivileged users to whom the early play right has not been granted, the normal start time after the early start time (corresponding to the "second time point" of the present invention) Allows additional events to be played afterward. That is, the permitting means 43 prohibits the unprivileged user from playing the additional event during the early play period.

[Functional Configuration of Game Device]
4 shows the functional configuration of the control unit 30 of the game device 3. As shown in FIG. The control unit 30 of the game device 3 functions as login request means 51 , display control means 52 and event execution means 53 by executing the game program stored in the storage unit 32 .

The login request means 51 transmits a login request to the server device 2 according to the user's operation on the touch screen 31 . In this embodiment, when predetermined application software is activated, the game device 3 sends a login request to the server device 2 .

The display control means 52 controls the game screen displayed on the touch screen 31. FIG. For example, the display control means 52 switches the game image displayed on the touch screen 31 according to the user's operation on the touch screen 31 or the progress of the game, or displays a predetermined image on the touch screen 31 at the timing of logging into the game. Display game images.

For example, the display control means 52 displays the event selection screen 101 shown in FIG.

Event executing means 53 executes a game event selected by a user's operation input on touch screen 31 .

For example, when one event is selected from one or more events included in the event selection screen 101 displayed on the touch screen 31 by a user's operation input on the touch screen 31, the event executing means 53 selects An execution request for executing an event is sent from the game device 3 to the server device 2 . As a result, the selected event can be played, and the event progresses while the game device 2 and the server device 3 communicate with each other through the network 4 . Note that the event executing means 53 may execute the selected event without sending an execution request for executing the selected event from the game device 3 to the server device 2, and may display the play result after the play of the event is completed. It may be sent from the game device 3 to the server device 2 .

[Play permission processing]
Next, the flow of play permission processing for permitting the user to play the additional event will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, the play permission process is executed when the user logs into the game. Specifically, in this embodiment, when predetermined application software is activated, the login request means 51 sends a login request from the game device 3 to the server device 2 . When the server device 2 receives the login request, the permission means 43 executes play permission processing.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the play permission process, the permission means 43 first determines whether or not the current time is after the normal start time (corresponding to the "second time point" of the present invention) (step S1).

If it is determined in step S1 that the current time is after the normal start time (step S1: Yes), the permitting means 43 permits the user (the user's game device 3) to play the additional event. (Step S2).

If it is determined in step S1 that the current time is not after the normal start time (step S1: No), the permitting means 43 further determines that the current time is after the early start time (corresponding to the "first time point" of the present invention). It is determined whether or not there is (step S3). If it is determined in step S3 that the current time is after the early start time (step S3: Yes), the permitting means 43 determines whether or not the user has acquired the early right to play (step S4). Specifically, the permission means 43 causes the storage unit 21 of the server device 2 to store early-play right information indicating that the user has acquired the early-play right in association with the user ID of the user. Determine whether or not

If it is determined in step S4 that the user has already acquired the early play right (step S4: Yes), the permitting means 43 permits the user (the user's game device 3) to play the additional event. (Step S2).

If it is determined in step S3 that the current time is not after the early start time (step S3: No) or if it is determined in step S4 that the user has not acquired the early right to play (step S4: No), permission means 43 does not permit the user (the user's game device 3) to play the additional event (step S5). After step S2 or S5, the play permission process ends.

An example of a mode in which play of the additional event is permitted in step S2 and a mode in which play of the additional event is not permitted in step S5 will be described. For example, in both steps S2 and S5, the permission means 43 transmits play permission information indicating an event the user is permitted to play from the server device 2 to the game device 3. FIG. Additional events are included in the play-permitted events indicated by the play-permission information sent to the game device 3 in step S2. Therefore, the display control means 52 displays the additional event on the touch screen 31 so that the user can select and execute the additional event based on the received play permission information (see FIG. 2).

On the other hand, the additional events are not included in the play-permitted events indicated by the play-permission information in step S5. Therefore, the display control means 52 does not display the additional event on the touch screen 31 based on the received play permission information. Alternatively, the display control means 52 may display the additional event on the touch screen 31 in such a manner that the user cannot execute it, such as by graying out the icon 104' of the additional event to make it unselectable as shown in FIG. . When the normal start time comes while logged in to the game, the permission means 43 sends the play permission information enabling the play of the additional event from the server device 2 to the game at the normal start time. Send to device 3. In this case, data for executing the additional event is downloaded from the server device 3 to the game device 2 before the normal start time so that the user can immediately execute the additional event when the normal start time comes. may

In summary, the game program according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of game devices 3 that are operated and input by a plurality of users, and a server device 2 that is connected to the plurality of game devices 3 via a network 4. A game program executed by the control unit 20 (computer) of the server device 2 in the game system 1 including additional game data 21d for executing an additional event (additional game) added to the control unit 20, and the control unit 20 controls the right granting means 42 for granting early play rights to users, to a plurality of users, The permission means 43 functions as permission means 43 for permitting the play of the additional game, and the permission means 43 allows the user to whom the early play right has been granted among the plurality of users after a predetermined early start time (first time point). are allowed to play additional events, and among multiple users, users who have not been granted early play rights can play additional events after a predetermined normal start time (second time point) after the early start time. Allow play.

According to the present embodiment, the time during which play of the additional event is permitted differs depending on whether the user is granted the early play right. As a result, the access from the game device 3 to the server device 2 is distributed, so that the concentration of access to the server device 2 can be suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rights granting means 42 executes a rights granting event in the existing game based on the user's operation input to the game device 3 before the normal start time, and according to the result of the rights granting event, , to determine whether to grant early play rights to the user. By making the giving of the right to play early as an in-game event in this way, it is possible to improve the interest of the existing game.

In addition, the rights granting event is granted to the user from among multiple types of game media by using a predetermined item or paying a predetermined price in the existing game by the user's operation input to the game device 3. This is a lottery event for lottery of game media to be played. For this reason, conventionally, in a game that includes a lottery event (so-called gacha) in which game media to be given to the user are drawn by lottery on the condition of payment of consideration, it is decided by a simple method whether to give the user the right to play early. be able to.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the control means and processing procedures described in the above embodiments are examples, and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example using a mobile terminal device as the game device 3 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the game device 3, the present invention can be realized by using an arcade game cabinet provided at a game center or the like, a stationary game device for home use, a personal computer, or the like.

Also, the game device 3 does not have to include the touch screen 31 . For example, the input unit of the game device 3 that receives the user's operation input may be a controller provided with operators such as buttons. It may be a single liquid crystal display.

The game program of the present invention may be executed by at least one computer of game device 3 and server device 2 . For example, a part of the game program of the present invention is stored in the server device, and the remainder of the game program of the present invention is downloaded to the game device or recorded in a recording medium for reading by the game device 3. may be

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 20 of the server device 2 functions as the data management means 41, the authorization means 42, and the permission means 43 by executing the game program stored in the storage unit 21. Some functional units of the units 41 to 43 may not function, or may function by the control unit 30 of the game device 3. FIG. Further, the control unit 30 of the game device 3 functions as login request means 51, display control means 52, and event execution means 53 by executing the game program stored in the storage unit 32. 53 may not function, or may function by the control unit 20 of the server device 2. FIG.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 20 of the server device 2 executes the right grant event and grants the early play right to the user. , or both may be performed by the control unit 30 of the game device 3 .

The present invention can be applied to online games realized without downloading game data to the game device 3 . For example, the present invention can be applied to a browser game using a web browser, a social game provided on SNS (social networking service), a cloud game in which game processing results in a server device are streamed to the game device 3, and the like. is.

In the above-described embodiment, the game events including the additional event and the rights granting event are exemplified by stages in action games and shooting games, courses in sports games such as racing games and golf games, and the like. is not limited to For example, the game event may be a lottery event (so-called gacha) in which one or a plurality of benefits are randomly selected from a plurality of types of set benefits and given to the user.

In addition, a game event is defined as a process of paying a predetermined fee to a game operator (charging process), or by consuming predetermined in-game currency or in-game items owned by a user. It may be a purchase event in which in-game items or in-game characters can be acquired (purchased). A game event may be a scenario (story) in a novel game or the like. That is, the additional event may be an additional scenario.

Further, the additional event in the game event may be a limited-time event that cannot be executed by all users at a preset time. If the additional event is a limited-time event, the end date and time of the limited-time event may be different between the right-acquired user to whom the early play right has been granted and the non-right-to-play user. For example, the start time of the limited-time event for rights-acquired users is earlier than the start time of the limited-time event for unprivileged users by a predetermined time (for example, one hour), and the end time of the limited-time event for rights-acquired users is earlier than the start time for unprivileged users. It may be earlier than the end time of the limited-time event for the user by a predetermined time (for example, one hour).

In the above embodiment, game events were described as additional games, but additional games include not only game events, but also newly added in-game elements (for example, newly added games for improving usability). It may be related to internal functions, newly usable items, characters, etc.). That is, the additional game data may be an updated version of the application software of the game. In this case, the additional game includes game events and game elements that are added compared to before the update due to the update of the application software. There may be. For example, the permitting means may permit a privileged user to update application software earlier than an unprivileged user. In other words, the permitting means permits the rights acquisition user to update the application software so that the additional game can be played during the early play period, and permits the non-rights user to update the application software during the early play period. Updates may be prohibited.

The additional game may be a game event or game element added to an existing game that the user can play. For example, the added game event or game element is newly created by the game developer. It doesn't have to be. For example, additional games may be past game events or game elements that have been previously included in existing games. For example, the additional event does not have to be the latest game event newly created by the game developer, even if it is a game event that existed in the past for a limited time and was re-added to the game in the form of a revival. good. Also, the additional game may be a mini-game added as a bonus element to the main game or prepared as an essential event for clearing the main game.

Even after the additional game is added to the existing game, the user can still play the existing game. However, some game events or game elements of an existing game playable by the user before the additional game is added may be deleted after or at the same time as the additional game is added.

Also, the mode of granting the early play right to the user is not limited to the one described in the above embodiment.

For example, the number of times the rights granting event can be executed by the rights granting means 42, the executable timing (executable period), and the like are not particularly limited. The entitlement means 42 may perform the entitlement event before the first time point and not perform the entitlement event after the first time point. Also, the right granting means 42 may start permitting execution of the rights granting event to all users at the same time as the first time point. In addition, the rights granting means 42 grants a rights grant event up to a predetermined number of times per user within a time range before the second point in time after the start of permission to execute the rights grant event for all users. may be executed.

The entitlement means 42 may execute an entitlement event without user's operation input to the game device 3 . Also, the entitlement means 42 may not execute the entitlement event. For example, the right granting means 42 may determine whether or not to grant the early play right to the user according to the user ID for identifying the user. For example, the right granting means 42 grants early play rights to users whose user ID has a predetermined number (eg, 1) in a predetermined digit (eg, the last digit), and does not grant early play rights to other users. may As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not to grant the early play right to the user by a simple method.

Further, for example, the right granting means 42 gives the user the right to play early when the user uses a predetermined item or pays a predetermined price (accounting process) in the game according to the user's operation input on the game device 3. may be given. Fairness between users who are granted early play rights and users who are not granted early play rights by granting early play rights to users in exchange for using predetermined items and paying predetermined prices in the game can be ensured.

Further, for example, the right granting means 42 may grant early play rights to the user when the game play status, which is an index indicating how much the user has played the existing game, satisfies a predetermined condition. The game play status includes the degree of progress of the existing game, the frequency of playing the existing game, the playing time of the existing game, and parameters that increase as at least one of the degree of progress of the game, the frequency of playing, and the playing time increases. At least one is included. Note that the "progress of the existing game" includes the degree of achievement of the main game, and the like. "Frequency of playing existing games" includes the number of quests that were playable before the additional game was added, the number of logins to existing games, the number of days logged in, the number of times a predetermined game event (quest) was played, etc. included. Also, the playing time of the existing game includes the total time spent logging into the existing game, the time spent playing a predetermined game event or story, and the like. "Parameters that increase as at least one of game progress, play frequency, and play time increases" includes, for example, a predetermined rank or level in the game (user level, user rank, character level, character experience value etc.) are included. As a result, it is determined whether or not to give the early play right to the user according to the degree of involvement in the game, so it is possible to encourage the user to increase the degree of involvement in the game.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rights granting event that grants the right to play early was a lottery event, but the rights granting event is not limited to a lottery event. The right granting event may be, for example, a mission event such as a quest in which early play rights are granted by completing the event or obtaining a score equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

For example, the play permission process described in the above embodiment is merely an example. For example, the play permission process may be executed only after the early start time, in which case step S1 is omitted. For example, the play permission process may be executed only after the early start time and before the normal start time, in which case not only step S1 but also step S3 are omitted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the timing at which the user logs into the game is exemplified as an example of the timing at which the play permission process is executed, but the timing at which the play permission process is executed is not limited to this. For example, the play permission process may be executed when the user performs a predetermined operation input on the game device 3 . For example, in the play permission process, the user performs an operation input for displaying the event selection screen 101 on the game device 3, or an operation input for selecting an additional event. is sent from the game device 3 to the server device 2, or the like.

Also, the manner in which the user is permitted to play additional games is not limited to that described in the above embodiment.

For example, the permitting means permits download of additional game data after the first point in time to a game device of a user who has been granted an early play right from the server device, and permits a user who has not been granted an early play right from the server device to download additional game data. The game device may be allowed to download additional game data after the second point in time. As a result, depending on whether or not the game device 3 is of a user to whom the early play right has been granted, the time during which the additional game data is permitted to be downloaded can be changed. Concentration of accesses to the server device 2 can be suppressed.

The present invention can be applied not only to games (online games, smartphone games, etc.) in which the game device 3 and the server device 2 communicate with each other all the time or at predetermined intervals during login to the game, but also to games during game play. Application to an offline game that does not require communication between the game device 3 and the server device 2 is also possible. That is, the present invention provides a game in which the game device 3 accesses the server device 2 when game data is downloaded from the server device 2, and the game device 3 does not need to access the server device 2 in other cases. may apply. Even when the present invention is applied to an offline game, as described above, the download of additional game data is permitted depending on whether or not the permission means is the game device 3 of the user to whom the early play right has been granted. By making the times different, it is possible to suppress the concentration of accesses from the game devices to the server device.

Entitled users may be permitted to play additional events at normal start times, and non-entitled users may be permitted to play additional events at times later than normal start times. That is, the permitting means 43 permits the right-acquired user to play the additional event after the normal start time (corresponding to the "first time point" of the present invention), and permits the unrighted user to play the additional event from the normal start time. Play of the additional event may be permitted at a later predetermined time (corresponding to the "second point in time" of the present invention).

Further, there may be multiple types of early play rights, and the time at which the additional game is permitted to play may differ according to the type of early play rights acquired by the rights acquisition user. For example, the early play right includes the S-class early play right and the A-class early play right, and if the normal start time is 15:00, the user who has been granted the S-class early play right will be able to play at 2:00 of the normal start time. An additional game may be allowed to play at 13:00, an hour before the regular start time, and a user granted Class A early play rights may be allowed to play an additional game at 14:00, one hour before the regular start time. If there are multiple types of early-play rights, conditions for granting early-play rights may differ according to the types of early-play rights. For example, one type of early play right (e.g., S-tier early play right) may be granted depending on the outcome of a lottery event, and another type of early play right (e.g., A-tier early play right) may be granted based on how a user decides to play a game. It may be given according to the game play status (for example, the degree of progress of the game, the playing time of the game, etc.), which is an index indicating how much the game has been played.

The permission means permits the rights-acquiring user to play the additional game within a time range after the first point of time and before the second point of time, and prohibits the user from playing the additional game after the second point of time. good.

A user who has acquired an early play right may be able to return or cancel the acquired early play right. That is, when the user who has acquired the early-play right selects to return or cancel the early-play right by operating the game device, the right granting means stores the right-to-play right in association with the user ID of the user. You may erase the early playing right information. In this case, the rights granting means provides another privilege (e.g., game media) to the user who has selected to return or cancel the early-play right, instead of erasing the early-play right information stored in association with the user ID. may be given.

The user may be able to decline being granted early play rights. That is, after the rights granting means has determined to grant the user the right to play early, if the user selects to refuse to acquire the right to early play by operating the game device, the rights granting means gives the user the right to play early. It is not necessary to grant early play rights. In this case, the right granting means may grant another privilege (for example, game media) instead of granting the early play right to the user who refuses to acquire the early play right.

In addition, if the rights acquiring user does not log into the game during the period during which only the rights acquiring user is permitted to play the additional game (the period after the first point in time and before the second point in time, that is, during the early play period), The permitting means may grant another privilege (for example, game media) to the entitled user who logs into the game after the early play period.

The additional game may be a multiplayer game in which multiple users cooperate or compete. In this case, the control unit 20 of the server device 2 or the control unit 30 of the game device 3 executes the game program stored in the storage unit 21 or 32, so that the plurality of users participating in the multiplayer game are known to each other. It may function as a matching means for matching in a method. Furthermore, in this case, the plurality of matched users may be permitted to play additional games during the early play period on the condition that one of the plurality of matched users is granted early play rights. Alternatively, additional games may be allowed to be played during the early play period on the condition that all of the matched users are granted early play rights.

In other words, the additional game is a multiplayer game in which two or more of the plurality of users participate and the two or more users play at the same time. (matching means for matching the game device with another game device), and the permission means allows the user to whom the early play right has not been granted to play the early play If all or any of the other users matched with the user to whom the right has not been granted are granted the early play right, the first time point even before the second time point After that, play of the additional game in which the other user participates may be permitted.

1: Game system
2: Server equipment
3: Game device
20: Control part
21: Memory
30 : Control part
31 : Touch screen
32: Memory
41: Data management means
42: Entitlement Means
43: Permission means
51 : Login request means
52: Display control means
53: Event execution means

Claims (5)

In a game system including a plurality of game devices operated and input by a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the plurality of game devices via a network, at least one computer of the game device and the server device A game program executed by
The storage unit of the game device or the server device stores additional game data for executing an additional game, which is a game event or a game element added to an existing game playable by the plurality of users. cage,
the computer,
Rights granting means for granting early play rights to the user;
functioning as permission means for permitting the user to play the additional game;
The permission means is
Allowing the user to whom the early play right has been granted to play the additional game after a predetermined first time,
allowing users to whom the early play right has not been granted to play the additional game after a predetermined second time point after the first time point;
The rights granting means is a game play situation that is an index indicating how much the user has played the existing game, and includes at least one of the frequency of playing the existing game and the playing time of the existing game. determining to grant the early play right to the user when the play situation satisfies a predetermined condition, and granting the early play right to the user;
When the early-play right is extinguished by an operation input on the game device by the user to whom the early-play right has been granted, or when the user to whom the early-play right has been determined to operate on the game device A game program according to claim 1, wherein, when granting the early-play right to the user is refused by an input, the right-granting means grants the user a benefit other than the early-play right. The entitlement means includes:
before the second time point, executing a rights granting event in the existing game based on the user's operation input to the game device;
2. The game program according to claim 1, determining whether to grant said early play right to said user according to a result of said granting event. The permission means is a user to whom the early play right has been granted, who did not log in to the game after the first point in time and before the second point in time, and who logged in to the game after the second point in time. 3. The game program according to claim 1, wherein the user is given a privilege other than the early play right. The permission means is
permitting the download of the additional game data from the server device to the game device of the user to whom the early play right has been granted after the first point of time;
4. The game according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein download of said additional game data is permitted after said second point in time from said server device to a game device of a user to whom said early play right has not been granted. program. A program storage unit storing the game program according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ;
and a computer that executes the program stored in the program storage unit.

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