US20100009759A1 - Game system - Google Patents

Game system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100009759A1
US20100009759A1 US12/518,681 US51868107A US2010009759A1 US 20100009759 A1 US20100009759 A1 US 20100009759A1 US 51868107 A US51868107 A US 51868107A US 2010009759 A1 US2010009759 A1 US 2010009759A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
information
player
game
game machine
players
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/518,681
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English (en)
Inventor
Kenji Kobayashi
Eiri Mikoshiba
Noriaki Nishimura
Hiroshi Asato
Mitsuhiro Tada
Takahiro Abe
Sachi Yamada
Yu Yachi
Nobuhiro Onodera
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd filed Critical Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Assigned to KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD. reassignment KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ABE, TAKAHIRO, ASATO, HIROSHI, KOBAYASHI, KENJI, MIKOSHIBA, EIRI, NISHIMURA, NORIAKI, ONODERA, NOBUHIRO, YACHI, YU, YAMADA, SACHI, TADA, MITSUHIRO
Publication of US20100009759A1 publication Critical patent/US20100009759A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A63F13/12—
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/85—Providing additional services to players
    • A63F13/87—Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/25—Output arrangements for video game devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
    • A63F13/35—Details of game servers
    • A63F13/352—Details of game servers involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/55—Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/70—Game security or game management aspects
    • A63F13/79—Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
    • A63F2300/51—Server architecture
    • A63F2300/513—Server architecture server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
    • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
    • A63F2300/5546—Details of game data or player data management using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
    • A63F2300/57—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers details of game services offered to the player
    • A63F2300/572—Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
    • A63F2300/6009—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
    • A63F2300/6018—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a game system in which a game is played by a predetermined number of players.
  • a network game system in which a game is executed by a plurality of game machines and a messages exchange is performed among players operating the game machines during the game is already known (refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2). Additionally, a system is also known in which, when a game is played by a predetermined number of players and the number of players who enter the game is less than the predetermined number, the game is executed by making a virtual player of a computer participate.
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-120841
  • Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-223893
  • the message exchange in the game system is one among players actually operating game machines.
  • a game system in which a message exchange with a virtual player is considered does not exist.
  • An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a game system to provide an enhanced interest of a game in consideration of a message exchange with a virtual player.
  • the game system comprises: a plurality of game machines; a game server for executing a process related to a game executed by the plurality of game machines; and an exchange server for executing a process related to exchange of message information prepared by players, the plurality of game machines, the game server, and the exchange server capable of communicating data with each other via a network, each of the game server and the exchange server capable of referring to a player information storing device that stores player information including player identification information for identifying the players, game information used for the players in the game, and the message information prepared by the players, and the game executed by the plurality of game machines being a game executed by a predetermined number or more of players, wherein the game server comprises: a device for adjusting the number of players, that accepts participation of a player to the game, when the number of players whose participation is accepted is less than a predetermined number, arranges at least the predetermined number of players by obtaining as virtual player information from the player information storing
  • a virtual player is provided by the device for adjusting the number of players, and a game can be executed.
  • a virtual player in the present invention is set by using the player information in which information related to a real player is stored.
  • the exchange device a combination of players including the virtual player for executing message information is determined. Consequently, a case could happen that message information of the virtual player is sent to another player, and message information of another player is obtained by the virtual player.
  • the obtained message information can be output by the output device.
  • the player can recognize that the player participated in the game as the virtual player, and can receive the message information from another player who played the game together. Therefore, even in a case where the virtual player exists, a message exchange can be done. Additionally, even in a game in which the player did not participate, the player can obtain message information from another player who played the game together. Thus, the interest of the game can be enhanced.
  • the player information storing device can be referred from each of the servers by setting a data server being dedicated to the player information storing device to be connected with a network, or by connecting with the game server or the exchange server.
  • a player to participate the game can be identified by the player identification information, and the player identification information of each player can be obtained from the game machine operated by a player to participate the game.
  • the output by the output device includes the output by sense of hearing and the output by sense of sight. It does not matter whether the timing when the exchange process is executed during the game or after the game. It does not matter whether the timing when the obtained information is provided to a game machine before or after the message output request operation.
  • operation contents of the virtual player there is a case where the operation contents are determined based on the game information included in the player information, and a case where the operation contents are determined based on some information separate from the player information. It does not matter how “message information prepared by players” is set to the player information. For example, a player may create message information at his/her game machine and perform a predetermined operation for setting the message information to the player information in the player information storing device.
  • the exchange device of the exchange server may delete the already added obtained information. Thereby, only obtained information which is obtained lately can be associated with the player information.
  • the exchange device of the exchange server when the player information is the virtual player information, and the obtained information which has been already added is not yet output via the output device, may not delete the obtained information which has been already added and may not add the generated obtained information to the player information.
  • obtained message information which is obtained as a real player is deleted by obtained message information obtained as a virtual player, an inconvenience such that the player feels strange occurs. however, according this invention, until the obtained message information obtained as a real player is output, priority is given to the obtained message information obtained as a real player over the obtained message information obtained as a virtual player, so that the inconvenience can be prevented.
  • Such this game system can be realized as follows. For example, when the player information includes state information indicative of a state of the obtained message information, the message output device, when the obtained message information is output, sets the state information corresponding to the obtained message to an output state, the device for adjusting the number of players of the game server adds virtual notification information indicative of virtual play information to player information to be used as the virtual player information which has been obtained, and the exchange device of the exchange server determines the player information to which the virtual information is added as the virtual player information, and determines whether the obtained information is output via the output device or not depending on the state information corresponding to the player information including the obtained information.
  • the exchange device of the exchange server may set the state information in the player information to which the obtained information is added to a new state
  • the game machine may comprise a new obtained notification device that, when the new notification is set to the state information of the player information corresponding to the player operating the game machine, notifies via the output device the player of a fact that the obtained message information is newly obtained.
  • the player can recognize that the message information is obtained newly without the message output request operation. Accordingly, for example, it is possible to output information indicating that the message information is obtained newly on a start image of the game of the present invention. Thereby, for example, at the moment of starting the game, the player can recognize that the message information has been obtained as a virtual player.
  • the exchange device of the exchange server may delete the message information which is set as the obtained message information in the player information.
  • the exchange device of the exchange server may delete the message information which is set as the obtained message information in the player information. Thereby, the message information once processed by the exchange device is deleted. Consequently, a state like an exchange of actual letters can be realized.
  • the game system further may comprises a registration server having a registration device for registering as a master game machine, the game machine functioning as the game server, wherein each of the game machines may comprise: a game master portion having function as the game server; a game master activation device for, in a predetermined case, activating the game master portion and setting the game machine itself as the master game machine to function as the game server; and an inquiry device for inquiring the registration server of the master game machine registered as the game master, the registration device of the registration server, when the inquiry is received from the game machine, transmits to the game machine which has sent the inquiry, a master registration notification for notifying of the registered master game machine and, when the registered master game machine does not exist, registers the game machine which has sent the inquiry as the master game machine, and notifies the game machine which has sent the inquiry of the master registration notification of notifying of the registered master game machine, and the game master activating device of the game machine, when the master registration notification from the registration server indicates the game machine itself, activate
  • the exchange server can functions also as the registration server.
  • the message exchange in which the virtual player is considered can be realized. Additionally, a player can obtain the message information from another player who played a game together, in which the player himself/herself did not participate actually. Thereby, the interest of the game can be enhanced.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a game system of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a center server in the game system shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of player information held by the center server shown in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of server weather information held by the center server shown in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a game machine in the game system shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information held by the game machine shown in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing a state that weather information is updated in the game system shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing procedures of a start process executed at the moment of logging into the center server at the game machine.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a home image displayed on a monitor of the game machine.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state that a warning message is displayed on the home image shown in FIG. 9 .
  • FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing procedures of a home image display process.
  • FIG. 12 is a sequence chart showing processes executed in the center server and the game machine in a case where the picture letter creation is selected.
  • FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing processes executed in the center server and the game machine in a case where a competition mode is selected.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a continuation instruction image displayed on the monitor of the game machine.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing procedures of a process for adjusting the number of players.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the home image shown in FIG. 9 in which players including a ghost player and a weather character are displayed.
  • FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing procedures of exchange process.
  • FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing procedures of letter exchange process.
  • FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state that obtained information is generated from the player information of a player as an exchange partner.
  • FIG. 20 is a sequence chart showing processes executed in the center server and the game machine in a case where a picture letter open is selected.
  • FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a letter-opening instruction image displayed on the monitor of the game machine.
  • FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of an opened letter image displayed on the monitor of the game machine.
  • FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the opened letter image in a case where an item is attached to the picture letter obtained.
  • FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing procedures of the letter-opening process.
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of evaluation obtained information.
  • FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing procedures of evaluation updating process.
  • FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing procedures of positive-evaluation updating process.
  • FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing procedures of negative-evaluation updating process.
  • FIG. 29 is a sequence chart showing processes executed in the center server and the game machine in a case where a positive evaluator list is selected.
  • FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a list displaying image in which a memory list is displayed.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a game system 1 of the present invention.
  • a center server 2 having a sever storage portion 2 a and a plurality of game machines 3 A . . . 3 F can be connected via a network N.
  • Each of the plurality of game machines 3 A . . . 3 F is a commercial game machine mounted in any of a game center, game corners in shops, and the like across the country.
  • the game system 1 of the present embodiment provides a multiplayer network game (hereinbelow, called “game”) to be executed by players operating four game machines. When the number of players entering in the game is less than four, the game is established by including a virtual player controlled by a computer (hereinbelow, called “a ghost player”.
  • the network N may be a public line or a dedicated line.
  • the center server 2 can be also connected to a weather information providing server 5 that provides weather information stored in a weather database 5 a .
  • the weather information providing server 5 is, for example, a server provided in an institute for providing weather information of each observation point on the basis of data observed in the observation point.
  • the institute maybe public or private one.
  • the weather information is information indicative of a state of weather in an observation point, and is associated with the observation point to be held in the weather database 5 a .
  • the hardware configuration of the center server 2 and the game machine 3 will be described later.
  • the game machine 3 provides, for example, a letter mode in which the player can create or read a picture letter separately from a play mode in which a competition game can be executed by a plurality of players.
  • a concept including the play mode and the letter mode will be called a multiplayer network game or simply a game.
  • a game in the play mode can be played as a competition game, a training game, a preparatory game, or the like.
  • a multiplayer game accompanying no competition is also possible.
  • a good evaluation made by a player who obtained a picture letter will be described as positive evaluation, and a bad evaluation will be described as a negative evaluation.
  • the center server 2 has a sever storage portion 2 a , a server communication portion 2 b for communicating data with the game machines 3 and the weather information providing server 5 , and a control portion 2 c for controlling the operation of the center server 2 .
  • the control portion 2 c is constructed as a computer having a CPU and various circuits necessary for the operation of the CPU such as a RAN and a ROM.
  • the control portion 2 c controls the operation of the server communication portion 2 c and manages data stored in the sever storage portion 2 a .
  • the sever storage portion 2 a programs for making the control portion 2 c control various processes in the center server 2 and data to be provided to the game machines 3 are stored.
  • the data to be provided to the game machine 3 includes player information 10 which is information of players and server weather information 20 .
  • FIG. 3 shows the player information 10 of the present embodiment.
  • a player ID 100 is player identification information for identifying a player. It is used for identifying a player in the game system 1 .
  • a player name 102 is the name of a player used in the game system 1 .
  • Character information 103 is information regarding a character used as an avatar of a player in the game system 1 .
  • Game history information 104 is history information regarding a play result of a player in the play mode and is, for example, a score of a competition game, a score of training and preparation, operation tendency, and the like.
  • a class 105 shows a game skill in the play mode, and five classes from class A to class E are prepared in the present embodiment.
  • Warning information 106 is information indicative of a state regarding warning for a player, and there are three kinds of “no warning”, “warning message display”, and “use prohibition”.
  • a new positive-evaluation flag 107 indicates that a positive evaluation is received from the exchange partner in the on-state.
  • a new obtaining flag 109 indicates that a picture letter is newly obtained when the flag 109 is in the on-state.
  • a negative points 111 is an accumulation point of negative evaluations made by exchange partners.
  • a positive points 112 is accumulated points of the positive evaluations made by exchange partners. As described above, the negative points 111 and the positive points 112 are evaluations accumulated by the other players to the player corresponding to the player ID 100 and are used as evaluation information of the player.
  • a created letter 114 is a picture letter created by the player.
  • An attachment item 115 is an item to be attached to the created letter 114 .
  • a deletion flag 116 indicates that the created letter 114 is deleted when the flag 116 is in the on-state. In what follows, the just “created letter 114 ” means the created letter 114 in the state where the deletion flag 116 is off.
  • An obtained letter 117 to transmitter evaluation information 120 is information related to an obtained picture letter, which is called the obtained information in the present embodiment.
  • the obtained latter 117 is the picture letter obtained from the exchange partner.
  • An obtained item 118 is an item attached to the obtained latter 117 . There is a case that no item is attached to the obtained letter 117 .
  • Transmitter information 119 is information related to the transmitter of the obtained latter 117 , that is, the exchange partner. For example, it is the player name 102 or character information 103 of the exchange partner.
  • Transmitter evaluation information 120 is evaluation information of the transmitter and the negative points 111 and the positive points 112 associated with the transmitter in the present embodiment.
  • a deletion flag 121 is associated with the obtained information and indicates that the obtained information is deleted when the flag 121 is in the on-state.
  • the just “obtained letter 117 ” and just “obtained information” means the obtained letter 117 and the obtained information in the state where the deletion flag 121 is off, respectively.
  • Positive evaluator information 122 is accumulation information related to players who evaluated positively a picture letter created by the player corresponding to the player ID 100 .
  • the positive evaluator information 122 includes the player name 102 , the character information 103 , and the like of each of the players.
  • Hand-item information 123 is information related to items held by the player ID 100 .
  • the hand-item information 123 includes an item obtained as the obtained item 118 .
  • the player information 10 in the present embodiment is information excluding the created letter and the obtained letter when the deletion flags 116 and 121 are in the on-state.
  • the server weather information 20 stored in the sever storage portion 2 a will be described.
  • the server weather information 20 is constructed by, as shown in FIG. 4 , location information 21 , weather information 22 of the location, and game machine information 23 .
  • the location information 21 is information indicating an observation location closest to the place where the game machine 3 of the game machine information 23 is mounted.
  • the weather information 22 is information obtained as the weather information of the location information 21 from the weather information providing server 5 .
  • the game machine information 23 indicates a game machine 3 whose observation location is closest to the observation location indicated by the location information 21 .
  • the observation location closest to the game machine 3 A is an observation location A, and the weather is “rain”. Additionally, there is a case that the number of observation locations closest to two or more game machines 3 is one. In this case, a plurality of game machines 3 are associated with the observation location B.
  • the hardware configuration of the game machine 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 .
  • the game machine 3 comprises a game machine communication portion 3 a for communicating data with other game machines 3 and the center server 2 , an input portion 3 b for receiving operations of a player, a monitor 3 c for displaying various information, and a control unit 3 d for controlling the operation of the game machine.
  • the control unit. 3 d is constructed as a computer obtained by assembling a CPU and a game machine storage portion 3 e as a storage area including a RAM and a ROM necessary for the operation of the CPU.
  • one of the plurality of game machines 3 participating in a competition game functions as a game master that controls progress of the competition game. Therefore, the control unit 3 d has two logical configurations of a game master portion 3 f functioning as a game master and a game client portion 3 g functioning in a similar manner to the other game machines 3 .
  • the game machine storage portion 3 e a program for executing the game in the game machine 3 under control of the control unit 3 d and various data necessary for the control are stored.
  • the data stored in the game machine storage portion 3 e includes, as shown in FIG. 6 , game machine information 30 and special character information 40 related to weather characters as special characters.
  • the game machine information 30 includes a game machine ID 31 as identification information for identifying a game machine in the game system, a self-machine location information 32 indicative of a location in which the game machine is mounted, and self-machine weather information 33 .
  • the special character information 40 is constructed by special weather information 41 , weather character information 42 , character game history information 43 , and appearance times 44 .
  • the special weather information 41 is the weather which is set as a special weather in the game system 1 .
  • the weather information unique to a location such as “snow” or “typhoon”, except “fine”, is set.
  • the weather character information 42 identification information of the weather character, a figure, a name, and the like are set.
  • the weather character is prepared as a character unique to the special weather information 41 and is used as the ghost player.
  • the weather character includes, for example, a snow character and a typhoon character.
  • the character game history information 43 is information corresponding to the game history information 104 of the player information 10 .
  • the operations of the weather character are determined, when the game is established by using the weather character as the ghost player.
  • the appearance times 44 is accumulated total of the number of times that the weather character appeared in the competition game.
  • the server weather information 20 is held in the center server 2 .
  • the self-machine weather information 33 is held. Since the weather information changes with time, the game system 1 is configured so that the weather information is updated periodically irrespective of player's operations. Thereby, the weather information to be recognized in the game system 1 and actual weather can be matched. A state where the weather information is updated will be described with reference to a sequence chart of FIG. 7 . Additionally, processes in the center server 2 are controlled by the control portion 2 c , and processes in the game machine 3 are controlled by the control unit 3 d.
  • the weather information of the weather information providing server 5 to be provided to the center server 2 is updated at a predetermined timing (step S 1 ).
  • an update cycle for periodically updating the server weather information 20 is preset to determine whether the timing for update reaches (step S 2 ).
  • the center server 2 transmits to the weather information providing server 5 , a weather information request of requesting the weather information related to the observation location indicated by the location information 21 in the server weather information 20 (step S 3 ).
  • the weather information providing server 5 when receiving the weather information request, provides to the center server 2 , the weather information of all of observation locations requested (step S 4 ).
  • the center server 2 updates the weather information 22 stored in the sever storage portion 2 a of itself on the basis of the weather information obtained (step S 5 ).
  • the update cycle is preset to determine whether the updating timing reaches (step S 6 ).
  • the game machine 3 transmits to the center server 2 , the self-machine weather information request including the game machine ID 31 of itself (step S 7 ).
  • the center server 2 refers to the server weather information 20 to specify the weather information 22 associated with the game machine 3 which has transmitted the request (step S 8 ).
  • the weather information 22 corresponding to the game machine ID 31 included in the self-machine weather information request is specified.
  • the center server 2 provides to the game machine 3 , the specified weather information 22 as the self-machine weather information (step S 9 ).
  • the game machine 3 which has obtained the self-machine weather information from the center server 2 updates the self-machine weather information 33 held in the game machine storage portion 3 e with the obtained self-machine weather information (step S 10 ).
  • step S 20 when a predetermined game value is input by a player operating the game machine itself (hereinbelow, called “the player P”) and a predetermined log-in operation such as entry of a player ID is performed, the game machine 3 requests the center server 2 for the player information 10 of the player P.
  • the player information 10 of the player P is specified from the player information 10 stored in the sever storage portion 2 a and is provided to the game machine 3 .
  • step S 22 when the player information 10 is obtained from the center server 2 , the player information 10 is stored in the game machine storage portion 3 e as the player information 10 of the player P.
  • the processes related to the player information 10 in the game machine 3 are executed with reference to the player information 10 stored in the game machine storage portion 3 e.
  • step S 28 a home image display process is executed.
  • the home image is displayed on the monitor 3 c , and the procedures advance to each process selected by the player.
  • the home image display process will be described later.
  • FIG. 9 shows an example of the home image 60 .
  • a character 61 which is the avatar of the player P is displayed on the basis of the character information 103 , and five process options 62 which can be selected by the player P are displayed.
  • WRITE A PICTURE LETTER a picture letter creation in the letter mode is started.
  • OPEN A PICTURE LETTER the picture letter obtained in the letter mode is opened.
  • SOMEONE'S MEMORY a list of players who positively evaluated the player P in the letter mode is displayed.
  • ITEM is selected, a list of items held by the player P is displayed in the similar way.
  • MODE SELECTION a play mode in which a competition game, a multiplayer game, a game for training, and the like can be executed is set.
  • a new notification 63 is an indicator to notify the player P of addition of new information.
  • the new notification 63 is displayed at the “OPEN A PICTURE LETTER”.
  • the new notification 63 is displayed in the “SOMEONE'S MEMORY”.
  • remaining time 64 for notifying of remaining time to the end of the game is displayed.
  • the remaining time 64 is remaining time in which a game is available, and decreases with lapse time after the game starts.
  • a warning message 65 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in the home image 60 to warn the player P.
  • the player P has received a predetermined number of negative evaluations or more, he/she is prohibited to use the letter mode.
  • a predetermined use prohibition message is displayed, and the player P cannot enter the letter mode.
  • the home image display process will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 11 .
  • the home image display process is controlled by the control unit 3 d of the game machine 3 .
  • the game machine 3 obtains the figure information of the character 61 from the character information 103 of the player P to display the home image 60 on the monitor 3 c .
  • step S 31 it is determined whether the sate is the use prohibition state or not.
  • the warning information 106 of the player P indicates “use prohibition”, it is determined that the state is the use prohibition state.
  • the process advances to step S 32 to directly jump to the play mode after displaying the use prohibition message.
  • step S 33 determines whether the warning message 65 should be displayed or not.
  • the process advances to steps S 34 and S 35 .
  • step S 34 the warning message 65 is displayed in the home image 60 .
  • step S 35 the warning information 106 is updated with “no warning”.
  • the updated warning information 106 is transmitted to the center server 2 at an appropriate timing to update the warning information 106 in the player information 10 in the sever storage portion 2 a .
  • the “warning message display” is set when the negative evaluation is received. By this update process, each time the negative evaluation is received, the warning message is displayed once. In a case where the warning message 65 should not be displayed, the process advances to step S 36 .
  • step S 36 it is determined whether the new notification 63 is displayed or not.
  • the new notification 63 is added to the “OPEN A PICTURE LETTER”. In a case where the new positive evaluation flag 107 is in the on state, the new notification 63 is added to the “SOMEONE'S MEMORY”.
  • the warning message 65 and the new notification 63 may be displayed in any order.
  • Processes executed in the game machine 3 and the center server 2 in a case where the picture letter creation is selected in the home image 60 will be described with reference to a sequence chart of FIG. 12 .
  • the processes in the game machine 3 are controlled by the control unit 3 d
  • the processes in the center server 2 are controlled by the control portion 2 c .
  • the game machine 3 displays a picture-letter creation image (not shown) (step S 40 ).
  • the player P can input pictures and characters from the input portion 3 b to create an original picture letter. It is also possible to prepare a plurality of kinds of templates for the picture letter. Only by selecting a desired picture letter by the player P, the picture letter can be created.
  • an item held by the player P can be attached to the created picture letter.
  • the item to be attached can be selected from the hand-item information 123 .
  • the item in the present embodiment may be a game item used in a competition game or an item unique to the player P, which is not related to the competition game.
  • the created-letter information includes the created picture letter and, if the item is attached to the picture letter, the item to be attached.
  • the game machine 3 which has transmitted the created-letter information displays the home image 60 and returns to a process selection state (step S 46 )
  • the center server 2 which has received the created-letter information sets the deletion flag 116 to the on-state when the created letter 114 already exists in the player information of the player P, and sets the created picture letter as the created letter 114 .
  • the item is stored as the attachment item 115 associated with the created letter in the sever storage portion 2 a (step S 48 ).
  • the processes executed in the center server 2 and the game machine 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 19 .
  • the processes are for inquiring the center server 2 of the presence or absence of a master game machine functioning as a game master, when a competition mode is selected from the play mode in the game machine 3 .
  • four players are necessary for the competition game of the presented embodiment.
  • the case where only two real players enter the competition game (the case where a player PA operating the game machine 3 A and a player PB operating the game machine 3 B, the players PA, PB having the same class 105 , enter the game) will be described.
  • the flow of processes executed in the center server 2 and the game machines 3 A and 3 B will be described with reference to a sequence chart of FIG. 13 .
  • the processes in the center server 2 are controlled by the control portion 2 c
  • the processes in each of the game machines 3 A and 3 B are controlled by the control unit 3 d.
  • the game machine 3 A transmits to the center server 2 , a master-game-machine inquiry including the game machine ID 31 of the game machine 3 A, and the player ID 100 and the class 105 of the player PA (step S 50 ).
  • the center server 2 determines whether there is a game machine registered as the master game machine or not with respect to the class 105 included in the master-game-machine inquiry.
  • the game machine 3 A is registered as the master game machine related to the class 105 of the player PA (step S 52 ).
  • the center server 2 transmits to the game machine 3 A, a master-game-machine notification indicating the game machine 3 A as the master game machine (step S 53 ).
  • the game machine 3 A receives the master-game-machine notification indicating itself as the master game machine
  • the game machine 3 A activates the function of the game master and waits for a competition request from another game machines 3 (step S 54 ).
  • the game machine 3 A functions as the game master in addition to performing similar functions to the other game machines 3 .
  • the game machine 3 A functioning as the game master will be also called the master game machine 3 A.
  • the master-game-machine inquiry including the game machine ID 31 of the game machine 3 B, the player ID 100 of the player PB, and the class 105 is also transmitted to the center server 2 from the game machine 3 B where the competition game has been selected from the play mode (step S 55 ).
  • the center server 2 transmits to the game machine 3 B, the master-game-machine notification indicating the game machine 3 A as the master game machine (step S 56 ).
  • the game machine 3 B transmits the competition request including the player ID 100 of the player PB and the game machine information 30 to the game machine 3 A as the master game machine (step S 58 ).
  • the master game machine 3 A finishes accepting the competition request and transmits to the center server 2 , a deletion request of the registration as the master game machine (step S 60 ).
  • the center server 2 which has received the deletion request deletes the game machine 3 A from the registration of the master game machine (step S 62 ).
  • the master game machine 3 A which has transmitted the deletion request determines whether a process for adjusting the number of players is necessary or not (step S 64 ). In a case where two or less competition requests have been received, the process advances to the process for adjusting the number of players (step S 66 ). In the process for adjusting the number of players, a process for preparing four of players is executed.
  • a ghost information request including the player ID and the class 105 of a real player, and the required number of players is transmitted to the center server 2 , and ghost information used as the player information of the ghost player is obtained (step S 66 ).
  • a ghost process is executed (step S 68 ).
  • the center server 2 selects the player information 10 in accordance with the requested number of players, the player information having the player ID different from the player ID included in the ghost information request and having the same class 105 as the class 105 included in the ghost information request.
  • the weather character 42 is set as the ghost player.
  • the selected player information 10 is transmitted as the ghost information to the master game machine 3 A (step S 70 ).
  • the master game machine 3 A transmits to the center server 2 , a participation-ID notification including the player IDs 100 of the players to participate in the game and the self-machine location information 32 of the game machine 3 corresponding to each of the players (step S 72 ). Additionally, a ghost flag is added to the player ID corresponding to the ghost player. In a case where the weather character 42 of the special character information 40 is set as the ghost player, information related to the weather character 42 is not included.
  • the center server 2 executes an exchange process (step S 74 ). In the exchange process, a combination of players exchanging the picture letters is determined and the picture letters are exchanged.
  • the master game machine 3 A stops communicating with the center server 2 , and transmits the ghost information and the special character information 40 of the weather character to the game machine 3 B to start the competition game (step S 76 ).
  • the game machine 3 A functions as the game master in the competition game.
  • the function as the game master in the competition game may be similar to that of a known game system in which one of a plurality of game machines functions as the game master.
  • each of the game machines 3 updates the game information with respect to the competition game in reply to operations of the player P operating the game machine 3 itself.
  • the master game machine 3 A controls the entire progress of the competition game by transmitting operation results of each player, determining win or defeat of the game, and the like.
  • the master game machine 3 A determines operations of the ghost player on the basis of the game history information 104 and 43 corresponding to the ghost player.
  • the game machines 3 A and 3 B transmit to the center server 2 , the game result information of the real players PA and PB, respectively (step S 77 ).
  • the game result information includes game update information for updating the game history information 104 of the real players PA and PB.
  • the game history information 104 used as the ghost information is not updated.
  • the center server 2 transmits exchange result information including the obtained information in the player information 10 of the player P to the game machine 3 operated by the player P determined as the object person for exchange (step S 78 ).
  • the center server 2 executes a game-result updating process for updating each player information 10 on the basis of the received game result information (step S 80 ).
  • the game machine 3 which received the exchange result information executes an obtaining process (step S 82 ).
  • the deletion flag of obtained information already existing is set to the off-state
  • the obtained information included in the exchange result information is set in the player information held by the game machine 3
  • the new obtaining flag is set to the on-state
  • the deletion flag 116 of the created letter is set to the on-state.
  • a continuation instruction image 70 as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed (step S 84 ).
  • a continuation message 71 for suggesting continuation is displayed on a home image 60 ′ in a shadowed state.
  • the new notification 63 is added to “OPEN A PICTURE LETTER” in the home image 60 ′ and is displayed. Consequently, the player can recognize that the picture letter is obtained from any one of the players who played the competition game together.
  • step S 86 When a predetermined continuation operation is performed by the player to the continuation instruction screen 70 , the continuation message 71 and the shadow on the home screen 60 ′ are deleted, and only the home image 60 is displayed. Then, it becomes possible to continue the game (step S 86 ).
  • the predetermined continuation operation for example, input of a game value can be adopted. Therefore, by displaying the home image 60 ′ on the continuation instruction screen 70 , it is possible to prompt the input of the game value from the player.
  • the predetermined continuation operation is not performed, the game is finished (step S 88 ).
  • the processes executed in the process for adjusting the number of players will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 15 .
  • Each of the processes in the process for adjusting the number of players is controlled by the game master portion 3 f of the game machine 3 A.
  • the case where four players shown in the home image 60 in FIG. 16 are arranged by the process for adjusting the number of players will be described.
  • FIG. 16 for convenience of explanation, each of characters displayed will be described as a player.
  • the four players in the present embodiment are the players PA and PB as real players, a snow character SP of the special character information 40 , and the ghost player GP.
  • the real players PA and PB are displayed with a shadow K
  • the ghost player GP and the snow character SP are displayed without the shadow K.
  • step S 100 it is determined whether either the real player PA or the real player PB who have applied to the game entry is a player of the special weather. For example, it is determined whether the self-machine weather information 33 included in the received competition request or the self-machine weather information 33 of the game machine itself is the special weather information 41 or not. In a case where the special weather does not exist, the process advances to step S 108 . In a case where the special weather exists, the process advances to step S 102 . In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the self-machine weather information 33 of the game machine 3 A is “fine”, and that of the game machine 3 B is “snow”. In this case, “snow” is determined as the special weather, thereby the process advances to step S 102 .
  • step S 102 the appearance probability of the special character, that is, the snow character SP and a random number are compared to each other.
  • the appearance probability of the snow character SP is calculated on the basis of the appearance times 44 of the snow character SP.
  • the process advances to step S 108 not to make the special character appear.
  • the process advances to step S 104 to make the snow character SP appear, where the special character information 40 related to the snow character SP is set as the ghost player.
  • the appearance times 44 of the snow character SP held in the game machine. 3 A is incremented by one. Thereby, a character according to the weather of the location in which the real player plays appears as the ghost player.
  • step S 106 it is determined whether further ghost information is necessary or not.
  • the process advances to step S 108 .
  • the process advances to step S 108 .
  • the number of players reaches four, it is determined that further ghost information is unnecessary, and the process for adjusting the number of players is finished.
  • the ghost information request is transmitted to the center server 2 .
  • the ghost information request includes the player IDs 100 of the real players PA and PB, the requested number of players, and the class. In the present embodiment, the requested number of players is one, and the class is the class 105 of the player PA.
  • the center server 2 selects the ghost information and transmits it to the game machine 3 A.
  • the ghost information received in step S 110 is set as the ghost player GP.
  • the player information 10 is used as the ghost information. Consequently, for identifying the ghost information, the ghost flag is added to the obtained ghost information in the present embodiment.
  • step S 120 the combination of players to exchange the picture letters is determined.
  • the player information 10 corresponding to each of the ghost player GP and the real players PA and PB included in the participation-ID notification is extracted.
  • the players having only the created letters 114 or the players having the created letters 114 with which the attachment item 115 is associated are combined.
  • the real players PA and PB may be combined with priority over the ghost player GP.
  • a player having no created letter 114 is not determined as the object person for exchange.
  • the weather character is not the object person for exchange, so that the ID information related to the snow character is not included in the participation-ID notification.
  • step S 122 referring to the sever storage portion 2 a , the player information 10 as the object person for exchange is specified.
  • step S 124 it is determined whether the picture letter is already obtained or not.
  • the process advances to step S 128 .
  • the process advances to step S 126 .
  • the new obtaining flag 109 is set to the off-state. In a case where the new obtaining flag 109 of the player information 10 is in the on-state, it indicates that the obtained picture letter is not opened yet.
  • step S 126 it is determined whether the player information is used as the ghost information this time or not. In the present embodiment, it is determined that the player information 10 corresponding to the player ID to which the ghost flag is added in the participation-ID notification information is used as the ghost information. In a case where the player information 10 is not used as the ghost information, the process advances to step S 128 and a letter exchange process is executed. In the letter exchange process, the obtained information related to the obtained picture letter is generated. The details of the letter exchange process will be described later.
  • the exchange process is finished without executing the letter exchange process.
  • the player information 10 is used as the ghost information
  • the exchange process is finished without executing the letter exchange process.
  • the player information 10 is used as the ghost information
  • a priority is always given to the exchange process executed before.
  • the exchange process executed at the moment of participating in the game as the real player has a priority.
  • the exchange process is finished.
  • step S 140 the player information 10 of each of two players combined is specified. From the player information 20 of one of the players (hereinbelow, called “the partner information 10 ”), the obtained information of the other player is generated. The obtained information is constructed by, as described above, the obtained letter 117 , the obtained item 118 , the transmitter information 119 , and the transmitter evaluation information 120 in the player information 10 .
  • FIG. 19 shows a state where the obtained information is generated.
  • the obtained letter 117 the created letter 114 in the partner information 10 is set.
  • the obtained item 118 the attachment item 115 associated with the created letter 114 in the partner information 10 is set.
  • the transmitter information 119 the player ID 100 , the player name 102 , and the character information 103 of the partner information 10 are set.
  • the transmitter evaluation information 120 the negative points 111 and the positive points 112 of the partner information 10 are set.
  • the self-machine location information 32 corresponding to the exchange partner is included in the transmitter information 119 as the transmission location of the transmitter.
  • the deletion flag 121 is added to the information obtained from the partner information 10 .
  • step S 144 When the obtained information already exists in each of the player information 10 , the deletion flag 121 is set to the on-state and the generated obtained information is associated with the player information 10 . Subsequently, the process advances to step S 146 , where the deletion flag 116 of the created letter 114 is set to the on-state. In step S 148 , the new obtaining flag 109 is set to the on-state, and the letter exchange process is finished.
  • FIGS. 20 to 28 The case where the picture letter open is selected in the home image 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 28 .
  • the processes in the game machine 3 are controlled by the control unit 3 d
  • the processes in the center server 2 are controlled by the control portion 2 c.
  • FIG. 21 shows the letter-opening instruction image 80 of the present embodiment.
  • a transmission location 81 a name 82 , and a character 83 of the exchange partner are displayed based on the transmitter information 119 in the obtained information.
  • the negative points 111 of the exchange partner included in the transmitter evaluation information 120 in the obtained information is displayed as a warning point 84 .
  • a letter-opening instruction mark 85 for instructing top open the picture letter and a deletion instruction mark 86 for deleting the picture letter without opening the letter are displayed.
  • the player P determines whether the picture letter is opened or not by referring to the warning point 84 . In a case of opening the picture letter, the player P has only to select the letter-opening instruction mark 85 . On the other hand, in a case of deleting the picture letter without opening, the player P has only to select the deletion instruction mark 86 .
  • the game machine 3 determines whether the letter-opening instruction mark 85 is selected or not (step S 152 ).
  • the game machine 3 displays an opened letter image 90 as shown in FIG. 22 (step S 154 ).
  • an opened picture letter 91 which indicates the picture letter from the exchange partner 83 in an open-state is displayed.
  • options 92 of “STORE IN MEMORY”, “REPORT TO POLICE BOX”, and “DISCARD” are prepared.
  • the player P can evaluate the opened picture letter 91 by selecting any one of the options 92 .
  • “STORE IN MEMORY” it means that the player P feels pleasant toward the opened picture letter 91 and selects the positive evaluation as an evaluation result.
  • “REPORT TO POLICE BOX” it means that the opened picture letter 91 is against public order and morals and the player P feels unpleasant and selects the negative evaluation as an evaluation result.
  • “DISCRD” it means that only deletion is selected as an evaluation result.
  • an obtained item 93 is also displayed in the opened letter image 90 as shown in FIG. 23 .
  • the game machine 3 obtains the evaluation of the player P as the evaluation result in the opened letter image 90 (step S 155 ), and transmits to the center server 2 , evaluation-result information including the evaluation result (step S 156 ).
  • the deletion instruction mark 86 is selected in the letter-opening instruction screen 80 , it means that deletion is selected as the evaluation result, and the evaluation-result information including the evaluation result is transmitted (step S 156 ).
  • the details of the letter-opening process from the display of the letter-opening instruction image to the transmission of the evaluation-result information including the evaluation result will be described later.
  • the center server 2 executes an evaluation updating process (step S 157 ).
  • the evaluation updating process the player information 10 of the player P as the evaluator and the player information 10 of the player evaluated are updated on the basis of the evaluation result included in the evaluation-result information. The details of the evaluation updating process will be described later.
  • step S 160 the letter-opening instruction image 80 is displayed on the basis of the obtained information as described above.
  • step S 161 it is determined whether the letter-opening instruction is selected or not in the letter-opening instruction image 80 in step S 161 .
  • step S 162 it is determined whether the deletion instruction is selected or not in the letter-opening instruction image 80 .
  • the letter-opening instruction mark 85 is selected, it is determined that the letter-opening instruction is selected.
  • the deletion instruction mark 86 it is determined that the deletion instruction is selected.
  • the opened letter image 90 is displayed in step S 163 , and the new obtaining flag 109 in the player information 10 of the player P is set to the off-state.
  • the process advances to step S 164 to set the new obtaining flag 109 to the off-state. After that, the process advances to step S 169 .
  • the process advances to step S 165 , where it is determined whether the letter-opening process should be finished or not. For example, in a case where predetermined time has lapsed or in a case where a predetermined finishing operation is performed by the player P, it is determined that the process should be finished. In a case of determining that the process should be finished, for example, the process returns to the home image 60 and finishes the letter-opening process. In a case of determining that the process should not be finished, the process returns to step S 161 .
  • step S 163 After the opened letter image 90 is displayed in step S 163 , which evaluation has been selected by the player P is determined in steps S 166 to S 168 .
  • step S 169 When it is determined that “DISCARD” is selected in the opened letter image 90 , the process advances to step S 169 to set the evaluation result to “deletion”, and generate the evaluation-result information including the evaluation result. Then, the process advances to step S 172 .
  • the evaluation-result information includes, as shown in FIG. 25 , the player ID 100 of the player P as the evaluator, an evaluated player ID 130 , and the evaluation result 131 .
  • the evaluated player ID 130 can be set to the player ID included in the transmitter information 119 in the obtained information.
  • step S 172 the evaluation-result information is transmitted to the center server 2 .
  • the process advances to step S 170 to set the evaluation result 131 to the negative evaluations and generate the evaluation-result information including the evaluation result. Then the process advances to step S 172 .
  • step S 171 sets the evaluation result 131 to the positive evaluation, and generate the evaluation-result information including the evaluation result. Then the process advances to step S 172 .
  • step S 173 it is determined whether the letter-opening process should be finished or not. For example, in a case where the predetermined time has elapsed since the letter-opening process started or in a case where a predetermined finishing process is performed by the player P, it is determined that the process should be finished. In a case where it is determined that the letter-opening process should not be finished, the process returns to step S 166 . In a case where it is determined that the letter-opening process should be finished, for example, the home image 60 is displayed.
  • the processes executed in the evaluation updating process will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 26 .
  • the evaluation updating process is controlled by the control portion 2 c of the center server 2 .
  • the following will be described about the processes to be executed by the center server 2 at the moment when the center server 2 receives the evaluation-result information, on the basis that the player PA as the evaluator has evaluated the picture letter of the player PB as the evaluated player.
  • the player information 10 of the evaluator is specified.
  • the player information 10 of the player PA as the evaluator is specified based on the player ID 100 in the evaluation-result information.
  • step S 181 it is determined whether the evaluation result 131 is the positive evaluation or not.
  • the process advances to step S 182 , where a positive-evaluation updating process is executed.
  • the positive-evaluation updating process will be described later.
  • step S 184 In a case of the positive evaluation, the process advances to step S 184 , where it is determined whether the evaluation result 131 is the negative evaluation or not. In a case of the negative evaluation, the process advances to step S 185 to execute the negative-evaluation updating process. The negative-evaluation updating process will be described later.
  • step S 187 In a case where the evaluation result 131 is not the negative evaluation, the process advances to step S 187 to determine whether the evaluation result 131 is deletion or not.
  • step S 188 In a case where the evaluation result 131 is deletion, the process advances to step S 188 to update only the player information 10 of the player PA as the evaluator. In the present embodiment, the deletion flag 121 of the obtained information of the player PA is set to the on-state, and the new obtaining flag 109 is set to the off-state. In a case where the evaluation result 131 is not deletion, the evaluation updating process is finished.
  • step S 190 the player information 10 of the evaluated player is specified based on the evaluated player ID 130 in the evaluation-result information.
  • the player information 10 of the player PB is specified.
  • step S 191 the positive points 112 in the player information 10 of the player PB is incremented by one.
  • step S 192 the player information 10 of the player PA as the evaluator is updated.
  • the information related to the evaluated player, player PB is added to the positive evaluator information 122 of the player PA.
  • Examples of the information related to the player PB to be added to the positive evaluator information 122 include the player ID 100 , the player name 102 , the character information 103 , the class 105 , date, and the like.
  • the new-positive-evaluation flag 107 of the player PA is set to the on-state, and the new obtaining flag 109 is set to the off-state.
  • step S 193 the player information 10 of the evaluated player is specified based on the evaluated player ID 130 in the evaluation-result information.
  • the player information 10 of the player PB as the evaluated player is specified.
  • step S 194 the warning information 106 of the player PB is set to “warning message display”.
  • step S 195 the negative points 111 of the player PB is incremented by one.
  • step S 196 it is determined whether the negative points 111 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or not.
  • step S 197 the process advances to step S 197 to set the warning information 106 of the player PB to “use prohibition”. Then the process advances to step S 198 .
  • step S 198 the process advances from step S 196 to step S 198 .
  • step S 198 the player information 10 of the player PA as the evaluator is updated. In the present embodiment, the new obtaining flag 109 of the player PA is set to the off-state, and the deletion flag 121 of the obtained information is set to the on-state. After updating the player information 10 , the negative-evaluation updating process is finished.
  • the game machine 3 sets the new positive-evaluation flag 107 of the player P to the off-state (step S 206 ), and transmits the new positive-evaluation update information including the player ID of the player P to the center server 2 (step S 208 ).
  • the center server 2 which has received the new-positive-evaluation update information sets the new-positive-evaluation flag of the player information 10 of the player P in the sever storage portion 2 a to the off-state (step S 210 ).
  • the game machine 3 which has transmitted the new-positive-evaluation update information determines whether the positive evaluator list should be finished or not (step S 212 ). For example, in a case where predetermined time has elapsed after entering the positive evaluator list or in a case where a predetermined finishing operation is performed by the player, it is determined that the positive evaluator list should be finished. In a case of the end, the positive evaluator list is finished and, for example, the home image 60 or the continuation instruction screen 70 is displayed.
  • the sever storage portion 2 a of the center server 2 functions as the player information storing device by storing the player information 10 .
  • the game master portion 3 f of the game machine 3 A functions as the device for adjusting the number of players by executing the process for adjusting the number of players (step S 66 ), functions as the participating player notifying device by executing the participation-ID notification transmitting process (step S 72 ) and functions as the virtual operation determining device as described in the paragraph 0050.
  • the game machine 3 A functions as the game server.
  • the control portion 2 c of the center server 2 functions as the exchange player determining device and the exchange device by executing the exchange process (step S 74 ), and functions as the message providing device by providing the player information 10 in step S 20 or by executing the step S 78 .
  • the center server 2 functions as the exchange server.
  • the control portion 3 c functions as the registering device by executing the step S 52 .
  • the center server 2 also functions as the registration server.
  • the control unit 3 d of the game machine 3 functions as the message output device by executing the letter-opening process (steps S 150 to S 155 ), functions as the new-obtaining notification device by the step S 38 , functions as the inquiry device by executing the steps S 50 and S 55 , and functions as the game master activating device by executing the step S 54 .
  • the present invention is not limited to the foregoing modes but can be executed in various modes.
  • the use prohibition may be cancelled by the center server 2 in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied.
  • the predetermined condition includes a predetermined period and a predetermined operation by the player to whom the use prohibition has been set.
  • the processes executed by the center server 2 may be executed by a plurality of servers in consideration of the communication traffic.
  • the game machine 3 may be mounted not only within one country but also at any locations in the world. In this case, the weather information in observation locations outside of the country besides within the country is held as the server weather information 20 .
  • the competition game executed in the game machines 3 is not limited to the game played by four players. The game played by any plural number of players can be adopted to the present invention. Moreover, the game is not limited to the competition game but may be a game in which a plurality of players cooperate each other.
  • a picture letter may be transmitted from the game system 1 to a player. For example, the birthday of a player is included in the player information 10 in advance. When the birthday has come, a picture letter of birthday may be transmitted from the game system 1 . In this case, it is sufficient for the center server 2 to set a predetermined birthday picture letter as the new obtaining letter 117 in the player information 10 of the player whose birthday has come.

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US12/518,681 2006-12-12 2007-12-07 Game system Abandoned US20100009759A1 (en)

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JP2006335040A JP4145944B2 (ja) 2006-12-12 2006-12-12 ゲームシステム
PCT/JP2007/073683 WO2008072570A1 (fr) 2006-12-12 2007-12-07 Système de jeu

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WO (1) WO2008072570A1 (fr)

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US20110250969A1 (en) * 2010-04-07 2011-10-13 Marcel Van Os Systems and methods for providing a game center having player specific achievement data
JP6328509B2 (ja) * 2014-07-17 2018-05-23 任天堂株式会社 情報共有システム、サーバ装置、サーバプログラム及び情報共有方法
JP6509507B2 (ja) * 2014-07-17 2019-05-08 任天堂株式会社 ゲームシステム、端末装置、コンピュータプログラム及び情報表示方法

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Publication number Publication date
EP2103334A4 (fr) 2010-04-28
WO2008072570A1 (fr) 2008-06-19
TWI337886B (en) 2011-03-01
TW200824768A (en) 2008-06-16
KR101109956B1 (ko) 2012-03-15
KR20090089895A (ko) 2009-08-24
JP2008142423A (ja) 2008-06-26
EP2103334A1 (fr) 2009-09-23
JP4145944B2 (ja) 2008-09-03

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