Game program, game device, and game system

Abstract

To provide a game program capable of improving amusement properties of a game on the raising of a game medium.SOLUTION: A game program causes a control unit 56 of a game device 5 to function as specification means 564 for specifying a level of a player character associated with a user, and determination means 565 for determining whether or not the level of the player character has reached an upper limit. Further, the game program causes a control unit 23 of a server device 2 to function as favoring means 235 for giving favorable treatment to an acquisition condition of a material character for the player character when it is determined by the determination means 565 that the level of the player character has reached the upper limit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a game program, a game device, and a game system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are games in which a user can obtain a player character that overlaps with a player character that the user owns, thereby increasing the upper limit value of the player character and strengthening the player character. In such games, the game program described in the following Patent Document 1 is designed to increase the interest of the game in terms of training the player character by increasing the probability of winning a gacha for a character that the user already owns. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-110451 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with regard to the above-mentioned games, there is still room for improvement in terms of the entertainment value of the games relating to the acquisition and development of various game media including the player character. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a game program, a game device, and a game system that can increase the interest of a game related to the development of a game medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A first aspect includes a computer comprising: A determination means for determining a development status of a first game medium associated with a user; A determination means for determining whether or not the development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition; The game program functions as a preferential treatment means for favoring the acquisition conditions of a second game medium having a specific relationship with the first game medium when the judgment means determines that the development status of the first game medium satisfies the specified condition.

[0006] In a first aspect, the computer comprises: and further functioning as a lottery means for executing a lottery process for associating at least one game medium from among a plurality of game media to be selected with the user through a lottery request from the user. the plurality of game media to be selected include the second game medium; The preferential treatment means can, as a preferential treatment of the conditions for obtaining the second game medium, favor a condition under which the second game medium is selected by lottery from a plurality of the game media to be selected in the lottery process executed by the lottery means.

[0007] In a first aspect, the plurality of game media to be selected are grouped into a plurality of groups by setting any one of a plurality of predetermined parameters; When the game medium associated with the user by the lottery means is determined as the winning game medium, The lottery means includes: As the lottery process, a first lottery process for determining, by lottery, a predetermined parameter possessed by the winning game medium from among the plurality of parameters; a second lottery process for determining the winning game medium by lottery from among the plurality of the lottery target game media belonging to a group having the predetermined parameter identified in the first lottery process, The preferential treatment means is: In the second selection process, the conditions for selecting the second game medium from among the plurality of selected game media can be favored.

[0008] In a first aspect, the lottery means comprises: a normal lottery for associating at least one game medium with the user by lottery from among a plurality of game media to be selected in response to a lottery request from the user, regardless of whether the development status of the first game medium satisfies the predetermined condition; and executing a special lottery to associate at least one game medium from among a plurality of game media to be selected with the user in response to a lottery request from the user based on the development status of the first game medium satisfying the predetermined condition. The preferential treatment means is: When the lottery means executes a lottery process corresponding to the special lottery, the conditions for the second game medium to be selected from the plurality of game media to be selected can be favored.

[0009] In a first aspect, the lottery means comprises: a normal lottery is executed in which at least one game medium is associated with the user by lottery from among a plurality of game media to be selected in response to a lottery request from the user, regardless of whether the development status of the first game medium satisfies the predetermined condition; The preferential treatment means is: When the selection means executes a selection process corresponding to the normal selection, the conditions for selecting the second game medium from the plurality of selected game media can be favored.

[0010] In a first aspect, the preferential treatment means includes: A condition for the selection of the second game medium from the plurality of game media to be selected in the selection process executed by the selection means can be set to one of a plurality of preferential treatments, The computer, The display control means may further function as a display control means for displaying a selection screen for allowing the user to select one of a plurality of preferential treatment contents when the development status of the first game medium satisfies the predetermined condition. In a first aspect, the computer comprises: and further functioning as a display control means for displaying a game medium confirmation screen including information about the first game medium based on an operation by the user. The display control means A message can be displayed on the game medium confirmation screen indicating that satisfaction of the specified conditions will result in preferential treatment in obtaining the second game medium.

[0011] In a first aspect, the computer comprises: and further functioning as a display control means for displaying, prior to other screens, a preferential treatment notification screen indicating that the acquisition conditions for the second game medium will be preferential when the development status of the first game medium satisfies the predetermined condition; The display control means The preferential treatment notification screen may further display a transition section that enables transition to another screen where a preferential treatment in terms of obtaining the second game medium can be received.

[0012] In a first aspect, the computer comprises: and further functioning as a preferential right granting means for granting the user a preferential right that allows the user to receive preferential treatment in the game based on the user's game behavior; The preferential treatment means is: When the determination means determines that the development status of the first game medium satisfies a specified condition, the conditions for obtaining the second game medium can be favored, with the further condition that the preferential right is exercised by the user.

[0013] In a first aspect, the computer comprises: and further functioning as a preferential right granting means for granting the user a preferential right that allows the user to receive preferential treatment in the game based on the user's game behavior; The preferential treatment means is: The degree of favorability of the conditions for obtaining the second game medium can be strengthened based on the user exercising the preferential right.

[0014] In a first aspect, The preferential right can be associated with a plurality of users, The preferential treatment means can change the degree of preferential treatment of the conditions for obtaining the second game medium according to the number of preferential rights exercised by the user.

[0015] In a first aspect, The preferential treatment means is: The degree of preferential treatment of the conditions for obtaining the second game medium is strengthened with time or number of restrictions, Each time the user exercises the preferential right, the degree of preferential treatment of the conditions for obtaining the second game medium can be strengthened, and the time or number of times restriction can be relaxed.

[0016] The second aspect is an identification unit that identifies a development status of a first game medium associated with a user; a determination unit that determines whether or not a development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition; The game device is equipped with a preferential treatment unit that, when the judgment unit judges that the development status of the first game medium satisfies the specified condition, favors the acquisition conditions of a second game medium that has a specific relationship with the first game medium.

[0017] The third aspect is an identification unit that identifies a development status of a first game medium associated with a user; a determination unit that determines whether or not a development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition; The game system includes a preferential treatment unit that, when the judgment unit judges that the development status of the first game medium satisfies the specified condition, favors the acquisition conditions of a second game medium that has a specific relationship with the first game medium. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a game program, a game device, and a game system that can increase the interest of games related to the acquisition and development of game content. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a normal lottery list in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a special lottery list in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a sequence chart showing the procedure of processing executed by a control unit of the server device and a control unit of the game device in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a special lottery list in a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game of a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game of a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a normal lottery list in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a normal lottery list in the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a normal lottery list in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in a second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in a second embodiment. [Figure 16]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in a second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game in a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a game system 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. <Game Description> In the game system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a server device 2 and a plurality of game devices 5 are communicably connected to each other via a communication network 6, and a game is executed on the game devices 5.

[0021] The game of this embodiment is an online game executed in the game system 1. In this game, a user of the game device 5 causes one or more player characters to act in a virtual game space, and causes the player characters to fight against enemy characters that are non-player characters. The player characters correspond to objects.

[0022] In the game of this embodiment, the user can obtain game media. The game media is electronic data representing elements related to the game, such as the player character operated by the player in a virtual space, items such as weapons, armor, and tools that the player character can use in the virtual game space, and consumable media that can be used in the game. The user can obtain the game media by purchasing it for a fee, by clearing quests or as a reward for various in-game events, by a lottery method called gacha, or the like.

[0023] Consumable media are virtual currency, points, items, player characters, etc. that can be used in the virtual game space, and are media that are consumed in the game to progress in the game. Consumable media are given to users as rewards for quests or by paying in the real world. The virtual currency may be either paid virtual currency or free virtual currency. Paid virtual currency is virtual currency that is acquired by charging. Free virtual currency is virtual currency that is acquired without charging. Free virtual currency may be acquired according to the progress of the game, for example, as a bonus given to a user when logging in to the game (a so-called login bonus), or as a bonus given to a user for clearing a game event such as a quest.

[0024] A quest is game content associated with tasks and conditions to be achieved within the game. A clear condition is set for a quest. When the clear condition of a quest is achieved by the user's game action, the user is given a predetermined reward. A task other than the clear condition (a so-called mission) may be associated with a quest. By achieving the clear condition while accomplishing the mission, the user is given a mission clear reward in addition to the clear reward.

[0025] Gacha is a method of selecting arbitrary game media such as a player character or an item by lottery based on a predetermined selection ratio. The arbitrary selected game media is granted to the user. Game media consumed to perform gacha include, for example, "paid stones", which are paid game media granted to the user by a charging operation, and "free stones", which are free game media granted to the user through gaming activities. Note that "granting game media to a user" is synonymous with "associating the game media with identification information indicating the user". Furthermore, "the user owns the game media" is synonymous with "the game media is associated with identification information indicating the user".

[0026] Game media such as player characters and items that users can obtain through gacha or the like have a parameter called rarity, which indicates rarity, set in advance as one of the predetermined parameters. Specifically, high rarity means high rarity, i.e., difficult to obtain in the game, and low rarity means low rarity, i.e., easy to obtain in the game. In the game of this embodiment, each game medium is grouped into three groups by being set in advance with one of the rarity ranks S, A, and B. S rank is the highest rarity, followed by A rank and B rank in descending order of rarity.

[0027] In the game of this embodiment, the player character can be changed by consuming a consumable medium associated with the user. In the following, the changes in the player character will be described by taking strengthening and breaking through limits as examples. Strengthening a player character means changing the state of the player character to an advantage. In this embodiment, an example of strengthening a player character will be described in which the level of the player character is increased. In the game of this embodiment, the level of the player character starts at "Level 1" and can be increased up to an upper limit. The initial upper limit is set to, for example, "Level 50". The consumable media required for strengthening are typically predetermined items. Hereinafter, the consumable media required for strengthening are referred to as "material items".

[0028] Breaking through the limits of a player character means increasing the upper limit of the player character's level. In the game of this embodiment, after raising the level of the player character to the upper limit, the upper limit of the level can be increased by consuming a specific consumption medium for the player character. For example, if the current upper limit of the level of the player character is "level 50", the upper limit of the level of the player character can be increased to "level 55" by increasing the level of the player character to "level 50" and then consuming a specific consumption medium. After increasing the upper limit of the level of the player character to "level 55", the upper limit of the level may be further increased to "level 60" by breaking through the limit of the player character. The consumption medium required for the limit breakthrough is typically the same character as the player character. The same character as the player character includes characters with different parameters from the player character, such as a "level 1" character. Hereinafter, the consumption medium required for the limit breakthrough is referred to as a "material character". In this embodiment, the player character whose level has reached the upper limit corresponds to the first game medium. Furthermore, a material character required to break through the limits of the player character corresponds to a second game medium having a specific relationship with the first game medium.

[0029] In the game of this embodiment, the above-mentioned gacha includes a normal gacha and a special gacha. The normal gacha is a gacha that can be performed regardless of whether the level of the player character has reached the upper limit. The special gacha is a gacha that can be performed when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, in other words, when the player character can break through the limits. Compared to the normal gacha, the special gacha makes it easier to obtain a character identical to a player character whose level has reached the upper limit, in other words, a material character that can break through the limits of a player character whose level has reached the upper limit.

[0030] Such games are played using a game device 5, which is a home game console such as PlayStation (registered trademark), a portable game console such as Nintendo Switch (registered trademark), or an electronic device such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet. In the following, a case where the game device 5 is a smartphone will be exemplified.

[0031] <Overview of Game System 1> The game system 1 is made up of a server device 2 and a plurality of game devices 5. The server device 2 stores game programs and game data, and manages the game data of the game devices 5, more specifically, manages the game data for each account.

[0032] The game device 5 executes a predetermined game based on the user's operation. To this end, the game device 5 receives, specifically downloads and installs, a game program and game data from the server device 2 via the communication network 6. Each user is assigned account information including identification information and a password in association with the game device 5. This account information is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2 at the time of login, and is used for user authentication in the server device 2.

[0033] After user authentication, mutual communication between the server device 2 and the game device 5 becomes possible. After logging in, the game device 5 receives data necessary for the game progress, for example data related to the game progress status, from the server device 2, and progresses the game while outputting game images and sounds from the display 61 and the speaker 62, respectively, based on the user's operation.

[0034] <Configuration of Game System 1> Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of each of the server device 2 and the game devices 5 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Note that each of the multiple game devices 5 has the same configuration.

[0035] <Configuration of server device 2> 1, the server device 2 includes a network interface 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The network interface 21 and the storage unit 22 are electrically connected to the control unit 23 via a bus 29.

[0036] The network interface 21 is communicably connected to each game device 5 via a communication network 6 such as the Internet or a LAN. The storage unit 22 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a solid state drive (SSD), etc. The storage unit 22 stores various programs including a part of the game program of this embodiment, as well as various data such as a user database (DB) 221 and a lottery list DB 222.

[0037] In the user DB221, for each identification number of a user playing a game, user information, game media assigned to the user, information on the player character operated by the user, consumable media usable within the virtual game space, etc. are stored in association with each other. The user information includes information such as the user name and user rank. The information on the player character includes the level and status of the player character, and equipment associated with the player character. The information on the player character also includes the amount of currency and items associated with the player character. The consumable media usable within the virtual game space include material items and material characters, etc.

[0038] The lottery list DB222 stores a plurality of lottery lists used when performing lottery processing corresponding to gacha. The lottery list stores information about the game media in association with the probability of selection by lottery. The information about the game media is the name, ability, parameters, rarity, level, etc. of the game media. For example, when the game media is a player character, the parameters are the fighting power, HP, attack power, defense power, intelligence, speed, etc.

[0039] For example, the lottery process of the gacha corresponding to the player character in this embodiment is performed in the order of the first lottery process and the second lottery process. The first lottery process is a process of specifying the rarity of the winning player character by lottery from among a plurality of rarities of S rank, A rank, and B rank when the player character finally associated with the user by lottery is set as the winning player character. In this embodiment, the winning player character corresponds to the winning game medium. The second lottery process is a process of determining one character by lottery from a plurality of player characters having the rarity specified in the first lottery process. In order to perform the lottery process corresponding to such a gacha of the player character, the lottery list DB222 stores a lottery list as shown in, for example, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0040] 2 shows an example of a normal selection list 222a used for a normal gacha for a player character. As shown in FIG. 2, the normal selection list 222a specifies the rarity of the player character, the selection probability of the rarity, the character name, and the selection probability of the character.

[0041] The selection probability of a rarity indicates the selection probability in the first selection process of the corresponding rarity. In the normal selection list 222a, the selection probability of S rank in the first selection process is set to "10[%]", the selection probability of A rank is set to "30[%]", and the selection probability of B rank is set to "60[%]". The total selection probability of each rarity is "100[%]".

[0042] The character names indicate the names of the player characters that may be selected for each rarity. Hereinafter, for convenience, the player characters that may be selected are referred to as "lottery target characters." The lottery target characters for each rarity are selected in advance from a large number of characters that belong to the respective rarity. The player characters listed in the normal lottery list 222a correspond to the lottery target game media that may be selected by normal lottery.

[0043] The selection probability of a character indicates the selection probability of a character to be selected in the second selection process. The total selection probability of each of the multiple characters to be selected that belong to each rarity is "100[%]." When the first and second lottery processes are performed using this normal lottery list 222a, the actual lottery probability of the character is the product of the lottery probability of the rarity and the lottery probability of the character. For example, the actual lottery probability of character 1 is "2[%]", which is obtained by multiplying the lottery probability of the rarity, "10[%]", by the lottery probability of the character, "20[%]".

[0044] FIG. 3 shows an example of the special lottery list 222b used in the special gacha for player characters. The special lottery list 222b differs from the normal lottery list 222a shown in FIG. 2 in that a "pickup character" is added to the S-rank characters to be selected. The same character as the player character whose level has reached the upper limit is selected as the pick-up character. In the special lottery list 222b, the selection probability of the pick-up character in the second lottery process is set to 50%. Accordingly, the selection probability of the other S-rank characters to be selected, excluding the pick-up character, is set to 10%.

[0045] 1 is configured with a microcomputer having a CPU and a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the server device 2. The control unit 23 executes various programs to function as information processing means 231, collation means 232, lottery means 233, change means 234, and preferential treatment means 235. These means 231 to 235 correspond to an information processing unit, a collation unit, a lottery unit, a change unit, and a preferential treatment unit, respectively.

[0046] -Information processing means 231- The information processing means 231 transmits and receives various data to and from each game device 5. Main data received by the information processing means 231 include download request information for a game program, a gacha lottery request in response to a user operation, account information, game data, etc. Main data transmitted by the information processing means 231 include information for confirming that the game device 5 has received the game program, information on game media obtained by gacha, etc.

[0047] The information processing means 231 executes processing for settling a charge based on a charge request received from the game device 5 via the network interface 21. A charge request is made to recover a predetermined amount of a game parameter such as stamina. - Matching means 232 - The verification means 232 uses the user identification information received from the game device 5 to authenticate the user account.

[0048] --Lottery method 233-- The lottery means 233 executes a lottery process for associating at least one game medium from among a plurality of game media to be selected with a user by lottery in response to a gacha execution request, which is a lottery request from the user. Specifically, when a user performs an operation to execute a gacha on the game device 5, a gacha execution request is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2. In response to the gacha execution request, the lottery means 233 selects at least one game medium from among the plurality of game media to be selected by lottery based on the winning probability of each game medium from the lottery list. The lottery means 233 associates information about the selected game medium with identification information of the user who performed the operation that is the source of the lottery request. As a result, the user is granted the game medium that was won by drawing the gacha himself.

[0049] For example, when a user performs an operation to execute a normal gacha on the game device 5, a request to execute a normal gacha is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2. In this case, the lottery means 233 selects one player character using the normal lottery list 222a shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the lottery means 233 executes a first lottery process to specify one rarity from S rank, A rank, and B rank by lottery based on the lottery probability described in the "Rarity Winning Probability" column as the rarity possessed by the winning player character, by using the normal lottery list 222a shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the lottery means 233 executes a second lottery process to determine one winning player character from a plurality of player characters having the rarity specified in the first lottery process based on the lottery probability described in the "Character Lottery Probability" column.

[0050] Furthermore, when a user performs an operation to execute a special gacha on the game device 5, a request to execute a special gacha is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2. In this case, the selection means 233 executes the first selection process and the second selection process described above using the special selection list 222b shown in FIG. 3 to determine one winning player character.

[0051] -Means of change 234- The change means 234 consumes consumable media associated with the user based on the user's operation information transmitted from the game device 5, and performs a change in the game media selected by the user, specifically strengthening, breaking through limits, etc.

[0052] --Preferential Treatment Measures 235-- When notified by the game device 5 that the level of a player character has reached an upper limit, the preferential treatment means 235 gives preferential treatment to the acquisition conditions for a character identical to the player character.

[0053] Specifically, on condition that the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, the preferential treatment means 235 causes a special gacha, which allows the user to easily obtain the same character as the player character whose level has reached the upper limit, to appear in the game, separate from the normal gacha, as a gacha selectable by the user on the game device 5. This allows the user to request the implementation of the special gacha in the game.

[0054] In addition, the preferential treatment means 235 instructs the selection means 233 to use the special selection list 222b shown in Fig. 3 when a selection corresponding to the special gacha is performed. In this embodiment, when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, being able to request the execution of the special gacha based on the special selection list 222b shown in Fig. 3 corresponds to preferential treatment of the acquisition condition for the same character as the player character whose level has reached the upper limit.

[0055] In addition, the preferential treatment means 235 sets a condition for requesting the implementation of the special gacha. For example, the preferential treatment means 235 sets the consumption of free stones or paid stones as a condition for requesting the implementation of the special gacha. In addition, the preferential treatment means 235 causes the special gacha to appear only until the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, the preferential treatment end condition is set to be satisfied when either a predetermined time has elapsed since the player character's level reached the upper limit, or a predetermined number of times the special gacha has been executed. When the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied, the user cannot request the execution of the special gacha.

[0056] Furthermore, when a request is made to execute a specified number of special gachas with the consumption of a specified number of paid stones, the preferential treatment means 235 instructs the selection means 233 to use a selection list in which the selection probability of S rank rarity is set to "100[%]", the selection probability of A rank rarity is set to "0[%]", and the selection probability of B rank reality is set to "0[%]" in the special selection list 222b shown in FIG. 3 as the selection list to be used in the last special gacha. That is, the preferential treatment means 235 ensures that an S rank player character wins in the last special gacha. This is to further preferentially treat users who have consumed multiple paid stones, which are charged items.

[0057] <Configuration of Game Device 5> The game device 5 has a display 61, a speaker 62, and a touch pad 63 either externally connected or built-in. The game device 5 also has a network interface 51, a graphics processing unit 52, an audio processing unit 53, an operation unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56. The network interface 51, the graphics processing unit 52, the audio processing unit 53, the operation unit 54, and the storage unit 55 are electrically connected to the control unit 56 via a bus 59.

[0058] The network interface 51 is communicatively connected to a communication network 6 for transmitting and receiving various data between the game device 5 and the server device 2. The graphics processing unit 52 renders game images in a moving image format based on game image information output from the control unit 56. The game images include characters and various objects related to the virtual game space. The graphics processing unit 52 is connected to, for example, a liquid crystal display 61, and displays the game images rendered in a moving image format on the display 61 as a game screen.

[0059] The audio processing unit 53 is connected to a speaker 62 , and reproduces and synthesizes game sounds based on instructions from the control unit 56 , and outputs the game sounds from the speaker 62 . The operation unit 54 is connected to the touch pad 63, and transmits and receives data related to operations and inputs to and from the touch pad 63. The user can input an operation signal to the game device 5 by performing a touch operation on the touch pad 63.

[0060] The storage unit 55 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, a RAM, a ROM, etc. The storage unit 55 stores game data downloaded from the server device 2, various programs including a part of the game program, account information of the game device 5, etc. The control unit 56 is composed of a microcomputer having a CPU and a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the game device 5. The control unit 56 executes various programs to function as a communication means 561, a game execution means 562, a lottery reception means 563, a specification means 564, a determination means 565, a sound control means 566, and a display control means 567. These means 561 to 567 correspond to the communication unit, the game execution unit, the lottery reception means, the specification means, the determination means, the sound control unit, and the display control unit, respectively.

[0061] -Means of communication 561- The communication means 561 communicates with the server device 2 via the network interface 51 . The communication means 561 generates information that the server device 2 can grasp, based on various operation signals received by the operation unit 54 from the touchpad 63, and transmits the information to the server device 2. For example, the communication means 561 transmits account information, download request information for new game data, a gacha implementation request, and the like to the server device 2. In addition, the communication means 561 receives from the server device 2 new game data transmitted from the server device 2 in response to the download request information, information on the game medium selected by the lottery process, and the like.

[0062] -Game execution means 562- The game execution means 562 reads data such as virtual game space objects and textures included in the game data from the storage unit 55 or receives it from the server device 2 based on a user's operation of the touch pad 63. The game execution means 562 generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional game image information while executing a game program using the data such as the virtual game space objects and textures. The game image information is processed by the graphics processing unit 52, and the processed game images are sequentially displayed on the display 61.

[0063] The game execution means 562 places a character on the game image based on an operation by the user of the game device 5, and controls the behavior of the character in the virtual game space according to the operation by the user and the progress of the game. --Lottery reception method 563-- When a user operates the touch pad 63 or the like to request the execution of a gacha, the lottery reception means 563 transmits a notice to that effect to the server device 2. For example, when a user requests the execution of a normal gacha for a player character, the lottery reception means 563 transmits a notice to that effect to the server device 2. In addition, the lottery reception means 563 accepts a request to execute a special gacha during a period from when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit value until the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied. When a user requests the execution of a special gacha during that period, the lottery reception means 563 transmits a notice to that effect to the server device 2.

[0064] ―Identification means 564― The specifying means 564 specifies the development status of the game content associated with the user. Specifically, the specifying means 564 specifies the level of the player character associated with the user.

[0065] -Judgment means 565- The determination means 565 determines whether the development status of the game media associated with the user satisfies a predetermined condition. Specifically, the determination means 565 determines whether the level of the player character identified by the identification means 564 has reached an upper limit, in other words, whether the player character can be broken through the limits. In this embodiment, the predetermined condition corresponds to the level of the player character reaching the upper limit, or the player character being able to be broken through the limits. When the determination means 565 determines that the level of the player character has reached the upper limit, it transmits a notice to that effect to the server device 2. As a result, the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 causes a special gacha to appear, allowing the user to request the implementation of the special gacha.

[0066] -Voice control means 566- The audio control means 566 controls the audio output of the speaker 62 based on the user's operation on the game device 5 during execution of the game. --Display control means 567-- When a game is executed, the display control means 567 controls the display output of the display 61 based on operations by the user on the game device 5. For example, the display control means 567 displays on the display 61 a character confirmation screen, a gacha implementation screen, and the like.

[0067] Next, examples of screens displayed on the display 61 by the display control means 567 will be described with reference to FIGS. The display control means 567 displays a player character confirmation screen 70 shown in Fig. 4 on the display 61. In this embodiment, the character confirmation screen 70 corresponds to a game medium confirmation screen including information on the first game medium. The character confirmation screen 70 includes a character display area 700, a material number display area 701, a list display area 702, an enhancement selection button 703, and a limit breakthrough selection button 704.

[0068] The character display area 700 is an area where the current level and each parameter of the player character are displayed. The material number display area 701 displays the total number of material items required to raise the player character's level from the current level to the level selected in the list display area 702, and the number of material items currently owned by the user, for each material item.

[0069] The list display area 702 is provided with an enhancement level list area 7020 and a scroll bar 7021 . The strengthening level list area 7020 displays strengthenable levels in the strengthening level list, where the player character's level can be increased by consuming material items associated with the user, and unstrengthenable levels, where the player character's level cannot be increased even if all material items associated with the user are consumed. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the strengthenable level is "level 48" and the unstrengthenable levels are "levels 49, 50". In the strengthening level list area 7020, the display areas 7020b, 7020c of the unstrengthenable levels, levels 49 and 50, are displayed in gray, respectively, making those levels unselectable and letting the user know that those levels cannot be strengthened.

[0070] In each level display area 7020a, 7020b, 7020c in the enhancement level list area 7020, the number of each material item required to level up and the increase amount of each parameter of the player character are displayed together with the corresponding level. The display control means 567 displays the preferential notification area 706 superimposed on the display area of ​​the upper limit level in the list display area 702, i.e., the display area 7020c of "level 50". The preferential notification area 706 is an area for notifying the user that, when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, the user can request the implementation of a special gacha in which the probability of obtaining a character identical to the player character is set high. In this embodiment, the "pickup gacha" described in the preferential notification area 706 corresponds to the special gacha. Moreover, this preferential notification area 706 corresponds to an area that displays that preferential conditions for obtaining the second game medium can be obtained by satisfying a predetermined condition.

[0071] The scroll bar 7021 is a part that is operated when scrolling the reinforcement level list area 7020 in order to display a level higher or lower than the level currently displayed in the reinforcement level list area 7020. The strengthening selection button 703 is a portion that is operated when raising the level of the player character to a level selected in the strengthening level list area 7020. That is, the user can raise the level of the player character to the selected level by selecting one of a plurality of strengthenable levels displayed in the strengthening level list area 7020 and then operating the strengthening selection button 703.

[0072] The limit breakthrough selection button 704 is a part that is operated when breaking through the limits of the player character, that is, when increasing the upper limit of the player character's level. When the player character's level has not reached the current upper limit, the limit breakthrough selection button 704 is displayed in a grayed-out state as shown in FIG. 4, and cannot be operated by the user. When the player character's level reaches the current upper limit, the grayed-out display of the limit breakthrough selection button 704 is released, and the user becomes able to operate the limit breakthrough selection button 704.

[0073] When the level of the player character reaches the upper limit on the character confirmation screen 70, the display control means 567 displays a preferential treatment notification screen 71 on the display 61 prior to other screens, as shown in Fig. 5. The preferential treatment notification screen 71 displays information that a new special gacha has appeared, that limit breaking is necessary to further strengthen the player character, and that a material character that is the same character as the player character is necessary to break through the limit. The "limited time pickup gacha" displayed on the preferential treatment notification screen 71 corresponds to the special gacha.

[0074] The preferential treatment notification screen 71 is provided with a transition button 710 and a back button 711. In this embodiment, the transition button 710 corresponds to the transition portion. The back button 711 is a section that is operated when returning from the preferential treatment notification screen 71 to the character confirmation screen 70.

[0075] The transition button 710 is a portion that is operated when transitioning from the preferential treatment notification screen 71 to a screen for requesting the implementation of the special gacha. When the transition button 710 is operated, the display control means 567 displays the special gacha implementation screen 72 shown in FIG. 6 on the display 61. The display control means 567 displays the special gacha implementation screen 72 on the display 61 not only when the transition button 710 on the preferential notification screen 71 is operated, but also when a button for selecting a special gacha is operated on a gacha selection screen on which multiple gachas are displayed. On the gacha selection screen, multiple buttons for selecting various gachas are arranged, such as a button for selecting a normal gacha and a button for selecting a special gacha. By selecting a special gacha on the gacha selection screen, the user can request the implementation of a special gacha at any time.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 6, the special gacha implementation screen 72 has a preferential target display area 720, a probability confirmation button 721, an explanation display area 722, a first gacha button 723, a second gacha button 724, and a third gacha button 725. The preferred target display area 720 displays a picked-up character that has a preferential selection probability in the special gacha, that is, a character that is the same as a player character whose level has reached the upper limit. Therefore, by checking the characters displayed in the preferred target display area 720, the user can easily recognize the characters that are likely to be obtained in the special gacha.

[0077] The probability confirmation button 721 is a button for confirming the lottery probability of each play character in the special gacha. When the user operates the probability confirmation button 721, the display control means 567 displays, for example, a screen of the special lottery list 222b shown in FIG. 3 or a screen corresponding thereto on the display 61.

[0078] The explanation display area 722 displays information such as the ease with which the material characters required to break through the limits of the player character are available, the remaining time until which a special gacha can be requested, and the remaining number of times until which a special gacha can be requested. The first gacha button 723 is a button for requesting one special gacha run by consuming free stones. When the user operates the first gacha button 723, one free stone associated with the user is consumed, and one special gacha run is run.

[0079] The second gacha button 724 is a button for requesting the implementation of the special gacha ten times by consuming free stones. When the user operates the second gacha button 724, ten free stones associated with the user are consumed, the special gacha is implemented ten times, and bonus game media is additionally provided to the user. On the special gacha implementation screen 72, the game media provided to the user as a bonus are displayed next to the second gacha button 724.

[0080] The third gacha button 725 is a button for requesting the implementation of the special gacha ten times by consuming paid stones. When the user operates the third gacha button 725, ten paid stones associated with the user are consumed, the special gacha is implemented ten times, bonus game media is additionally given to the user, and a player character with S rank rarity is definitely won. The special gacha implementation screen 72 displays the game media given to the user as a bonus, and a message indicating that a player character with S rank rarity will definitely be won.

[0081] <Operation flow of game system 1> Next, the procedure of the process executed by the control unit 23 of the server device 2 and the control unit 56 of the game device 5 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 7, in the control unit 56 of the game device 5, after the specifying means 564 specifies the level of the player character (step S10), the determining means 565 determines whether or not the level of the player character has reached the upper limit (step S11). When the determining means 565 determines that the level of the player character has reached the upper limit (step S11: YES), it transmits a notice to that effect to the server device 2 (step S12).

[0082] When the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 receives the notification that the level of the player character has reached the upper limit (step S20), it causes a special gacha to appear (step S21). This allows the user to request the execution of a special gacha by operating the transition button 710 on the preferential treatment notification screen 71 shown in Fig. 5 on the game device 5, or by operating a button corresponding to the special gacha on the gacha selection screen to cause the special gacha execution screen 72 to be displayed on the display 61.

[0083] Thereafter, the lottery reception means 563 of the game device 5 judges whether or not the implementation of the special gacha has been requested (step S13), and if the implementation of the special gacha has been requested (step S13: YES), transmits that fact to the server device 2 (step S14). When the lottery reception means 563 executes the process of step S14 or makes a negative determination in the process of step S13 (step S13: NO), it judges whether or not the preferential treatment end condition has been satisfied (step S15). As described above, the preferential treatment end condition is set to a condition that either a predetermined time has elapsed since the level of the player character reached the upper limit value, or a special gacha has been implemented a predetermined number of times that has been set in advance is satisfied. When the preferential treatment end condition is not satisfied (step S15: NO), the lottery reception means 563 returns to the process of step S13. Therefore, each time the implementation of the special gacha is requested, a notice to that effect is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2 until the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied.

[0084] Meanwhile, the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 judges whether or not a special gacha has been requested from the game device 5 (step S22). If the preferential treatment means 235 judges that a special gacha has been requested (step S22: YES), the preferential treatment means 235 executes the special gacha (step S23). This allows the user to obtain a character identical to the player character whose level has reached the upper limit with a predetermined probability determined in the special lottery list 222b.

[0085] When the preferential treatment means 235 executes the process of step S23 or makes a negative determination in the process of step S22 (step S22: NO), it determines whether or not the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied (step S24). When the preferential treatment end condition is not satisfied (step S24: NO), the preferential treatment means 235 returns to the process of step S22 and continues to monitor whether or not an operation requesting the implementation of a special gacha has been performed on the game device 5.

[0086] When the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied (step S24: YES), the preferential treatment means 235 ends the special gacha (step S25). Accordingly, the special gacha cannot be selected on the game device 5, and therefore the user cannot execute the special gacha.

[0087] In summary, the control unit 56 (computer) of the game device 5 functions as a specification means 564 that specifies the development status (level) of a first game medium (player character) associated with a user, and a determination means 565 that determines whether the development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition. Also, the control unit 23 (computer) of the server device 2 functions as a preferential treatment means 235 that, when the determination means 565 determines that the development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition, favors the acquisition condition of a second game medium (material character) having a specific relationship with the first game medium.

[0088] <Effects> When the level of a player character associated with a user reaches an upper limit, the player character can be said to be a character that the user has a special attachment to. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, by favoring the acquisition conditions of a material character that has a specific relationship with the player character, specifically a relationship that enables the player character to break through its limits, the user can easily acquire the material character, and can use the material character to train the player character. As a result, the game interest in training the game medium can be improved.

[0089] The characters to be selected in the special selection list 222b used in the special gacha shown in Fig. 3 include a pick-up character that enables a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limit. The preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 instructs the selection means 233 to use the special selection list 222b shown in Fig. 3 when executing a selection process corresponding to the special gacha, thereby giving a higher priority to the probability of selecting a material character that enables a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limit from among the multiple characters to be selected than the probability of selecting a character other than the material character. Specifically, the preferential treatment means 235 gives a higher priority to the probability of selecting a material character from among the multiple characters to be selected that belong to the S rank in the second selection process out of the first selection process and the second selection process executed in the special gacha.

[0090] According to this configuration, it is easy to realize a configuration in which the acquisition conditions of the material character that enables the limit breakthrough of the player character whose level has reached the upper limit value are favored. In addition, in the special gacha of this embodiment, since the selection conditions of the first selection process are the same as those of the normal gacha, the selection conditions of the material character are not too favorable. This makes it possible to improve the interest of the game regarding the development of the game medium while maintaining the interest of the selection.

[0091] The lottery means 233 of the server device 2 executes a special gacha, separate from the normal gacha, in which the conditions for obtaining a material character that enables a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limits are favorable. This configuration makes it easier for the user to recognize that the conditions for obtaining the material character are favorable.

[0092] 4, the display control means 567 of the game device 5 displays a preferential notification area 706 in the upper limit level display area in the list display area 702. The preferential notification area 706 is a display for notifying the user that a special gacha can be requested when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit value.

[0093] With this configuration, it is easy for the user to recognize that they can receive preferential conditions for obtaining material characters that enable a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limits, thereby providing a user-friendly game. The display control means 567 of the game device 5 displays a transition button 710 for transitioning to the special gacha on the preferential treatment notification screen 71 shown in FIG.

[0094] According to this configuration, after the preferential treatment notification screen 71 is displayed when the player character's level reaches the upper limit, the user can instantly execute the special gacha by simply operating the transition button 710 on the preferential treatment notification screen 71, thereby improving convenience. <First Modification> Next, a first modified example of the game system 1 of the embodiment will be described.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 56 of the game device 5 of this modified example further includes a preferential right granting means 568. The preferential right granting means 568 grants tickets to the user that can receive various preferential treatments in the game based on the user's game behavior, billing operation, etc. The preferential right granting means 568 grants tickets to the user as a reward for clearing a quest or mission, for example, or grants tickets to the user based on the game behavior of consuming free stones or paid stones. Note that in the game of this modified example, it is possible to associate multiple tickets with one user. In this modified example, the ticket corresponds to the preferential right.

[0096] In this modified version of the game, the user can consume a ticket when requesting a special gacha, thereby increasing the probability of winning a material character that can enable a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limits. Specifically, when the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 executes a special gacha based on a request from the game device 5, the preferential treatment means 235 changes the winning probability of the pick-up character in the special lottery list 222b shown in FIG. 3 based on the information on the number of tickets consumed transmitted from the game device 5. For example, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the winning probability of the pick-up character and decreases the winning probability of the other characters as the number of tickets consumed increases. As an example, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the winning probability of the pick-up character belonging to the S rank by "5[%]" and decreases the winning probability of the other characters belonging to the S rank by "1[%]" each time the number of tickets consumed increases by one. Therefore, when one ticket is consumed, the lottery means 233 executes the special gacha using the special lottery list 222b shown in FIG. 8.

[0097] The display control means 567 of the game device 5 displays a special gacha implementation screen 72 as shown in Fig. 9 on the display 61. The special gacha implementation screen 72 is further provided with a use ticket button 726. When the use ticket button 726 is operated, the display control means 567 displays a ticket selection screen 73 shown in Fig. 10 on the display 61.

[0098] The ticket selection screen 73 is provided with a ticket selection button 730 and a winning probability display area 731. The ticket selection button 730 is a button for increasing or decreasing the number of tickets consumed when implementing the special gacha. When requesting the server device 2 to implement the special gacha, the communication means 561 of the game device 5 transmits information on the number of tickets to be consumed selected with the ticket selection button 730 to the server device 2.

[0099] The winning probability of the player character according to the number of tickets consumed is variably displayed in the winning probability display area 731. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, when the number of tickets consumed is set to "1", the winning probability corresponding to the special lottery list 222b shown in Fig. 8 is displayed in the winning probability display area 731.

[0100] In this way, the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 of this modification enhances the degree of preferential treatment of the acquisition conditions for a character identical to the player character whose level has reached the upper limit in the special gacha, based on the user using a ticket. Also, the preferential treatment means 235 changes the degree of preferential treatment of the acquisition conditions for a character identical to the player character whose level has reached the upper limit, according to the number of tickets used by the user. With this configuration, the user can arbitrarily adjust the acquisition conditions for a material character that enables the limit breakthrough of a player character whose level has reached the upper limit, thereby further improving the entertainment value of the game.

[0101] <Second Modification> Next, a second modified example of the game system 1 of the embodiment will be described. The preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 in this modified example strengthens the degree of preferential treatment in the conditions for obtaining a material character in the special gacha that enables a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limits, each time a ticket is used by a user, and further relaxes the time or number of times restrictions set for the special gacha.

[0102] Specifically, the preferential treatment means 235 extends the period during which the special gacha can be requested based on the number of tickets consumed. For example, when one ticket is consumed, the preferential treatment means 235 extends the period during which the special gacha can be requested by one day. Also, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the number of times the special gacha can be requested based on the number of tickets consumed. For example, when one ticket is consumed, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the number of times the gacha can be requested by one.

[0103] With this configuration, the user can adjust the time or number of times the special gacha can be played as desired, further increasing the entertainment value of the game. In addition, when a ticket exists in the game as in this modified example, the preferential treatment means 235 may use a condition of consuming a ticket instead of the condition of consuming free stones or paid stones as a condition for requesting the implementation of the special gacha. Also, the preferential treatment means 235 may use a condition of consuming a ticket in addition to the condition of consuming free stones or paid stones as a condition for requesting the implementation of the special gacha.

[0104] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the game system 1 of the present disclosure will be described. The following description will focus on the differences from the game system 1 of the first embodiment. <Game Description> In the game of this embodiment, as the normal gacha, for example, a pick-up gacha can be performed in which the probability of winning a player character selected for a limited time is favored. Also, the game of this embodiment differs from the game of the first embodiment in that a special gacha does not appear when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit. However, in the game of this embodiment, when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, the pick-up gacha has favorable conditions for obtaining a character identical to the player character.

[0105] <Configuration of server device 2> A lottery list 222c corresponding to the pick-up gacha is stored in the lottery list DB222 of the storage unit 22 of the server device 2 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 shows an example of the lottery list 222c of the pick-up gacha. As shown in Fig. 11, the lottery target characters of S rank in this lottery list 222c include pick-up characters 1 and 2 in addition to normal characters 1 to 5. The pick-up characters 1 and 2 are characters that are selected at a predetermined cycle from a plurality of S rank characters, for example.

[0106] In the selection list 222c of the pickup gacha, the selection probability of normal characters 1 to 5 is set to "10[%]", while the selection probability of pickup characters 1 and 2 is set to "25[%]". Therefore, in the pickup gacha, the selection probability of pickup characters 1 and 2 is favored compared to the selection probability of normal characters 1 to 5.

[0107] --Preferential Treatment Measures 235-- When notified by game device 5 that the level of the player character has reached the upper limit, preferential treatment means 235 gives preferential treatment to the acquisition conditions for the same character as the player character whose level has reached the upper limit in the pick-up gacha lottery list 222c shown in Figure 11.

[0108] Specifically, when the game device 5 notifies the player character that its level has reached the upper limit, the preferential treatment means 235 adds the pick-up character 3 to the S-rank characters to be selected in the selection list 222c as shown in FIG. 12. The preferential treatment means 235 selects the same character as the player character whose level has reached the upper limit as the pick-up character 3. The preferential treatment means 235 also changes the selection probability of the normal characters 1 to 5 to "5[%]", and sets the selection probability of the pick-up characters 1 to 3 to "25[%]". This makes it easier for the user to obtain the pick-up character 3 by requesting the implementation of the pick-up gacha. In this embodiment, when the player character's level has reached the upper limit, changing the pick-up gacha selection list 222c as shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to preferential treatment of the acquisition condition of the material character that enables the player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limit.

[0109] The preferential treatment means 235 uses the lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 12 only until the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, the preferential treatment end condition is set to be satisfied when either a predetermined time has elapsed since the player character's level reached the upper limit, or a gacha using the lottery list 222c in Fig. 12 has been performed a predetermined number of times. When the preferential treatment end condition is satisfied, the lottery list for the pick-up gacha returns to the lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 11.

[0110] Furthermore, the preferential treatment means 235 sets an upper limit on the number of times that the gacha is performed using the lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 12. That is, when the gacha using the lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 12 is performed a predetermined number of times, the lottery list for the pick-up gacha returns to the lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 11.

[0111] On the other hand, when performing a gacha using the lottery list 222c shown in FIG. 12, the preferential treatment means 235 changes the winning probability of the pick-up character 3 in the lottery list 222c based on the information on the number of tickets consumed transmitted from the game device 5. Specifically, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the winning probability of the pick-up character 3 and decreases the winning probability of the characters 1 to 5 as the number of tickets consumed increases. For example, the preferential treatment means 235 increases the winning probability of the pick-up character 3 stepwise by "5[%]" and decreases the winning probability of the characters 1 to 5 stepwise by "1[%]" each time the number of tickets consumed increases by one. Therefore, when one ticket is consumed, the lottery means 233 executes a special gacha using the lottery list 222c shown in FIG. 13.

[0112] <Configuration of Game Device 5> --Display control means 567-- The display control means 567 displays the gacha implementation screen 74 shown in FIG. 14 on the display 61 as a screen for the user to request the implementation of the pick-up gacha. The gacha implementation screen 74 is a screen for requesting the implementation of the pick-up gacha. The gacha implementation screen 74 is provided with a preferential target display area 740, a probability confirmation button 741, an explanation display area 742, a first gacha button 743, a second gacha button 744, and a third gacha button 745. These are the same as or similar to the preferential target display area 720, the probability confirmation button 721, the explanation display area 722, the first gacha button 723, the second gacha button 724, and the third gacha button 725 of the special gacha implementation screen 72 shown in FIG. 6, so detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0113] In addition, the preferential treatment target display area 740 shown in Fig. 14 displays the pick-up characters 1 and 2 in the selection list 222c of the pick-up gacha shown in Fig. 11. In addition, when the user operates the probability confirmation button 741, the display control means 567 displays the screen of the selection list 222c shown in Fig. 11 or a screen corresponding thereto on the display 61.

[0114] When the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, the display control means 567 changes the gacha implementation screen 74 shown in FIG. 14 to that shown in FIG. 15. That is, the display control means 567 displays the pick-up character 3 in addition to the pick-up characters 1 and 2 in the favored target display area 740. The display control means 567 also changes the content of the bonus-like game media displayed next to each of the second gacha button 724 and the third gacha button 725. In the game of this embodiment, when the gacha is performed 10 times through the gacha implementation screen 74 shown in FIG. 15, the user can obtain more favorable bonus-like game media compared to when the gacha is performed 10 times through the gacha implementation screen 74 shown in FIG. 14. The display control means 567 further displays a use ticket button 746 on the gacha implementation screen 74 shown in Fig. 15. When the use ticket button 746 is operated, the display control means 567 displays a ticket selection screen 75 shown in Fig. 16 on the display 61.

[0115] The ticket selection screen 75 is provided with a ticket selection button 750 and a winning probability display area 751. The ticket selection button 750 and the winning probability display area 751 are substantially the same as the ticket selection button 730 and the winning probability display area 731 shown in Fig. 10. As shown in Fig. 16, when the number of tickets consumed is "1", the winning probability corresponding to the special lottery list 222c shown in Fig. 13 is displayed in the winning probability display area 731.

[0116] <Effects> As described above, when the level of the user's player character reaches the upper limit, the preferential treatment means 235 of the server device 2 of this embodiment uses the selection list 222c shown in Fig. 12 when a selection process corresponding to a pick-up gacha, which is a normal gacha, is executed to select a material character that enables the player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limit from among a plurality of characters to be selected. With this configuration, it is not necessary to perform a special gacha as in the game system 1 of the first embodiment, and therefore the configuration can be simplified.

[0117] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the game system 1 of the present disclosure will be described. The following description will focus on the differences from the game systems 1 of the first and second embodiments. <Configuration of Game Device 5> --Display control means 567-- The display control means 567 of the game device 5 of this embodiment displays a selection screen 76 shown in Fig. 17 instead of the preferential treatment notification screen 71 shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 17, the selection screen 76 is provided with a first preferential treatment selection button 761, a second preferential treatment selection button 762, and a third preferential treatment selection button 763.

[0118] The first preferential selection button 761 is a button for obtaining a preferential treatment that is obtained when the level of the user's player character reaches the upper limit, which is the appearance of a special gacha that is separate from the normal gacha as described in the first embodiment. The second preferential selection button 762 is a button for obtaining a preferential treatment that can be obtained when the user's player character level reaches the upper limit, namely, the ability to request a pick-up gacha by consuming fewer free stones or paid stones than usual.

[0119] The third preferential selection button 763 is a button for obtaining a preferential treatment that is obtained when the level of the user's player character reaches the upper limit, in which a character identical to the player character whose level has reached the upper limit is added to the pick-up gacha as described in the second embodiment. It should be noted that the user can select only one of the preferential selection buttons 761 to 763.

[0120] <Effects> As described above, when the level of the user's player character reaches the upper limit, the display control means 567 of the game device 5 of this embodiment displays the selection screen 76, which allows the user to select one of a plurality of preferential treatment contents, on the display 61. According to this configuration, the user can select a preferential treatment condition that suits his / her preference from a plurality of preferential treatment contents, thereby improving convenience.

[0121] [Other embodiments] The various control means and processing procedures described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses. The various control means and processing procedures can be appropriately modified in design without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0122] For example, the display control means 567 of the first embodiment may adopt a method of automatically displaying a special gacha implementation screen 72 shown in FIG. 6 on the display 61 when the level of the player character reaches an upper limit, instead of the method of displaying the preferential treatment notification screen 71 shown in FIG. 5 on the display 61.

[0123] When performing the normal gacha and the special gacha, the lottery means 233 may perform a process of specifying any predetermined parameter of the player character by lottery as the first lottery process, instead of a process of specifying the rarity of the winning player character by lottery. For example, in some games, the player character has attributes such as a fire attribute, a water attribute, and a wood attribute. In such a game, the lottery means 233 may perform a process of specifying the attribute of the winning player character by lottery as the first lottery process. In addition, the ability value of the player character, such as HP, attack power, and defense power, may be specified. In this case, a game medium having an ability value at or above a predetermined position may be specified by lottery.

[0124] The preferential treatment means 235 may execute various processes to favor the conditions for obtaining a material character, such as making a special gacha appear when the level of the player character reaches a predetermined threshold associated with the player character, such as "level 48" or "level 49", before the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, or increasing the probability of winning a material character in a normal gacha that enables a player character whose level has reached the upper limit to break through the limits.

[0125] In some games, when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit, the player character can be evolved into another player character by consuming a predetermined material item. In such a game, the preferential treatment means 235 may favor the acquisition conditions of the material items required for evolution, such as by appearing a special gacha in which the acquisition conditions of the material items required for evolution are favored, when the level of the player character reaches the upper limit. In addition, instead of the method of appearing a special gacha or a normal gacha in which the acquisition conditions of the material characters and material items required for limit breaking and evolution of the player character whose level has reached the upper limit are favored, the preferential treatment means 235 may appear a quest in which the acquisition conditions of the material characters and material items are favored, or may appear a shop where the material characters and material items can be obtained at low prices.

[0126] As described above, in a game in which the evolution of a player character is possible, in order to facilitate the level-up of the evolved player character, the preferential treatment means 235 may preferentially treat the experience points available to the evolved player character or the parameters of the evolved player character. The preferential treatment of the parameters of the evolved player character means, for example, increasing the encounter rate of non-player characters from which experience points can be easily obtained. In this case, the specification means 564 specifies the evolution state of the player character as the specification of the development status of the player character. Furthermore, the determination means 565 performs a process of determining whether or not the player character has evolved as a process of determining whether or not the development status of the player character satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the game device 5 is a smartphone. However, the game device 5 may be an amusement machine provided in a game center or the like. The above games may be action games, shooting games, role-playing games, simulation games, board games, puzzle games, etc., and can be applied to various types of games.

[0128] In the above embodiment, the object is a player character, but the object is not limited to this. For example, the object may be a card or an item (weapon, armor, or other equipment) used in the virtual game space. In the above embodiment, the server device 2 and the multiple game devices 5 are integrated to function the game program, but the present invention is not limited to this. All the means of the game program, i.e., the lottery means 233, the preferential treatment means 235, the identification means 564, the determination means 565, the display control means 567, and the preferential treatment right granting means 568, may be provided in the server device 2 alone, the game device 5 alone, a communication terminal other than the server device 2 and the game device 5, or two devices that can be combined among them (for example, distributed processing in the server device 2 and the game device 5, etc.). In addition, when the server device 2, the game device 5, and the communication terminal are integrated to function, it is possible to appropriately change which means are to be operated by which device. For example, the control unit 23 of the server device 2 may execute various programs to function as the identification means 564, the determination means 565, the display control means 567, and the preferential treatment right granting means 568 of the game device 5 illustrated in the above embodiment.

[0129] Even when these other embodiments are adopted, the effects of the present embodiment are exhibited. In addition, the present embodiment can be appropriately combined with other embodiments, and other embodiments can be appropriately combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 1. Game System 5. Game device 23,56…Control unit (computer) 233...Lottery method 235…Preferential treatment means (preferential treatment section) 564…Specifying means (specific part) 565...Judgment means (judgment unit) 567...Display control means 568...Means of granting preferential treatment

Claims

[Claim 1] Computer, An identification means for identifying a development status of a first game medium associated with a user; A determination means for determining whether or not a development status of the first game medium satisfies a predetermined condition; and when the determination means determines that the development status of the first game medium satisfies the predetermined condition, the function functions as a preferential treatment means for giving preferential treatment to a condition for obtaining a second game medium having a specific relationship with the first game medium. Game program.

Images