Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein game program, game system, information processing apparatus, server, and

Abstract

To provide a game program, a game system, an information processor, a server, and a game method capable of managing digital trading cards for each language.SOLUTION: The game program causes the processor to execute a step of outputting, as separate cards, a first language card associated with a first language and a second language card associated with a language different from the first language, the first language card and the second language card being cards of the same type associated with a user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a game program, a game system, an information processing device, a server, and a game method, and more particularly to a game program, a game system, an information processing device, a server, and a game method that are capable of handling trading cards used in digital trading card games (TCGs) in each language. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional digital trading card distribution system that distributes trading cards over a network includes a server system that allows connection over the network from card display terminals identified by a predetermined ID, an image database that stores image data of trading cards, card distribution means that selects and distributes predetermined trading cards from the trading cards registered in the image database by predetermined ID or by group, and card storage means that allows desired cards from the trading cards distributed by the card distribution means to be stored in an album database provided for each predetermined ID (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the digital trading card distribution system described in Patent Document 1, images can be distributed over the network and stored as albums on the network server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-312602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the conventional system described in Patent Document 1 and the like does not assume that trading cards will be handled by language.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game program, a game system, an information processing device, a server, and a game method that are capable of managing digital trading cards by language. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a game program for causing a computer having a processor and memory to output cards for a trading card game, the game program causing the processor to execute a step of outputting cards of the same type associated with a user, as separate cards, a first language card associated with a first language, and a second language card associated with a language different from the first language. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the game program, game system, information processing device, server, and game method of the present invention, it is possible to provide a game program, game system, information processing device, server, and game method that are capable of managing digital trading cards by language. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram of a storage unit included in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an output screen in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an output screen in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an output screen in the game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an output screen in the game system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment Mode] <Game System 1 Overview> Fig. 1 shows an overview of the game system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 1(a) shows an overview of the configuration of the game system 1, and Fig. 1(b) shows an example of an overview of trading cards in the game system 1.

[0010] The game system 1 according to this embodiment is capable of executing a trading card game (TCG) in which a user plays against an opposing user (opponent) using digital cards (trading cards) under predetermined rules, and is a system for managing the trading cards of the digital TCG (hereinafter, digital trading cards may be simply referred to as "trading cards" or "cards"). The game system 1 handles trading cards in one or more languages. In other words, in this embodiment, even if the trading cards are the same type, there may be one or more trading cards with different languages ​​on their faces, and users can collect trading cards in various languages ​​and use them in the TCG.

[0011] Note that "same type" refers to, for example, that even if the text portion of the face of a trading card differs depending on the language, the remaining portions of the face of the trading card (e.g., objects such as characters displayed on the face, designs such as the frame and background of the face, and / or symbols and marks that appear the same regardless of language) are the same. However, the text portion may exclude, for example, trademarks of companies that provide trading cards that remain the same regardless of language. As an example, trading cards 300, 300a, 300b, and 300c shown in FIG. 1(b) all have different text portions depending on the language, but are all the same type of trading card (if the card IDs, described below, are the same, they are the same type of trading cards even if the language IDs associated with the card IDs are different).

[0012] In the game system 1 according to the present embodiment, trading cards of the same type are managed as different trading cards for each of one or more languages. Specifically, a first language card associated with a first language and a second language card associated with a language different from the first language are treated as separate cards, even though they are cards of the same type associated with a user. That is, a card ID that identifies the trading card regardless of the language of the text data on its face is associated with each trading card, and one or more language IDs (i.e., language tags indicating the language) that identify the language of the text data on the face of the trading card are associated with each card ID. Even if the card ID is the same, if the language of at least part of the text data on the face of the trading card is different, the language ID indicates that the trading card is a different trading card for each language. Therefore, trading cards associated with the same card ID include trading cards that are different for each of one or more languages.

[0013] For example, trading cards 300, 300a, 300b, and 300c shown in Figure 1(b) are all of the same type of trading card, but have different languages ​​printed on their faces (assuming that these trading cards are owned by a user). In this case, game system 1 associates language IDs corresponding to each of the multiple languages ​​with card IDs indicating that these trading cards are of the same type, and manages them as trading cards owned by the user. In the example of FIG. 1(b), for example, the game system 1 manages, for one card ID, a first language ID of the language on the face of trading card 300 (Japanese in the example of FIG. 1(b)), a second language ID of the language on the face of trading card 300a (English in the example of FIG. 1(b)), a third language ID of the language on the face of trading card 300b (French in the example of FIG. 1(b)), and a fourth language ID of the language on the face of trading card 300c (Chinese in the example of FIG. 1(b)). Furthermore, when there are multiple trading cards of the same type in the same language, the game system 1 also manages the language IDs by associating them with data indicating the number of cards (for example, a numerical value). When a user comes into possession of a trading card, the game system 1 updates the number of cards associated with the language ID of the language on the face of the trading card by associating it with the card ID of the trading card (the number of cards associated with the language ID is updated by adding the number of trading cards that the user comes into possession of to the number of language IDs associated with the card ID of the trading card before the user came into possession of the trading card).

[0014] As described above, in the game system 1 according to the present embodiment, trading cards of the same type but with different languages ​​on their faces can be treated as different trading cards. Therefore, even if multiple trading cards of the same type but with different languages ​​on their faces exist, the game system 1 can manage the number of trading cards owned by language using a single card ID. This allows digital trading cards to be managed by language without placing an excessive load on a server or the like. Therefore, the game system 1 can output trading cards associated with a user, in languages ​​corresponding to one or more language IDs associated with the trading card's card ID, as mutually different trading cards to the output unit 100 of the information terminal 3. In other words, multiple trading cards associated with different language IDs, even if associated with the same card ID, can be output as mutually different trading cards. Therefore, the game system 1 can provide users with a new way of playing, such as collecting trading cards in different languages ​​or trading cards in a specific language.

[0015] The game system 1 can also execute a TCG between a user and a predetermined server constituting the game system 1, rather than a player-to-player game (in this case, the information terminal of the opponent in the following description is replaced with a server, and a control unit of the server executes the TCG with the user). The following description will use an example of a TCG between a user and an opponent. That is, the game system 1 executes a digital TCG on the information terminals of the user and opponent, which are connected for two-way communication. A digital TCG is a game in which the user and opponent each possess a plurality of trading cards, each associated with a predetermined competitive ability, and the user and opponent repeatedly engage in offense and defense using the trading cards, with victory or defeat determined by achieving a predetermined condition. The game system 1 according to this embodiment executes a TCG in a virtual space (i.e., a digital space).

[0016] In addition, in TCGs, users can collect (own or possess) trading cards, register them in a picture book, and browse the picture book. Then, users organize trading cards to use in battles from the trading cards they have collected. This organization is called "organizing a deck." Trading cards are acquired by users purchasing and opening "packs" containing multiple digital trading cards, winning a predetermined bonus in the game, participating in a predetermined lottery in the game, opening packs acquired by users by completing a predetermined game (e.g., a mini-game or a predetermined mission in the game), and / or acquiring analog cards (physical cards) or packs containing analog cards and obtaining digital cards by scanning a predetermined bonus code on the acquired analog card. Users organize decks using one or more trading cards they have acquired and possess.

[0017] Furthermore, the game system 1 is a game system for outputting digital trading cards for a trading card game (TCG). As shown in FIG. 1(a), the game system 1 includes a user's information terminal 3, an opponent's information terminal 4, and a server 7 that executes various game processes. The information terminals 3 and 4 are connected to the server 7 via a communication network 5 so as to enable two-way communication. The game system 1 may be a server-client type game system. FIG. 1(a) shows an example in which the user's information terminal 3 and the user's opponent's information terminal 4 are connected to the server 7 via the communication network 5, but multiple information terminals used by different users (including the opponent) may each be connected to the server 7 via the communication network 5. In the following description, for simplicity's sake, an example in which one information terminal 3 (the user's information terminal 3) is connected to the server 7 via the communication network 5 will be mainly described.

[0018] The information terminal may be a mobile phone, smartphone, laptop computer, tablet PC, PC, portable game console, and / or home game console. If multiple information terminals are present, the types of the information terminals may be different. Details of the game system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below, but it should be noted that the names and numerical values ​​in the above and following descriptions are merely examples, that the present invention is not limited to these proper names and numerical values, and that these proper names and numerical values ​​do not necessarily relate to real proper names or numerical values.

[0019] <Details of Game System 1> Fig. 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the game system according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 shows an example of the data configuration of each storage section of a storage unit included in the game system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 3(a) shows an example of the data configuration of the game information storage section 122 and the user information storage section 124, and Fig. 3(b) shows an example of the data configuration of owned card information 126 stored in the user information storage section 124.

[0020] [Game System 1 Configuration Overview] The game system 1 according to this embodiment includes an output unit 100 that outputs images of trading cards and the like, an output control unit 102 that controls the output of the output unit 100, an input unit 104 that receives instructions from a user, a language setting unit 110 that sets the language used by the user in the game system 1, a card providing unit 112 that provides trading cards to the user, an organization unit 114 that organizes decks, a card exchange unit 116 that exchanges trading cards between the user and other users, a control unit 118 that controls various functions and operations of the game, and a storage unit 120 that stores various information used in the game. The storage unit 120 also includes a game information storage unit 122 that stores information related to the game, and a user information storage unit 124 that stores information related to the user.

[0021] In this specification, the term "set language" (in the following description, the terms "set language" or "set language" refer to the "set language") refers to the language used by the user in the game system 1. The game system 1 associates a set language with each of multiple users.

[0022] The game system 1 may include the above-described multiple components in the same physical device or location, or some of the multiple components may be located in physically separate locations. In this case, the components may be connected via a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the game system 1 may have an external server perform some of the functions of the components. The game system 1 may also be configured as one or more servers. In this case, the game system 1 is configured by combining an information terminal, components of one server, and components of another server. In this embodiment, a collection of predetermined components can be considered as a single "information processing device," and the game system 1 may be formed as a collection of multiple information processing devices. The allocation of multiple functions required to realize the game system 1 according to this embodiment to one or more pieces of hardware can be determined appropriately in consideration of the processing capabilities of each piece of hardware and / or the specifications required for the game system 1. Furthermore, the various pieces of information stored in the storage unit 120 may be updated based on user instructions or information received via the input unit 104, or may be updated as needed by obtaining predetermined information from a predetermined server external to the game system 1.

[0023] [Gaming System 1 Configuration Details] The following description will be given mainly on the example where a user plays a game provided by the game system 1 using an information terminal 3 (for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc.). The information terminal 3 is configured to have at least an output unit 100 as a display unit, and an input unit 104.

[0024] (control unit 118) The control unit 118 controls the progress of the TCG and the output of trading cards based on the trading cards owned by the user and predetermined game data. For example, the control unit 118 outputs a list of trading cards in response to instructions from the user (for example, displays images of trading cards in the form of an illustrated book), and executes the game in response to operations from the user. The control unit 118 also progresses the game in accordance with operations from the user. The progress of the game may include, for example, the following processes: -Select the language used in the game -Game stage selection - Opponent matching process Selection of game elements (e.g., selection of a digital playmat for a trading card game, selection of trading cards, selection of at least one pack type from multiple pack types, selection of mini-games, selection of battles with opponents, etc.) · Game play (e.g., playing mini-games, controlling TCG matches between the user and their opponents, etc.) -Receive rewards at the end of the game

[0025] The control unit 118 also communicates between the information terminal 3 and the server 7, and controls the progress of the user's game play based on various information received from the information terminal 3. The control unit 118 can also control the operation of each component included in the game system 1. For example, the control unit 118 controls a predetermined lottery process and / or processes such as granting a predetermined pack, a predetermined trading card, a play mat, a predetermined character, an item, etc. to the user based on various instructions from the user acquired as the game play progresses.

[0026] Furthermore, the control unit 118 executes trading card output processing and various game processing in response to user operation input received via the input unit 104. For example, the control unit 118 executes game processing such as storing information about the user himself / herself in the storage unit 120, storing information about packs and trading cards acquired by the user in the storage unit 120, acquiring items, packs, and trading cards by the user for a fee or free of charge, acquiring in-game virtual currency, consuming items owned by the user, and instructing the output control unit 102 to output predetermined information to the output unit 100.

[0027] (Storage unit 120) The storage unit 120 stores various types of information supplied from other components of the game system 1 and various types of information related to the game system 1. Each storage section of the storage unit 120 supplies predetermined information to a predetermined component in response to a request from the other component of the game system 1. Note that in the various IDs described below, if one ID is associated with another ID and another ID is associated with another ID, the predetermined information can be made available by tracing the ID.

[0028] (Storage unit 120: Game information storage section 122) The game information storage unit 122 stores various types of game information and various types of card information related to trading cards used in the game.

[0029] Game information may include, for example, information about objects that appear in the game (e.g., play mats, packs, characters, and / or items, etc.), an object ID that identifies the object, the name of the object, the rarity of the object, an image of the object, a description of the object, etc.

[0030] The card information includes various types of information related to the trading cards and packs used in the game system 1. The card information includes the following information associated with a card ID that uniquely identifies the type of trading card: For example, the card information includes the name of the trading card, the rarity of the trading card, an image of the trading card (image of the face of the card), a description of the trading card, and if an object (such as a character) is displayed on the trading card, various information related to the object (for example, the name of the object, an image of the object, an attribute of the object, a description of the technique of the object, etc.).

[0031] Furthermore, in the game system 1, one or more languages ​​are each associated with a language ID that identifies that language. Regarding the text data on the face of a card, which is card information, a language ID for each language may be associated with a card ID, and the text data in each language may be associated with each language ID as card information. If a rarity is associated with a trading card, the form of the trading card (e.g., the design of the face, the design of the character displayed on the card, the design of the background of the character displayed on the card, etc.) may be changed depending on the rarity. In this case, the game system 1 treats trading cards with the same character name as different trading cards if they have different rarities. That is, in the game system 1, a rarity is associated with each of one or more trading cards, and if the rarity of one trading card differs from the rarity of another trading card, the trading cards are treated as different trading cards. Therefore, the card ID of one trading card is different from the card ID of the other trading cards (that is, a different card ID is associated with each trading card depending on the rarity).

[0032] (Storage unit 120: User information storage section 124) The user information storage unit 124 stores, in association with a user ID that uniquely identifies a user, set language information related to the set language, user information, possessed card information 126 which is information related to trading cards possessed by the user, acquired card information which is information related to trading cards that the user has acquired, and / or play information related to game play.

[0033] The set language information is information relating to the set language set by the user in the game system 1. The set language information may be, for example, the name of the set language set by the user, or a language ID that uniquely identifies the set language. The game system 1 displays text such as various explanations and instructions regarding the progress of the game in the game using the set language. The relationship between the language on the face of the trading cards in the game and the set language will be described in detail later.

[0034] User information may include, for example, the user's name, a username set by the user, a login ID, a password, the user's gender and date of birth, and / or information regarding the in-game virtual currency held by the user (information regarding the amount of virtual currency held and consumed, including, for example, information regarding the amount of virtual currency held by the user that has been granted to the user free of charge and information regarding the amount of virtual currency held by the user that has been granted to the user for a fee).

[0035] The owned card information 126 is information about trading cards owned by the user and / or one or more trading cards included in a pack that the user has come to own. Specifically, the user information storage unit 124 stores, as owned card information 126, at least information identifying the language of trading cards owned by the user and / or information about the number of trading cards owned, in association with a card ID that uniquely identifies the type of trading card. That is, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the user information storage unit 124 stores, in association with card IDs, language IDs that uniquely identify languages ​​(in the example of FIG. 3(b), a first language ID, a second language ID, a third language ID, ..., an nth language ID (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 4) are associated with card IDs as language IDs identifying each language), and information about the number of trading cards with card faces in the language corresponding to the language ID (e.g., a numerical value indicating the number of trading cards owned by the user; hereinafter, this may be referred to as "number information").

[0036] For example, suppose a user owns one type of trading card, including one trading card in Japanese (e.g., identified by a first language ID) and two trading cards in English (e.g., identified by a second language ID). In this case, the user information storage unit 124 associates "1" (i.e., a numerical value indicating the number of trading cards identified by the first language ID) with the first language ID associated with the card ID identifying the type of trading card, and "2" (i.e., a numerical value indicating the number of trading cards identified by the second language ID) with the second language ID, as owned card information 126. The user information storage unit 124 also stores similar information when the user owns trading cards in other languages. Furthermore, the user information storage unit 124 may store "0" (i.e., a null value) with the language ID of trading cards not owned by the user.

[0037] Note that when multiple pieces of count information are associated with one language ID, multiple trading cards of the same type and language exist. In this case, these multiple trading cards cannot be distinguished from one another. For example, assume that the user information storage unit 124 stores owned card information 126 in which a first language ID (number of cards: 1) and a second language ID (number of cards: 2) are associated with one card ID of one type of trading card. In this case, the user owns one Japanese version and two English version trading cards of the same type. Here, regardless of which language (set language) is set to be used in the game system 1, the Japanese version trading card can be managed as a Japanese trading card, and the English version trading card can be managed as an English trading card. However, two English trading cards cannot be distinguished from one another. Furthermore, the owned card information 126 may include some or all of the card information stored in the game information storage unit 122. In this way, trading cards of the same type in different languages ​​are distinguishable from one another, but multiple trading cards of the same language are indistinguishable from one another. That is, within the same type of trading card, trading cards in one language are distinguishable from trading cards in other languages, but multiple trading cards of the same language are indistinguishable from one another. For example, within the same type of trading card, first language cards and second language cards are distinguishable, multiple first language cards are indistinguishable from one another, and multiple second language cards are indistinguishable from one another.

[0038] The acquired card information is information about one or more trading cards that the user has acquired and / or one or more trading cards included in packs. The user information storage unit 124 may store the card IDs of trading cards that the user has acquired as "acquired card IDs," and may store information identifying the language of the trading cards the user has acquired (language IDs) associated with the acquired card IDs, and / or information about the cumulative number of trading cards the user has acquired. The acquired card information may have a data structure similar to that of the owned card information 126, except that the card IDs become acquired card IDs and the number associated with the language IDs is the number of trading cards the user has acquired.

[0039] Play information is information related to game play, such as various information about the game being played, various information about games played, information about events and missions completed, results of TCG matches, details of deck composition used by the user in the TCG, play time, items acquired, in-game currency, etc.

[0040] (output unit 100, output control unit 102) The output unit 100 is controlled by the output control unit 102, which is controlled by the control unit 118, and outputs various information related to the game, including packs and trading cards given to the user, trading cards owned by the user, trading cards the user has acquired, and / or other information. The output unit 100 outputs various processing results and information stored in the storage unit 120 in a manner that the user can perceive. Specifically, the output control unit 102 causes the output unit 100 to output various processing results in each component and information stored in the storage unit 120 as data in a predetermined format, still images, moving images, and / or text, audio, etc. The output unit 100 may output information received from an external server. The output unit 100 may be a display unit or the like included in the information terminal 3. The output unit 100 may be configured to include elements such as a display unit, an audio output unit that outputs audio, a vibration unit that emits vibrations, and / or a light-emitting unit that emits light.

[0041] (input unit 104, input surface 106, input control unit 108) The input unit 104 accepts inputs such as predetermined instructions and operations from the user. The input unit 104 supplies the instructions to predetermined components of the game system 1. Each component that accepts the instructions performs its respective predetermined function. For example, the input unit 104 is a touch panel, a tablet, a mouse, a motion sensor, etc. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the input unit 104 is a touch panel provided in the information terminal 3. Note that the touch panel may be capable of detecting multi-touch. Specifically, the touch panel serving as the input unit 104 has an input surface 106 onto which operations and the like from the user are input, and an input control unit 108 that acquires information related to the operations input to the input surface 106. The touch panel is disposed overlaid on a display unit that is the output unit 100, and the surface of the touch panel corresponds to the input surface 106.

[0042] For example, the output unit 100 is provided with an area for receiving a predetermined instruction, and the input surface 106 detects the predetermined instruction at a position designated by a user's operation (e.g., touch operation, tap operation, swipe operation, drag operation, flick operation, etc.) on the area of ​​the input surface 106. The input surface 106 supplies the detected information, i.e., information indicating the predetermined instruction at the detected position, to the input control unit 108. The input control unit 108 acquires the information indicating the predetermined instruction from the input surface 106 and supplies the information to a predetermined component of the game system 1.

[0043] (Language setting unit 110) The language setting unit 110 sets the language to be used in the game system 1 (i.e., the set language). The language setting unit 110 may use the language set by the operating system of the information terminal used by the user as the set language. The language setting unit 110 may also receive a language setting instruction from the user via the input unit 104 and set the specified language as the set language. The language setting unit 110 sets a set language for one or more users and stores the language ID of the set set language in the user information storage unit 124 in association with each user. The language setting unit 110 may receive a language setting instruction from the user at various times, such as when the user starts using the game system 1 on the information terminal 3, during use of the game system 1, and / or after use of the game system 1. After the language setting unit 110 sets the language in accordance with the user's instruction, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output various processing results using the set language. The language setting unit 110 supplies information related to the set language to the card providing unit 112, the organization unit 114, and the control unit 118.

[0044] (Card issuing unit 112, card exchange unit 116) The card providing unit 112 associates one or more trading cards in the set language with the user and provides the one or more trading cards to the user. That is, the card providing unit 112 associates one or more trading cards acquired by the user as the game using the set language progresses with the user, and provides the one or more trading cards to the user for possession. Here, the trading cards provided to the user are associated with the set language at the time of the provision. That is, the card providing unit 112 associates the set language set when the user possesses the trading card in the game with the trading card and provides the trading card to the user. Therefore, after the language setting unit 110 changes the set language to another set language based on a user's instruction, the card providing unit 112 provides the user with trading cards in the other set language.

[0045] Specifically, the control unit 118 instructs the output control unit 102 to output information about trading cards and / or information about packs containing multiple trading cards (hereinafter, information about trading cards and / or information about packs may be referred to as "card information") stored in the game information storage unit 122 to the output unit 100. In this case, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output the card information using the set language. In response to an instruction specifying the user's card information received via the input unit 104, the card providing unit 112 associates the user with a trading card corresponding to the card information (a trading card in the set language).

[0046] For example, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output card information in an in-game store, an out-of-game store (for example, a store provided by a predetermined server), a clear bonus for a predetermined mission in the game, a predetermined lottery stage in the game, etc. As an example, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output card information as follows, making it possible to grant a trading card in the set language to the user. Note that, in the following explanation of granting trading cards to the user, all trading cards are, in principle, trading cards in the set language unless otherwise specified.

[0047] (1) Granting trading cards and / or packs in the store The card providing unit 112 associates the user with a trading card and / or pack corresponding to the card information selected by the user in response to a selection instruction from the user received via the input unit 104 for one or more pieces of card information presented at the store. The card providing unit 112 can provide the trading card and / or pack to the user for a fee or free of charge. When providing the trading card and / or pack to the user for a fee, the card providing unit 112 provides the trading card and / or pack to the user in response to a payment instruction from the user received via the input unit 104.

[0048] (2) Awarded through trading card exchange (2-1) Granting the set language by exchanging trading cards The card exchange unit 116 enables trading cards to be exchanged between the user and other users. The card exchange unit 116 references the owned card information stored in the user information storage unit 124 and enables the user to exchange trading cards owned by the user for trading cards owned by other users. That is, the card exchange unit 116 can exchange trading cards owned by the user for trading cards owned by other users in response to a trading card exchange instruction from the user received via the input unit 104. For example, when the user's information terminal and the information terminal of another user (which may be an opponent) are connected to each other so as to enable two-way communication, the card exchange unit 116 receives a trading card exchange instruction from the user via the input unit 104. The card exchange unit 116 provides the exchange instruction to the information terminal of the other user and receives an instruction from the other user regarding approval or disapproval of the exchange instruction. When the card exchange unit 116 receives an instruction regarding approval of the exchange instruction from the information terminal of the other user, the card exchange unit 116 executes the trading card exchange. If the card exchange unit 116 receives information from the information terminal of another user indicating that the exchange is not approved, the card exchange unit 116 halts the trading card exchange process. As a result, the card exchange unit 116 exchanges the trading card owned by the user for a trading card owned by the other user, and gives the exchanged trading card to the user.

[0049] (2-2) Granting by exchanging trading cards in a language other than the set language The card exchange unit 116 may also enable the exchange of trading cards with faces written in a language different from the set language. For example, the card exchange unit 116 accepts, from the user via the input unit 104, a specification of the language of the cards desired to be exchanged, and a specification of the trading card desired to be exchanged and written in the specified language. The card exchange unit 116 can then exchange the trading card owned by the user for the trading card owned by another user. For example, while the user's information terminal and the other user's information terminal are connected for two-way communication, the card exchange unit 116 accepts, from the user via the input unit 104, a specification instruction for the language and trading card, and an exchange instruction. The card exchange unit 116 provides the specification instruction and the exchange instruction to the other user's information terminal, and accepts an instruction from the other user regarding approval or disapproval of the specification instruction and the exchange instruction. When the card exchange unit 116 accepts an instruction regarding approval of the specification instruction and the exchange instruction from the other user's information terminal, the card exchange unit 116 executes the exchange of trading cards in the language specified by the user. It should be noted that if card exchange unit 116 receives information from another user's information terminal regarding the designation instruction and the non-approval of the exchange instruction, card exchange unit 116 will stop the trading card exchange process.

[0050] Furthermore, the card exchange unit 116 may enable the user to exchange a trading card possessed by the user that has a face on it in a language designated by the user for another user's trading card (a trading card arbitrarily selected by the other user). For example, the card exchange unit 116 accepts, via the input unit 104, a designation from the user of the language on which the user wishes to exchange (i.e., provide to the other user) and also accepts a designation of the trading card desired to be exchanged and that has the designated language. The card exchange unit 116 then exchanges the trading card possessed by the user for a trading card possessed by the other user (since this card is arbitrarily selected by the other user, it may or may not be in a language different from the language designated by the user, and may or may not be the same type of card as the card provided by the user). The process of the card exchange unit 116 exchanging trading cards when the user's information terminal and the other user's information terminal are connected to each other so as to enable two-way communication is the same as described above.

[0051] In this way, the card exchange unit 116 exchanges trading cards in a language owned by a user for trading cards owned by another user in a language desired by the user or a language selected / specified by the other user, and grants the exchanged trading cards to the user (for example, a user can exchange a type of Japanese trading card owned by the user for a type of English or other type of trading card owned by the other user). Thus, according to the game system 1, a user can exchange their own trading cards for trading cards in a language different from the language set by the user, and add them to their collection. When a user exchanges their own trading cards for another user's trading cards, the game system 1 updates information about the number of trading cards associated with the user (i.e., owned number data). Specifically, the game system 1 updates the number of trading cards (owned number data) in the language of the language ID further associated with the language ID associated with the user's card ID by increasing or decreasing it based on the exchange. Specifically, when a user exchanges a card with a card ID (assuming that the card is associated with a language ID) for another user's card with the same card ID (assuming that the card is associated with a different language ID), the game system 1 subtracts the number of cards given up in the exchange (here, "1") from the possession count data associated with the language ID of the user's card ID, and adds the number of cards obtained in the exchange (here, "1") to the possession count data associated with the other language ID of the same card ID, thereby updating the possession count data (the same applies to other users). For example, when a user exchanges a type of Japanese trading card for a type of English trading card owned by another user, the game system 1 subtracts "1" from the number of the user's Japanese trading cards and adds "1" to the number of the user's English trading cards.If the language IDs associated with the card IDs are the same, then the trading cards associated with the same language IDs are not distinguished from one another.

[0052] (3) Trading cards and / or packs awarded upon completing missions The control unit 118 assigns a predetermined mission in the game (including logging in to the game) to the user, and when the user completes the mission, supplies information about the completion to the card granting unit 112. Based on the information about the completion, the card granting unit 112 grants the user a trading card and / or a pack, which is a reward that is pre-associated with the information about the completion or a reward determined by lottery. Note that the control unit 118 does not have to assign a mission to the user playing the game, and in this case, the card granting unit 112 may grant the predetermined trading card and / or pack to the user by distributing it.

[0053] (4) Awarding of trading cards and / or packs in the lottery stage The control unit 118 can execute a predetermined lottery stage in the game. The control unit 118 executes a lottery in response to a lottery execution instruction from the user received via the input unit 104. Then, the card providing unit 112 provides the user with trading cards and / or packs in a set language that is pre-associated with one or more lottery results.

[0054] (5) Awarded through the acquisition of analog cards and / or packs containing analog cards. A user can acquire an analog card and / or an analog pack (i.e., a tangible card and / or a tangible pack) by purchasing an analog card and / or an analog pack including multiple analog cards from a real-world store, mail order, etc. Note that the analog card and / or a pack including analog cards may be a card in the set language and / or a pack in the set language, or a card in a language different from the set language and / or a pack in a language different from the set language.

[0055] Here, a predetermined bonus code (e.g., a code represented by a two-dimensional barcode or predetermined text information) may be attached to the analog card and / or the analog pack. The bonus code may include information for granting the user a digital version of the analog card and / or the analog pack to which the bonus code was attached, i.e., a trading card version of the analog card and / or a digital pack version of the analog pack. The digital version of the card and / or the digital pack may be the same type as or different from the card and / or the pack actually purchased by the user. The user then reads the bonus code using the imaging unit of the information terminal 3 or inputs the bonus code via the input unit 104, and provides the information included in the bonus code to the server of the game system 1. The card granting unit 112 grants the user a digital version of the analog card and / or the analog pack purchased by the user based on the information included in the bonus code.

[0056] (6) Cards granted by acquiring packs with language settings Furthermore, a pack containing multiple trading cards may be associated with a language. That is, one language may be assigned to one pack, and another language may be assigned to another pack. In this case, the multiple trading cards included in one pack are trading cards in one language, and the multiple trading cards included in the other packs are trading cards in another language. The card granting unit 112 then grants the user trading cards in a predetermined language by associating the multiple trading cards (trading cards in the predetermined language) included in a pack selected from packs in one or more languages ​​presented in the store based on the user's instructions received via the input unit 104. Therefore, in this case, regardless of the set language, the user can acquire a pack in the language selected by the user and possess one or more trading cards in that language included in the pack. This allows the user to possess trading cards in a language different from the set language.

[0057] The card providing unit 112 supplies information about the trading cards and / or packs provided to the user to the storage unit 120. The user information storage unit 124 of the storage unit 120 stores information about the trading cards and / or trading cards included in the packs provided to the user by the card providing unit 112 as owned card information 126. The owned card information 126 stores the number of trading cards (owned number data) associated with the user by the card providing unit 112 in association with the language ID associated with the card ID of the trading card. That is, the card providing unit 112 updates the owned number data by adding the number of cards associated with the user to the owned number data associated with the language ID of the card ID of the trading card. As a result, in game system 1, the number of trading cards in a given language on the face of a given trading card can be determined by referring to possessed card information 126 (for example, control unit 118 can refer to possessed card information 126 in response to a predetermined instruction from the user received via input unit 104, and output to output unit 100, as information on trading cards possessed by the user, the number of trading cards in each language (first possessed number data), the number of trading cards in each language for each of multiple trading cards (second possessed number data), and / or the total number of trading cards possessed by the user (third possessed number data)).

[0058] (Organization Department 114) The compilation unit 114 compiles a deck for the user to use in the TCG in response to a user's instruction (deck compilation instruction). That is, the compilation unit 114 compiles a deck in the TCG using one or more trading cards associated with the user in response to the user's deck compilation instruction received via the input unit 104. For example, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output some or all of the owned card information 126 stored in the user information storage unit 124. Then, in response to the user's trading card selection instruction received via the input unit 104, the compilation unit 114 compiles a deck using trading cards selected by the user.

[0059] Furthermore, after receiving a deck composition instruction, the composition unit 114 may compose a deck based on the set language. Specifically, if all of the trading cards selected by the user are in the set language, the composition unit 114 composes a deck using the trading cards selected by the user as they are. On the other hand, if the trading cards selected by the user include trading cards in a language different from the set language, the composition unit 114 composes a deck using trading cards (translated cards) in which the faces of the trading cards in the different language have been replaced with the set language. The composition unit 114 may make the translated cards available to the user only during the user's TCG match, and may terminate the replacement with the set language (i.e., terminate the translated cards) after the match ends. The composition unit 114 supplies information about the compiled deck to the control unit 118. The control unit 118 uses this information to control the progress of the TCG.

[0060] [Game System 1 Processing Flow 1] FIG. 4 shows an example of the flow of processing in the game system according to this embodiment.

[0061] First, the language setting unit 110 accepts the user's language designation via the input unit 104 and sets the language to be used in the game (Step 10; hereinafter, step will be abbreviated as "S"). The language setting unit 110 supplies information related to the set language to the card giving unit 112. The language setting unit 110 also stores the information related to the set language in the user information storage unit 124. Then, based on the card information that the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output, the card giving unit 112 makes it possible to give a trading card in the set language to the user (S12). When the card giving unit 112 gives a trading card to the user based on an instruction from the user (Yes in S12), the card giving unit 112 gives the trading card in the set language to the user (S14). The card giving unit 112 stores information related to the trading card given to the user in the user information storage unit 124 as owned card information 126.

[0062] Next, if the card providing unit 112 does not provide a trading card to the user (No in S12), or after the card providing unit 112 has provided a trading card to the user, the control unit 118 enables acceptance of an instruction to output a trading card from the user via the input unit 104 (S16). If an instruction to output a trading card from the user via the input unit 104 is not accepted (No in S16), the control unit 118 ends the process.

[0063] On the other hand, when an instruction to output a trading card is received from the user via input unit 104 (Yes in S16), control unit 118 determines whether the user owns a trading card in the language set in language setting unit 110 (S18). Specifically, control unit 118 references user information storage unit 124 and determines whether a trading card with a card ID associated with the language ID of the set language is stored. When control unit 118 determines that a trading card with a card ID associated with the language ID of the set language is stored in user information storage unit 124 (Yes in S18), control unit 118 causes output unit 100 to preferentially output a trading card in the set language.

[0064] In this case, the control unit 118 controls a first mode that allows the user to view trading cards owned by the user on the user's information terminal. That is, during execution of the first mode, the control unit 118 outputs cards associated with the set language in priority over cards associated with other languages. Then, during execution of the first mode, the control unit 118 receives an instruction from the user via the input unit 104 specifying a language from among the languages ​​associated with the card IDs of trading cards owned by the user as the language of the face of the trading card to be output. The control unit 118 outputs trading cards in the language specified by the instruction. Specifically, when information on trading cards owned by the user stored in the user information storage unit 124 (i.e., owned card information 126) includes not only trading cards in the set language but also trading cards in languages ​​other than the set language, the control unit 118 outputs trading cards associated with the language ID of the set language in priority over trading cards associated with other language IDs. For example, suppose that user information storage unit 124 stores one type of trading card, including trading cards written in Japanese, trading cards written in English, and trading cards written in French. In this case, control unit 118 causes output unit 100 to preferentially output trading cards written in a language that matches the set language. Therefore, in this case, if the set language is Japanese, output unit 100 preferentially outputs Japanese trading cards, and if the set language is English, output unit 100 preferentially outputs English trading cards (S20).

[0065] On the other hand, if a card associated with the set language is not associated with the user, the control unit 118 outputs the face of the card in a language determined based on a predetermined language priority order from among one or more languages ​​associated with the card associated with the user. That is, if the control unit 118 determines that a trading card with a card ID associated with the language ID of the set language is not stored in the user information storage unit 124 (S18 No), the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output a trading card in a language selected based on a predetermined language priority order (S22). That is, the control unit 118 refers to the owned card information 126 stored in the user information storage unit 124, and if a trading card associated with the language ID of the set language is not stored (i.e., not associated with the user), the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output a trading card associated with a language ID determined based on a predetermined language priority order from among one or more language IDs associated with the card ID of the trading card associated with the user.

[0066] For example, suppose that the user information storage unit 124 stores one type of trading card, each of which has one trading card written in English, one trading card written in French, and one trading card written in Chinese. The set language is Japanese. In this case, since the user does not own a trading card written in a language that matches the set language (a Japanese trading card), the control unit 118 controls the output unit 100 to output a trading card written in a specific language based on a predetermined language priority. The language priority may be set, for example, in the order of decreasing priority, such as English, Chinese, German, French, etc. In this case, since the user information storage unit 124 stores trading cards written in English, French, and Chinese, the control unit 118 controls the output unit 100 to output the English trading card, which has the highest priority. If the user information storage unit 124 does not store any English trading cards, the control unit 118 controls the output unit 100 to output the Chinese trading card, which has the second highest priority.

[0067] Furthermore, when the user information storage unit 124 stores trading cards of one type in one or more languages ​​but does not store trading cards in a language that matches the set language, the control unit 118 may enable trading cards in a predetermined language to be output to the output unit 100. For example, assume that the user information storage unit 124 stores trading cards of one type in Japanese, French, and Chinese. The set language is German. In this case, since the user does not own trading cards in a language that matches the set language (German trading cards), the control unit 118 enables trading cards in a predetermined language to be output to the output unit 100. Here, the predetermined language is preferably a language that is widely used around the world, and may be, for example, English.

[0068] Furthermore, the control unit 118 may set the priority of languages ​​in accordance with the order of the languages ​​of trading cards acquired by the user (i.e., granted by the card granting unit 112). That is, when the card granting unit 112 grants cards to a user in a predetermined set language, if the language of the first card granted to the user is a first language that is not the set language, the language of the second card granted to the user is a second language that is not the set language, and the language of the nth card granted to the user is an nth language that is not the set language (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 3), the control unit 118 enables cards in the first language to be preferentially output to the output unit 100 until the card granting unit 112 grants a card in the set language to the user. For example, suppose that the set language is Japanese and the card granting unit 112 first grants a Chinese trading card to the user, and then grants an English trading card. In this case, control unit 118 prioritizes output in Chinese, which is the language of the trading card initially assigned to the user, until card assignment unit 112 assigns an English trading card to the user and then assigns a Japanese trading card to the user. Note that control unit 118 may also prioritize the language in the opposite way to the above, i.e., prioritize output in the nth language.

[0069] [Example 1 of trading card output in the processing flow of game system 1] Figure 5 shows an example of an overview of an output screen in the game system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Figure 5(a) shows an example of trading cards owned by a user output in the form of an illustrated book, and Figure 5(b) shows an example of a trading card in the illustrated book being output in an enlarged format. Furthermore, Figure 5(c) shows an example of trading cards in multiple languages ​​being output in the illustrated book.

[0070] In step S20 or S22 in the description of FIG. 4, trading cards owned by the user are output to the output unit 100 of the information terminal 3. Here, the trading cards may be output in various forms, and as one example, trading cards may be output in the form of an illustrated book. For example, the control unit 118 receives a predetermined instruction from the user (an instruction to output an illustrated book of trading cards, which corresponds to step S16 in the description of FIG. 4) via the input unit 104. Based on the predetermined instruction, the control unit 118 executes steps S18 to S22 in the description of FIG. 4, and causes the output unit 100 to output a list of trading cards owned by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the trading cards owned by the user (e.g., trading cards 300, trading cards 310, etc.) are arranged in a predetermined array and output as card list 200 to the output unit 100.

[0071] For example, control unit 118 references the set language of user information storage unit 124 and causes output unit 100 to output card list 200 of trading cards stored in user information storage unit 124 and associated with the language ID of the set language (see the description of S18 to S20). On the other hand, if user information storage unit 124 does not store a trading card associated with the language ID of the set language, but stores a trading card associated with the language ID of another language (i.e., if a trading card is stored in user information storage unit 124 associated with a card ID and associated with the language ID of a language other than the set language), control unit 118 causes output unit 100 to output a trading card associated with the language ID of a language with a higher priority based on a predetermined language priority (see the description of S22). Control unit 118 performs the same process for each of one or more trading cards owned by the user.

[0072] In this way, in game system 1, the system language environment is set, and if a user possesses trading cards in a language different from the set language, the trading cards can be displayed in the different language in the illustrated encyclopedia list (note that the different languages ​​are determined based on a predetermined priority order). However, if the user possesses trading cards in the set language, the trading cards in the set language are displayed preferentially. Furthermore, trading cards in multiple languages ​​may be displayed simultaneously on the same screen in the illustrated encyclopedia list. That is, control unit 118 can output trading cards in different languages ​​side by side simultaneously on the screen of the user's information terminal. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(c), control unit 118 can display trading cards in Japanese (e.g., trading card 303 labeled "Lizard" and trading card 304 labeled "Charizard") together with trading card 300c in Chinese. This allows the user to easily understand, by simply referring to the illustrated encyclopedia, that they do not possess trading cards in the set language but do possess trading cards in different languages.

[0073] Furthermore, when the control unit 118 receives a selection instruction from the user via the input unit 104 for a trading card in the card list 200, the control unit 118 may refer to the game information storage unit 122 and / or the user information storage unit 124 and cause the output unit 100 to output detailed information about the selected trading card.

[0074] In this case, the control unit 118 may cause the output unit 100 to display an enlarged image of the selected trading card. For example, when the control unit 118 receives a user instruction to select trading card 300 in the card list 200 shown in Fig. 5(a), the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output an enlarged image of the trading card 300 as shown in Fig. 5(b). The example of Fig. 5(b) shows a state in which the face of the trading card is written in the set language (here, Japanese) (for example, the character name "Charmander" and the technique name "Bring").

[0075] [Example 2 of trading card output in the processing flow of game system 1] Fig. 6 shows an example of an outline of an output screen in the game system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 6(a) to Fig. 6(c) show an outline of an output in the form of an illustrated book in a predetermined language.

[0076] The control unit 118 can also switch the language of trading cards held by the user and output the card list 200 to the output unit 100. That is, the control unit 118 receives an instruction from the user to specify the language on the face of a trading card, and outputs to the output unit 100 a trading card associated with the language ID of the language specified in the received instruction. For example, the control unit 118 outputs an icon 400, which accepts a language switching instruction from the user (an instruction to specify the language on the face of a trading card), at a predetermined location on the output unit 100. Then, when the control unit 118 accepts an instruction from the user via the icon 400, the control unit 118 outputs a selection list of one or more languages ​​to the output unit 100. The control unit 118 accepts a language selection by the user from the selection list via the input unit 104, and switches the trading card with the face in the language currently being output to a trading card with the face in the selected language and outputs the trading card with the face in the selected language to the output unit 100.

[0077] That is, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to display a list of trading cards in the language selected by the user and stored in the user information storage unit 124 in association with the language ID of the selected language. In this case, the control unit 118 may not cause the output unit 100 to output trading cards that are not associated with the language ID of the selected language, even if the user owns trading cards in the language before the switch. That is, the trading cards output to the picture book on the output unit 100 may only be trading cards owned by the user (trading cards included in the owned card information 126 stored in the user information storage unit 124). However, for trading cards that are not associated with the language ID of the selected language, the control unit 118 may cause the output unit 100 to output trading cards in a language that is determined based on a predetermined priority from among the languages ​​corresponding to the language IDs associated with the trading cards, instead of trading cards in the language after the switch.

[0078] For example, suppose one type of trading card is stored in user information storage unit 124, and the card ID of this trading card is associated with a first language ID (e.g., a language ID associated with Japanese), a second language ID (e.g., a language ID associated with English), and a fourth language ID (e.g., a language ID associated with Chinese), but is not associated with a third language ID (e.g., a language ID associated with French). In other words, the user owns the Japanese, English, and Chinese versions of one type of trading card, but does not own the French version. Furthermore, suppose the set language is Japanese.

[0079] In this case, the control unit 118, in response to a user's instruction to output the picture book received via the input unit 104, first causes the output unit 100 to output a card list 200 of trading cards associated with the set language (Japanese in this case), as shown in Fig. 6(a). Then, if the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in Japanese and then switches the language to English based on the user's instruction on the icon 400, the control unit 118 switches the display of the trading cards to English, as shown in Fig. 6(b) (Fig. 6(b) shows how the Japanese trading cards 300 have been switched to English trading cards 300a, and how the Japanese card list 200 has been switched to the English card list 200a).

[0080] Furthermore, when the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in Japanese as shown in FIG. 6(a), or when the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in English as shown in FIG. 6(b), and the language is switched to Chinese based on a user's instruction to the icon 400, the control unit 118 will switch the display of the trading cards to Chinese as shown in FIG. 6(c). (FIG. 6(c) shows that the Japanese trading cards 300 or the English trading cards 300a have been switched to the Chinese trading cards 300c, and the Japanese card list 200 or the English card list 200a has been switched to the Chinese card list 200c.)

[0081] On the other hand, when the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in Japanese as shown in Figure 6(a), when the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in English as shown in Figure 6(b), or when the control unit 118 has caused the output unit 100 to output trading cards in Chinese as shown in Figure 6(c), if the language is switched to French (or another language other than Japanese, English, and Chinese) based on the user's instruction to icon 400, the control unit 118 will not switch the display of the trading cards and will maintain the current state, since the owned card information in the user information storage unit 124 does not include a third language ID. Alternatively, the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 to output the trading card in a language selected from Japanese, English, or Chinese based on a predetermined language priority (i.e., a language with a language ID selected from the language IDs associated with the card IDs of trading cards owned by the user). (As an example, if the language with the highest priority is English, the trading card may be output in English as shown in FIG. 6(b). If the user does not own any English trading cards, the output unit 100 may output a trading card in a language with a priority lower than English in that language.)

[0082] Note that the control unit 118 may cause the output unit 100 to output trading cards that the user has previously owned. For example, when the control unit 118 receives an instruction to output a trading card from the user via the input unit 104, it determines whether the user has previously owned a trading card in the language set in the language setting unit 110. For example, the control unit 118 references the acquired card information in the user information storage unit 124 and determines whether the user has previously owned a trading card with a card ID associated with the language ID of the set language. If the control unit 118 determines that the user has previously owned a trading card with a card ID associated with the language ID of the set language, it may cause the output unit 100 to output the trading card that the user has previously owned.

[0083] [Game System 1 Processing Flow 2] Fig. 7 shows another example of the processing flow in the game system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 7 shows an example of the processing flow in which a user and an opponent play a TCG match using their own information terminals. Figs. 8 and 9 show an example of an outline of an output screen in the game system according to this embodiment.

[0084] In a TCG between a user and an opponent in game system 1, both the user and the opponent play using the language they have set. Therefore, if the user's language setting differs from the opponent's language setting during a TCG match, this may hinder the smooth progress of the game. Therefore, when the user's language setting differs from the opponent's language setting, game system 1 displays the face of the opponent's trading card in the user's language setting on the user's information terminal 3, and displays the face of the user's trading card in the opponent's language setting on the opponent's information terminal 4.

[0085] First, the language setting unit 110 receives a user's language specification received via the input unit 104 and sets the language to be used in the game (S10). In this S10, the same processing as S10 in the description of FIG. 4 is executed. The language setting unit 110 also sets a language for the opponent in the same manner. Note that the same processing as for the user is executed for the opponent, so the processing on the user's side will be mainly described below.

[0086] The compilation unit 114 then compiles a deck to be used in the TCG in response to the user's deck compilation instructions received via the input unit 104. That is, the control unit 118 executes a second mode in which a deck in the TCG is compiled using one or more cards associated with the user. Specifically, the control unit 118 references the owned card information 126 stored in the user information storage unit 124 and causes the output unit 100 to output some or all of the trading cards owned by the user that are in the language set by the user. The compilation unit 114 then compiles a deck using one or more trading cards based on the user's trading card selection instructions received via the input unit 104 (Yes in S30). If the user has not issued a deck compilation instruction (No in S30), the compilation unit 114 does not execute the deck compilation process.

[0087] Specifically, when organizing a deck while the second mode is being executed, the organization unit 114 determines whether the trading cards selected by the user include trading cards in a language different from the set language (S32). If the organization unit 114 determines that the selected trading cards do not include trading cards in a language different from the set language, that is, if it determines that all trading cards are trading cards in the set language (third language cards) (No in S32), the organization unit 114 organizes a deck using the trading cards selected by the user (i.e., trading cards in the set language) (S34).

[0088] On the other hand, if a third-language card associated with the set language is not associated with the user and a fourth-language card whose card ID is associated with a language different from the set language is included in the deck, the compilation unit 114 outputs the faces of the third-language card and the fourth-language card in the set language during execution of the second mode. That is, if a third-language card that is selected and associated with the language ID of the set language is not associated with the user and a fourth-language card whose card ID is associated with a language ID different from the language ID of the third-language card and that is associated with the user is included in the deck, the compilation unit 114 outputs the face of the fourth-language card in the set language. That is, if the compilation unit 114 determines that the selected trading cards include trading cards in a language different from the set language (Yes in S32), the compilation unit 114 compiles a deck using trading cards (translated cards) in which the language of trading cards selected by the user and whose language is different from the set language is set to the set language (S36). In this way, trading cards included in the organized deck whose face language is not the set language are output in the set language, so that the faces of the third-language cards and fourth-language cards in the deck are both output in the set language. The control unit 118 enables the user to play a TCG using the deck organized by the organization unit 114.

[0089] Then, the control unit 118 controls a TCG match between the user and the user's opponent. That is, the control unit 118 controls a third mode in which a TCG match is played using a first deck organized by the user and a second deck organized by the user's opponent. Here, the control unit 118 determines whether the user's set language and the opponent's set language are different (S38). If the user's set language and the opponent's set language are not different (No in S38), the control unit 118 continues the match (S42).

[0090] On the other hand, if the user's set language and the opponent's set language are different (Yes in S38), the control unit 118 outputs the faces of the opponent's trading cards in the user's set language (S40). That is, during execution of the third mode, the control unit 118 outputs the faces of the cards using the set language, regardless of the languages ​​associated with the cards constituting the user's first deck and the opponent's second deck. Specifically, at least during execution of the TCG match, the control unit 118 outputs the faces of the opponent's trading cards to the user's information terminal 3 using the user's set language set by the language setting unit 110, and outputs the faces of the user's trading cards to the opponent's information terminal 4 using the opponent's set language set by the language setting unit 110. More specifically, the control unit 118 converts trading cards displayed in the opponent's set language into trading cards in the user's set language so that they can be output to the output unit 100 of the user's information terminal 3, and converts trading cards displayed in the user's set language into trading cards in the opponent's set language so that they can be output to the output unit 100 of the opponent's information terminal 4. Then, the control unit 118 executes the TCG match (S42).

[0091] For example, an example will be described in which the user's set language is Japanese and the opponent's set language is Chinese. An example will be described in which the user uses one type of trading card 300 in Japanese (as an example, the character name "Charmander" and the technique name "Bring It" are written in Japanese), and the opponent uses one type of trading card 302 in Chinese (as an example, the character name "Little Fire Dragon" and the technique name "Call It" are written in Chinese). While FIGS. 8 and 9 show enlarged view 300E that makes trading card 300 easier to see and enlarged view 302E that makes trading card 302 easier to see, these enlarged views are not output to output unit 100 in an actual TCG.

[0092] First, as shown in FIG. 8 , the TCG playfield 500 output on the output unit 100 of the user's information terminal 3 has a substantially circular shape and is configured with a substantially semicircular playfield area 502 on which the user's trading cards (such as trading card 300) are displayed, and a substantially semicircular playfield area 504 on which the opponent's trading cards (such as trading card 302) are displayed. The playfield area 502 and the playfield area 504 are separated by a boundary 506. Meanwhile, the output unit 100 of the opponent's information terminal 4 also outputs the playfield 500, playfield area 502, playfield area 504, boundary 506, and the user's and opponent's trading cards, as shown in FIG. 9 . However, as can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9 , the output positions of the playfield area 502 and the playfield area 504 are upside down on the user's information terminal 3 and the opponent's information terminal 4. Furthermore, the boundary 506 does not need to be output.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 8 , the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 of the user's information terminal 3 to output the opponent's trading card 302 in Japanese, which is the user's set language. The control unit 118 also causes the output unit 100 to output, in Japanese, predetermined explanations required for the progress of the TCG game, in addition to the opponent's trading card. That is, the opponent's trading card 302 is originally written in Chinese. However, since the user's set language is Japanese and the languages ​​are different, the control unit 118 changes the writing of the opponent's trading card 302 to Japanese and outputs it to the output unit 100. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9 , the control unit 118 causes the output unit 100 of the opponent's information terminal 4 to output the user's trading card 300 in Chinese, which is the opponent's set language. The control unit 118 also causes the output unit 100 to output, in Chinese, predetermined explanations required for the progress of the TCG game, in addition to the user's trading card. That is, the user's trading card 300 is originally written in Japanese. However, since the opponent's set language is Chinese and the languages ​​are different, the control unit 118 changes the writing on the user's trading card 300 to Chinese and causes the output unit 100 to output it.

[0094] In this way, at least during the execution of the TCG match, control unit 118 outputs the face of the opponent's trading card to the user's information terminal 3 using the user's set language, and outputs the face of the user's trading card to the opponent's information terminal 4 using the opponent's set language. In other words, control unit 118 converts trading cards displayed in the opponent's set language into trading cards in the language set by the user so that they can be output to output unit 100 of the user's information terminal 3, and converts trading cards displayed in the user's set language into trading cards in the language set by the opponent so that they can be output to output unit 100 of the opponent's information terminal 4. Then, control unit 118 executes the TCG match (S42), and when the TCG match ends, ends the processing related to the output of trading cards.

[0095] [Modification of the embodiment] In a game system according to a modified example of this embodiment, a method of managing cards may be used in which cards of the same type but with different face languages ​​are managed as separate and independent cards. That is, this method uniquely identifies all cards, including the difference in face languages. In this method, for example, a card (first card) that displays a predetermined character and the name of the predetermined character in Japanese and a card (second card) that displays the name in English but is otherwise identical are managed as separate cards.

[0096] For example, an ID that uniquely identifies a card can be used as the card ID. For example, if a card is converted into a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and a token ID is assigned to the card, the token ID becomes the card ID that uniquely identifies the card. In this case, the card ID (i.e., token ID) of one card will never match the card ID of another card. Therefore, for example, even if they are the same type of card, a first card and a second card that have different languages ​​on their faces will be treated as different cards (with different token IDs).

[0097] In this case, all cards are uniquely identified, even if they are in different languages, so as the number of cards increases, the amount of card data increases, and the load on the server that executes various processes and the amount of memory consumed for data management also increase. However, even if there are multiple cards of the same type and in the same language, each of the multiple cards in the same language can be treated as a separate, independent card. This makes it possible to easily satisfy the user's desire to collect cards displayed in various languages ​​one by one, or the user's desire to collect multiple cards of the same type and in the same language while distinguishing between them.

[0098] [Game Program] Each of the components of the game system 1 according to this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 can be realized by having a central processing unit (CPU) or other arithmetic processing device (processor) execute a program (i.e., a game program), that is, by software processing. Alternatively, each of the components can be realized by writing the program in advance to hardware such as an integrated circuit (IC), an electronic component. The processor is hardware for executing an instruction set written in a program, and is composed of an arithmetic unit, registers, peripheral circuits, etc. Alternatively, software and hardware can be used together.

[0099] That is, the game program according to this embodiment is a game program for causing a computer having a processor and memory to output digital trading cards for a trading card game (TCG). The game program according to this embodiment can be pre-installed in, for example, an IC or a ROM. The game program can also be provided as a computer program by recording it in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or a semiconductor recording medium. The recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD. Furthermore, the game program can be pre-stored on a computer connected to a communications network, such as the Internet, and provided by downloading it via the communications network.

[0100] The game program according to this embodiment operates on a CPU or the like to cause the game program to function as the output unit 100, output control unit 102, input unit 104, input screen 106, input control unit 108, language setting unit 110, card providing unit 112, organization unit 114, card exchange unit 116, control unit 118, and storage unit 120 described in Figures 1 to 9.

[0101] [Effects of the embodiment] The game system 1 according to this embodiment associates one or more language IDs with the card ID of a single type of trading card and manages them, thereby reducing the load on the server compared to managing all trading cards in different languages ​​individually. Furthermore, since the game system 1 can associate one or more language IDs with one card ID and manage them, when the system's set language is changed to another language in response to a user's instruction, the face of the trading card can automatically be changed to the language associated with the language ID of the other language. This allows the game system 1 to allow a user to collect one or more versions of a single trading card in different languages. Therefore, since a user can collect trading cards in different languages ​​for a single trading card, they can even collect all language versions of a single trading card.

[0102] Furthermore, if a user owns trading cards in various languages, game system 1 can cause output unit 100 to output trading cards in the specified language simply by specifying a language. In this case, if a user owns trading cards in one language but does not own trading cards of the same type as the trading cards in a language different from the one language, game system 1 can also cause output unit 100 to output trading cards in a different language using a language different from the set language determined based on a predetermined language priority order. This allows the user to easily know which languages ​​the trading cards they do not own.

[0103] Furthermore, even if the user and opponent use different languages ​​in a TCG match, the game system 1 can output trading cards in a unified language on the information terminals of the user and the opponent. In other words, when the user and opponent use different languages, the game system 1 can output the user's and opponent's trading cards in the language set by the user on the user's information terminal 3, and output the opponent's and user's trading cards in the language set by the opponent on the opponent's information terminal 4. This allows the game system 1 to ensure smooth game progress even when the language used by the user and the language used by the opponent are different.

[0104] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, the technical elements of the above-described embodiments may be applied independently, or may be divided into multiple parts, such as program components and hardware components, and then applied.

[0105] Additionally, the functions performed by the components described herein may be implemented in circuitry or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, special-purpose processors, integrated circuits, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to perform the described functions. A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered to be circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may also be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in memory. In this specification, a circuit, unit, or means is hardware that is programmed to perform or executes the described functions. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein or any hardware known to be programmed to perform or execute the described functions. When the hardware is a processor, which is considered a type of circuitry, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or processor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1. Game System 3, 4 Information terminal 5. Communication Network 7 Server 100 Output section 102 Output control section 104 Input section 106 Input Surface 108 Input control section 110 Language setting section 112 Card Granting Department 114 Organization Department 116 Card Exchange Department 118 Control Unit 120 Storage Unit 122 Game information storage section 124 User information storage section 126 Card information 200, 200a, 200c Card List 300, 300a, 300b, 300c trading cards 302 Trading Cards 303, 304 Trading Cards Enlarged view of 300E and 302E 310 Trading Cards 400 icons 500 Playfield 502, 504 Playfield area 506 Boundary

Claims

1. A game program for causing a computer having a processor and a memory to output cards for a trading card game (TCG), The game program causes the processor to: a step of outputting, as separate cards, cards of the same type associated with the user, a first language card associated with the first language and a second language card associated with a language different from the first language; A game program that executes the above.

2. receiving an instruction from the user and setting a set language of the game in association with the user; a step of associating the set language, which is set when the user owns the card in the game, with the card; 2. The game program according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. further performing a step of controlling a first mode of viewing cards owned by the user; The outputting step includes: During execution of the first mode, the cards associated with the set language are output in priority to cards associated with other languages; A game program as described in claim 2, wherein if a card to which the set language is associated is not associated with the user, the face of the card is output in a language determined based on a predetermined language priority from among one or more languages ​​associated with the card associated with the user.

4. Executing a second mode of constructing a deck in the TCG using one or more cards associated with the user. Then execute If a third language card associated with the set language is not associated with the user, and a fourth language card associated with a language different from the set language is included in the deck, The outputting step includes: The game program according to claim 2 , wherein the faces of the third language card and the fourth language card are output in the set language during execution of the second mode.

5. and further executing a step of controlling a third mode in which a TCG battle is played using a first deck organized by the user and a second deck organized by an opponent of the user; The outputting step includes: A game program as described in claim 4, wherein during execution of the third mode, the faces of the cards are output using the set language regardless of the language associated with the cards constituting the first deck and the second deck.

6. receiving, from the user during execution of the first mode, an instruction to specify a language for the face of the card to be output and owned by the user; Then execute 4. The game program according to claim 3, wherein the output step outputs the card in the language designated by the instruction.

7. The game program according to claim 1, further comprising a step of accepting a specification of the language on the card face from the user and exchanging the user's card for a card in the specified language held by another user.

8. The game program according to claim 1, further comprising a step of accepting a specification of the language of the card face from the user, and exchanging a card in the specified language that the user owns with a card of another user.

9. The game program of claim 1, wherein the card is associated with a card ID that identifies the card regardless of differences in the language of the text data on the face of the card, and the card ID is associated with one or more language IDs that identify the language of the text data on the face of the card.

10. 3. The game program according to claim 2, wherein the step of associating includes adding the number of cards associated with the user to possession count data associated with the language ID of the card ID of the card.

11. A game program as described in claim 1, wherein among the cards of the same type, the first language card and the second language card are distinguishable, and multiple first language cards are indistinguishable from each other and multiple second language cards are indistinguishable from each other.

12. A game system comprising means for executing all of the steps executed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. 12. An information processing device comprising a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit executes all of the steps executed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A server comprising a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit executes all of the steps executed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. 1. A gaming method executed on a computer having a processor and a memory, comprising: A gaming method in which the processor executes all of the steps executed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

16. A game program for causing a computer having a processor and a memory to manage trading cards of a digital trading card game (TCG), comprising: The game program causes the processor to: a step of associating a card ID with the trading card, which identifies the trading card regardless of differences in language of text data on the face of the trading card, and associating one or more language IDs with the card ID, which identify the language of the text data on the face of the trading card; A game program that executes the above.

17. A game program for causing a computer having a processor and a memory to output cards for a trading card game (TCG), The game program causes the processor to: a step of outputting cards of the same type associated with a user in such a manner that the cards in one language and the cards in another language are distinguishable from each other, and outputting a plurality of cards of the same type in the same language in such a manner that the cards are indistinguishable from each other; A game program that executes the above.

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