Game system and server

Abstract

To realize evaluation that ensures fairness among players. [Solution] The game system comprises an execution means for executing a game that differs in at least part for each predetermined period, a management means for managing evaluation information that evaluates the game play status for each player, the management means generating or updating the evaluation information for the player based on the play content of the game executed by the execution means, and a control means for controlling the management of the evaluation information by the management means, wherein the evaluation information includes first evaluation information and second evaluation information, and the control means controls the management means to retain the first evaluation information regardless of the predetermined period, while not retaining the second evaluation information related to that period after the lapse of any given period.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to game systems and servers, and more particularly to electronic games that provide player-related evaluations. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a game system that collects play results of multiple players and creates rankings (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-162412 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the game system of Patent Document 1, players are given rewards according to their rankings, but the rankings are permanently maintained, and some players, such as beginners, are not likely to receive such rewards. As a result, there is a possibility that differences in the enjoyment and experience between players will arise, and that this may discourage new players from using the game device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a game system and a server that realizes evaluation that ensures fairness among players. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the game system of the present invention comprises an execution means for executing a game in which at least a portion of the game differs for each predetermined period of time, a management means for managing evaluation information that evaluates the game play status for each player, the management means generating or updating the evaluation information for the player based on the play content of the game executed by the execution means, and a control means for controlling the management of the evaluation information by the management means, wherein the evaluation information includes first evaluation information and second evaluation information, and the control means controls the management means to retain the first evaluation information regardless of which predetermined period is, while not retaining the second evaluation information related to any period after the lapse of that period. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize evaluation that ensures fairness among players. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a game system according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a game device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of data used in the game system according to the embodiment and the modified example of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server 200 according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a functional module realized by executing an evaluation process according to an embodiment and a modification of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an evaluation process according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] In the embodiment described below, an example of a game system will be described in which the present invention is applied to a game system that evaluates the playing status of a player based on the play content of an executed competitive game.

[0011] In addition, in this specification, "service provision" means temporarily granting the right to occupy and use the game device to a user (player) who has paid the fee, and providing a service including the experience of playing a series of games. The start of service provision for one player is conditional on the detection of payment of the fee while no service is being provided, and basically the provision ends after the execution of the functions of the game device made available for one service provision (including the execution of a series of games) is completed.

[0012] Game System Configuration 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a game system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the game system is configured so that a server 200 and one or more game devices 100 can communicate with each other via a network 300.

[0013] In this embodiment, such a system configuration is configured to enable a competitive game between players using multiple game devices 100 via the server 200 and the network 300. Furthermore, games for which a play experience is provided on the game device 100 are not limited to competitive games between players, and may include games configured for one person.

[0014] As will be described in more detail later, when a player is identified when using the game device 100, i.e., when a service is provided after the player has been identified, the server 200 updates the information managed for each player based on the details of that player's use (game play history).

[0015] <Configuration of the Game Device> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the game device 100. Specifically, the control unit 101 reads out an operation program for each block recorded in, for example, a recording medium 102, and loads and executes the program in the memory 103 to control the operation of each block.

[0017] The recording medium 102 is a recording device capable of permanently retaining data, such as a non-volatile memory or a HDD. The recording medium 102 stores, in addition to the operation programs of each block of the game device 100, information on parameters required for the operation of each block, and various graphics data used in the game executed by the game device 100. The memory 103 is a storage device used for temporary data storage, such as a volatile memory. The memory 103 is used not only as an area for developing the operation programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output in the operation of each block.

[0018] The payment detection unit 104 detects that a price has been paid in the game device 100. The payment of the price may be determined, for example, by detecting that a predetermined amount of coins or an equivalent coin has been inserted into an insertion slot (not shown) of the game device 100, or by detecting the completion of a settlement process based on communication with a chip related to a predetermined electronic money. The game device 100 of this embodiment will be described as starting to provide a service including the provision of a series of game play experiences based on the payment of the price for starting the provision of the service. The payment of the price is also configured to be detectable even after the start of the provision of the service.

[0019] The acquisition unit 105 is an interface provided in the game device 100 of this embodiment and related to information acquisition from objects. Specifically, the acquisition unit 105 includes a reader configured to be able to acquire information attached to a plurality of types of objects from the objects. Here, the description will be given assuming that the plurality of types of objects from which the acquisition unit 105 can acquire information are all objects (real objects) having a physical volume that are configured to be provided by the game device 100.

[0020] In this embodiment, the multiple types of items are all game cards, and each type is described as being associated with one game element (character, mount, item, etc.) that appears in a game in which a play experience is provided on the game device 100. The game element associated with a game card can be identified by the acquisition unit 105 acquiring information (identification information) for identifying the game element attached to the game card. The identification information may be added to the game card by, for example, printing a one-dimensional or multi-dimensional code obtained by converting the identification information onto the game card, or by other methods such as recording the identification information on a tag or IC chip for near field communication (NFC) included in the game card.

[0021] In this embodiment, the acquisition of information from multiple types of game cards is described as being performed by a single reader provided in the acquisition unit 105, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the acquisition of information from multiple types of game cards may be performed by multiple types of readers.

[0022] In addition, the acquisition unit 105 also acquires information from an item on which a player ID is recorded in order to identify a player using the game device 100. In this embodiment, the item on which the player ID is recorded is a player card configured in the form of a card similar to a game card, and the description will be given assuming that information can be acquired via a reader common to game cards. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this, and player identification may be achieved by adopting other items or methods.

[0023] The element DB 106 is a database that manages information (element information) about each game element that appears in the game. In the game device 100 of this embodiment, the player can place a game card during game play and acquire information, thereby making the game element associated with the game card appear in the game. The element information managed for one game element includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), type information 302 indicating the type in the game assigned to the game element in association with an element ID (identification information) 301 that uniquely identifies the game element, drawing information 303 including graphics data used to generate a screen when the game element appears in the game, and parameter information 304 that describes parameters defined for each element level of the game element and effects activated by using the game element in addition to the name, attributes, etc. of the game element. The parameter information 304 is information that is referenced in the game in which the game element appears, and is involved in the progress control of the game.

[0024] In this embodiment, the element DB 106 stores graphics data, and the element information includes the data, but the present invention is not limited to this. The element information may include information indicating the storage location of the corresponding data.

[0025] The presentation control unit 107 is responsible for controlling the presentation of various types of information to the player in the game device 100. The game device 100 of this embodiment will be described as having a display unit 120 that displays images (game screen, menu screen, etc.) as a means for presenting various types of information, but it goes without saying that the means for presenting information are not limited to these and can be replaced or added. The display unit 120, which is an example of a means for presenting information, is a display device that presents visual information, such as a liquid crystal display. In addition, in an aspect in which other means for presenting information is provided, an appropriate device, such as a speaker that presents auditory information, is connected so as to be controllable by the presentation control unit 107.

[0026] The presentation control unit 107 includes a drawing device such as a GPU, and performs a predetermined drawing process when generating a screen to be displayed on the display unit 120. Specifically, while the game device 100 is running (while a service is being provided or in standby mode), the presentation control unit 107 performs necessary arithmetic processing on necessary drawing objects (graphics data) based on the processing or command performed by the control unit 101, and draws the screen. The generated screen is output to the display unit 120 and displayed in a predetermined display area, thereby being presented to the player.

[0027] The supply control unit 108 controls the operation of the first supply unit 130, the second supply unit 140, and the third supply unit 150 so that game cards are provided in response to the payment of the price for the service usage. The first supply unit 130 and the second supply unit 140 are constituted by card dispensers configured to be able to provide the game cards stored in the storage units one by one. The game device 100 of this embodiment includes three types of card dispensers (the first supply unit 130, the second supply unit 140, and the third supply unit 150) inside the housing of the game device 100, and the supply control unit 108 controls which of the card dispensers will provide the game cards first. One card dispenser has a storage unit configured to be able to store game cards in a vertically stacked manner, and includes a mechanism for delivering one game card held in the lowest layer in response to a delivery command issued by the supply control unit 108. The delivered game card is guided to an accessible space via an outlet (not shown) and provided to the player.

[0028] As described above, game elements are associated with game cards provided by the game device 100 of this embodiment, and the game elements can appear in the game by using the game cards during game play. The progress of the game is controlled according to the parameter information 304 of the game elements that appear, and the more advantageously a game element has parameter information 304, the higher its value in the game. Therefore, in this embodiment, game cards are classified into two types according to the value in the game of the associated game elements.

[0029] The game device 100 of this embodiment is configured to be able to provide different types of game cards. Specifically, the first providing unit 130, the second providing unit 140, and the third providing unit 150 are configured such that different types of game cards are stored in the storage units, and the providing control unit 108 drives the corresponding providing unit based on the information on the providing type included in the providing command issued by the control unit 101, so that a specific type of game card can be provided. For this reason, game cards are delivered to the store or the like in which the game device 100 is installed by type (first type and second type), and when replenishing game cards, the storage unit of the first providing unit 130 stores a bundle of game cards of the first type, and the storage units of the second providing unit 140 and the third providing unit 150 store a bundle of game cards of the second type.

[0030] Here, the game cards stored in the second providing unit 140 and the third providing unit 150 are set to have a higher value in the game (performance of the associated game element, etc.) than the game cards stored in the first providing unit 130, and hereinafter, the game cards stored in the first providing unit 130 are referred to as normal cards, and the game cards stored in the second providing unit 140 and the third providing unit 150 are referred to as rare cards. That is, the game device 100 of this embodiment is configured to provide normal cards when the first providing unit 130 is driven, and provide rare cards when the second providing unit 140 and the third providing unit 150 are driven. Note that the game cards stored in the second providing unit 140 and the third providing unit 150 are both the same type of item from the viewpoint of rare cards, but the two may be different, for example, in terms of the type of game element that is associated with them, and are stored separately so that they can be provided separately according to the purpose.

[0031] The operation input unit 109 is a user interface of the game device 100, such as an operation member for inputting a decision, various sensors, etc. When the operation input unit 109 detects that an operation input has been made to an operation member, it outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the control unit 101. Note that the operation input unit 109 may include, for example, a touch input detection sensor that detects a touch input made on the screen of the display unit 120.

[0032] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface with an external device that the game device 100 has. The communication unit 110 can connect to the external device via a network 300 (whether wired or wireless), which may be a communication network such as the Internet or a cable connecting devices, to enable transmission and reception of data. The communication unit 110 converts, for example, information input as a transmission target into data in a predetermined format, and transmits it to an external device such as a server 200 via the network 300. Furthermore, when the communication unit 110 receives information from an external device via the network 300, for example, it decodes the information and stores it in the memory 103.

[0033] Server Configuration Next, the functional configuration of the server 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 4. In the description of the functional configuration of the server 200, the configuration that realizes the same functions as the configuration of the game device 100 will be indicated with the prefix "server" to clearly distinguish it from the configuration of the game device 100.

[0034] The server control unit 201 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each block of the server 200. Specifically, the server control unit 201 reads out an operation program for each block recorded in, for example, the recording medium 102, expands the program in the memory 103, and executes the program to control the operation of each block.

[0035] The server recording medium 202 is a recording device capable of permanently retaining data, such as a non-volatile memory or a HDD. The server recording medium 202 stores information such as parameters required for the operation of each block in addition to the operation programs of each block of the server 200. The server memory 203 is a storage device such as a volatile memory used for temporary data storage. The server memory 203 is used not only as an area for expanding the operation programs of each block, but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output in the operation of each block.

[0036] The player DB 204 is a database that manages information (player information) indicating game usage status associated with each user (player) for a game for which a play experience is provided on the game device 100 in the game system of this embodiment. The player information is information for managing the usage history of game play functions for each player and various game elements that are available to the player. The player information is sequentially updated according to the play results of a game played using a player card on the game device 100, and is provided to the game device 100 when the player card is used again. This makes it possible to provide a game play in a state that reflects the previous game play on the game device 100.

[0037] In this embodiment, the player information may include, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(b), associated with a player ID 311 that identifies the player, progress status information 312 indicating the progress of the player's game play, ownership information 313 indicating game elements that are available for use in the game by the player, enhancement status information 314 indicating the enhancement status of each of the available game elements, and reward information 315 indicating rewards granted to the player (which may be other types of game elements).

[0038] Here, the progress status information 312 may include evaluation information 323 evaluating the playing status of the player in addition to progress information 321 indicating to what stage of a predetermined story the player has progressed, and performance information 322 indicating the performance of a battle game. The possession information 313 is configured by sequentially adding element IDs 301 of game elements associated with game cards used by the player when playing the game, that is, game elements available to the player, and the strengthening status information 314 may be configured to manage element levels 332 as indicators indicating parameters changed by strengthening, in association with element IDs 331 of game elements that have at least been strengthened (changed from the initial state). In this embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the strengthening status information 314 is described as being updated when the play result of the game performed on the game device 100 is obtained, but may be updated in response to, for example, obtaining information on the training result due to the use of a training function on the game device 100.

[0039] The matching processing unit 205 performs matching processing for a competitive game (player-versus-player battle) between players provided in the game system of this embodiment. Through the matching processing, a session is established for, for example, two game devices 100 that have transmitted matching requests at the same time among the game devices 100 connected to the server 200, and transition is made to a state in which information communication related to the competitive game is possible.

[0040] The management unit 206 manages the evaluation of a player related to a game based on the play content of the game played on the game device 100. More specifically, the management unit 206 evaluates the player based on the play content for each game play, and generates or updates evaluation information 323 of the player information related to the player.

[0041] The server communication unit 207 is a communication interface with an external device that the server 200 has. The server communication unit 207 can connect to an external device via a network 300 (whether wired or wireless), which may be a communication network such as the Internet or a cable connecting devices, to enable transmission and reception of data. The server communication unit 207 converts, for example, information input as a transmission target into data in a predetermined format, and transmits it to an external device such as the game device 100 via the network 300. Furthermore, when the server communication unit 207 receives information from an external device via the network 300, for example, it decodes the information and stores it in the server memory 203.

[0042] Overview of the match game The service provided by the game device 100 of this embodiment includes providing a play experience of a series of games, including at least one competitive game, between a player and an opponent. Below, an overview of the competitive game for which the play experience is mainly provided by the game device 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0043] In this embodiment, the competitive game includes a human-versus-machine battle in which a player competes against an opponent player who is playing the game using another game device 100 and who has been matched via the server 200, and a CPU-versus-CPU battle in which a player competes against an NPC (Non-Player Character) whose behavior is controlled by the control unit 101 without matching (the NPC selects the behavior of multiple game elements related to the opponent). In the following, various controls in a human-versus-machine battle are basically described, but the CPU-versus-machine battle is similar except that no operation by the player is required to register game elements related to the opponent player or to control the behavior of each game element.

[0044] The content of the competitive game may be anything, but in this embodiment, for example, information is acquired from a maximum of 10 game cards, game elements associated with the game cards are made to appear on the game field, and the progress of the game is controlled while receiving operation inputs related to action instructions, and the final result of the competitive game (winner or loser) is obtained. In addition, the play content (competition result) of the executed competitive game is transmitted from the game device 100 to the server 200 and reflected in the player information.

[0045] However, arcade game cabinets installed in stores such as game centers, such as the game device 100 of this embodiment, tend to lose player interest due to the fact that they can only be used by players in person. For this reason, in order to maintain player interest, it is preferable to gradually update the play experience provided, for example by introducing additional game elements or introducing additional functions.

[0046] Although such updates may be performed by distributing update programs online via the network 300, some stores operate by cutting off the power at the end of business hours, or it is difficult to maintain a stable connection to the server 200, so updates may not be performed at the timing expected by the publisher. For this reason, some arcade game cabinets are customarily programmed with additional functions to be released already built in, and the game control is changed to provide different play experiences depending on the time (date and time) to achieve such updates.

[0047] More specifically, in such an embodiment, the game executed in the game device 100 is configured to be at least partially different for each predetermined period, and for example, when the game device 100 is started, it is determined which period (season, number of bullets, event, month, etc.) the current time corresponds to, and the game corresponding to the relevant period is switched to provide a play experience. Here, a game that is at least partially different for each predetermined period refers to a game of the same type (same game genre or game rules) that has at least some of the game elements that appear in common, but differs in that the play experience provided includes changes.

[0048] The game device 100 of this embodiment also stores in advance a program for a fighting game configured to provide different play experiences according to seasons (periods), such as the first season, the second season, ..., and the Nth season, and is configured to execute a fighting game of the corresponding season according to the time when the service is used. For the purpose of simplifying the explanation, the following description will be given assuming that the season changes every eight weeks in the game device 100 and that fighting games with different play experiences can be executed, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The period of a predetermined season does not have to be a fixed period (a period with the same length of time) such as eight weeks, but may be a period with a variable length of time, for example, determined based on the change of the month or the last day of a consecutive holiday in the calendar.

[0049] Player evaluation As described above, in order to increase the interest of players in the competitive game, evaluating and presenting the play contents of the competitive game, forming and presenting a ranking of players based on the evaluation, and giving rewards to players according to their ranking positions are suitable implementation forms of an interest element. On the other hand, for example, it is difficult to surpass the records of players who are ranked based on evaluations obtained in a game environment where high evaluations are easily given, and the presentation of the rankings may reduce the motivation of other players. Also, as described above, it is difficult for some players, such as beginners, to obtain rewards for high rankings, making it difficult for them to obtain an interest experience based on the elements.

[0050] For this reason, the game system of this embodiment is configured to manage the following two types of evaluation information that evaluates the game play status of each player, and to present evaluations based on these evaluation information, in order to realize reward awarding in a manner that is suitable for both players who have been using the game device 100 for a long time and players who have not.

[0051] One type of evaluation information is rank information included in the evaluation information 323 of the player information as the first evaluation information according to the present invention. The rank information indicates an evaluation related to a constant goal to be achieved in the use of the game device 100, and is evaluation information that is likely to give a favorable evaluation to a player who has been using the game device 100 for a long time in particular. The rank information is evaluation information in which the evaluation improves according to the number of times the game device 100 has been used, and in one aspect, for example, may be the level of a player that progresses according to experience points acquired each time a competitive game is played or achievements achieved. In other words, the rank information corresponds to an absolute evaluation that is determined based on the playing history of each player in a competitive game, regardless of other players.

[0052] Another type of evaluation information is ranking information included in the evaluation information 323 of the player information as the second evaluation information according to the present invention. The ranking information indicates an evaluation for each season of a game in which the same play experience is provided by the game device 100, and is evaluation information that can be appropriately evaluated even by a player who has not used the game device 100 for a long time. The ranking information is evaluation information evaluated according to the results of the match games played in the corresponding season, and in one embodiment, for example, may be the ranking of a player among all players who have played in the same season (the higher the score, the higher the evaluation), which is determined according to the magnitude of an evaluation value (score) determined by the total amount of damage inflicted in playing one match game or the time required to achieve a victory condition, etc. In other words, the ranking information is a relative evaluation determined based on the play history of match games of multiple players, which is determined between other players according to the evaluation value during the season. Therefore, the ranking information is configured to include information on the ranking of players during the season and information on the evaluation value that is the standard for determining the ranking.

[0053] The rank information and ranking information may be transmitted from the server 200 to the game device 100 when the game device 100 and the server 200 are communicatively connected, and may be configured to be displayable, for example, during a service provision period when a competitive game is being played on the game device 100, or when the game device 100 has been started up and is in a standby state.

[0054] Here, since the ranking information is information that is collected (evaluated) and stored for each season, when the next season begins after the lapse of one season, the ranking information for the season that has passed is not stored. More specifically, in the game system of this embodiment, at the timing when a competitive game related to a new season is executed on the game device 100, the server 200 discards or initializes the ranking information of the past season, and all the game devices 100 are controlled so that the ranking display related to the ranking information of the past season is disabled. As a result, the server 200 reconstructs and stores the ranking information based on the play contents of the competitive game related to the new season, so that even a player who has little experience using the game device 100 can appropriately evaluate the ranking information.

[0055] In other words, the player information managed by the server 200 is controlled so that it retains rank information regardless of the season, that is, even if the season changes, but does not retain ranking information related to the season after the target period of the season has elapsed. In the server 200 of this embodiment, after the target period of the season has elapsed, the ranking information related to the player information of all players is reset to its initial state, thereby controlling the server 200 to a state where it does not retain ranking information.

[0056] For example, in order to avoid a situation in which a player who owns many game cards associated with game elements that give an advantage in a competitive game is likely to obtain good results in the competitive game even after the season is changed, the concept of a cost limit may be introduced into the registration of game elements used in the competitive game (used game elements) to reduce the performance difference of the used game elements between players. That is, in a specification in which an upper limit is set on the total cost of the used game elements, a high cost may be assigned to a game element having a parameter that makes the competitive game proceed advantageously, so that the balance between players can be maintained. Alternatively, the competitive game may be configured so that a compatible strategy differs for each season, or the method of deriving an evaluation value related to the ranking information may be changed, so that fairness between players is ensured by adjusting the game elements to be used other than those that were effective in the previous season.

[0057] Granting of Rewards In the game system of this embodiment, a reward is given to each player based on the rank information and ranking information. The reward may be a game element that can be used in a battle game, such as a title or an item, and may be configured to be associated with a player at a predetermined timing based on each evaluation information in the server 200 and to be usable the next time the player uses the game device 100.

[0058] Here, the rank reward granted based on rank information as a first type of reward according to the present invention and the ranking reward granted based on ranking information as a second type of reward according to the present invention may be differentiated in the following respects.

[0059] First, the rank reward and the ranking reward may be given at different times. More specifically, the rank reward is given every time the player level increases or every time the player level exceeds a certain multiple, and is given unconditionally as the player repeats game play. On the other hand, the ranking reward is given at the timing of the change of seasons, and the process of giving the ranking reward is executed before the process of making the ranking information related to the corresponding season (the season before the change) into a state of not being held, and the ranking reward is given only to the players who are the recipients of the reward among all the corresponding players, for example, the top 1000 players.

[0060] The rank reward and the ranking reward may be different in the type of game element to be awarded. More specifically, since the conditions for awarding the ranking reward are set more restrictively than those for the rank information, the ranking reward may be controlled to be a game element that is more valuable in a competitive game than the rank reward.

[0061] Here, in consideration of the fact that the conditions for granting the ranking reward are limited, in order to ensure fairness among players, the ranking reward may be the same regardless of the season. In other words, even if a player fails to obtain a reward in one season, the player may be able to obtain a similar reward in another season. On the other hand, the rank reward may be different for each season, from the viewpoint of providing a suitable and interesting experience to players who have been using the game device 100 for a long time and attracting players to the successively developed seasons.

[0062] Module configuration related to player evaluation and reward allocation A module configuration for realizing evaluation and reward provision for players who have played a competitive game on the game device 100 of the game system in the server 200 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a group of functional modules realized by the server control unit 201 or the management unit 206 as a result of the server 200 executing a program related to player evaluation and reward provision.

[0063] The rank evaluation module 501 is a functional module that generates or updates rank information for a player based on the play details of a competitive game executed on the game device 100. More specifically, when a player plays a competitive game related to a person-to-person battle for the first time, the rank evaluation module 501 generates new rank information based on the play details and adds the rank information to the evaluation information 323 of the player information managed in the player DB 204 for the player. In addition, when a competitive game related to a person-to-person battle is played for a player for whom rank information has already been generated, the rank evaluation module 501 updates the rank information for the player based on the play details.

[0064] The ranking evaluation module 502 is a functional module that generates or updates ranking information for a player based on the play details of a competitive game executed on the game device 100. More specifically, when a player plays a competitive game related to a PvP battle for the first time, the ranking evaluation module 502 derives an evaluation value for the current season based on the play details. The ranking evaluation module 502 then compares the evaluation values ​​of other players related to the current season to determine the ranking of the player, generates new ranking information, and adds the ranking information to the evaluation information 323 of the player information managed in the player DB 204 for the player. The ranking evaluation module 502 also derives an evaluation value for the current season based on the play details when a competitive game related to a PvP battle is played for a player for whom ranking information has already been generated. When the derived evaluation value exceeds the evaluation value for the current season held in the ranking information for the player, the ranking evaluation module 502 similarly compares the evaluation value with the evaluation values ​​of other players to determine the ranking of the player, and updates the ranking information.

[0065] The ranking evaluation module 502 also performs processing for initializing ranking information when a season changes.

[0066] In this embodiment, in order to simplify understanding of the invention, the ranking evaluation module 502 is described as generating or updating ranking information when receiving the play results of an executed competitive game, but since a change in ranking also includes a change in ranking information related to other players, the generation and update of ranking information may be performed collectively for the play results of a plurality of competitive games at a predetermined time interval. In this case, the ranking display related to the current season performed after the execution of a competitive game may show a provisional ranking based on the evaluation value distribution in the most recent update.

[0067] The awarding module 503 is a functional module that refers to rank information or ranking information at a predetermined reward awarding timing and awards a reward (rank reward or ranking reward) to the relevant player. More specifically, when a predetermined reward awarding timing is reached, the awarding module 503 determines a reward to be awarded based on rank information or ranking information, and adds identification information of the reward to the reward information 315 of the player information managed in the player DB 204 for the relevant player, thereby realizing the awarding of the reward. Here, the reward information included in the reward information 315 is presented to the player via the display unit 120 of the game device 100 at the time of the next game play that is performed by identifying the player, and is configured to be available to the player.

[0068] The control module 504 is a functional module that controls the operation of the rank evaluation module 501, the ranking evaluation module 502, and the assignment module 503 in relation to player evaluation and reward assignment. More specifically, the control module 504 causes the rank evaluation module 501 and the ranking evaluation module 502 to execute corresponding processes in response to receiving a play result of a battle game related to a human-to-human battle executed in the game device 100. The control module 504 also refers to the rank information after the execution of the process by the rank evaluation module 501, and causes the assignment module 503 to execute a process related to the assignment of a rank reward when a condition for assigning a rank reward is satisfied. The control module 504 also causes the assignment module 503 to execute a process related to the assignment of a ranking reward at the timing of a change in season, and then causes the ranking evaluation module 502 to execute a process for resetting the ranking information to an initial state, on the condition that the assignment is completed.

[0069] Evaluation Process Hereinafter, the evaluation process for evaluating players and granting rewards in the server 200 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 6. The process corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the server control unit 201 reading out a corresponding processing program stored in the server recording medium 202, for example, and deploying it in the server memory 203 for execution. More specifically, by executing this evaluation process, the server control unit 201 and the management unit 206 can realize each of the functional modules shown in Fig. 5 and perform the following processes. Note that this evaluation process will be described as being started, for example, when the server 200 is started.

[0070] In S601, the control module 504 judges whether or not the play result of the competitive game related to the human-to-human battle has been received. If the control module 504 judges that the play result of the competitive game related to the human-to-human battle has been received, the process proceeds to S602, and if the control module 504 judges that the play result has not been received, the process proceeds to S606.

[0071] In S602, under the control of the control module 504, the rank evaluation module 501 generates or updates rank information of the relevant player (target player) based on the received play result (play details) of the competitive game.

[0072] In S603, the control module 504 judges whether or not the condition for granting a rank reward is satisfied as a result of the processing in S602. If the control module 504 judges that the condition for granting a rank reward is satisfied, the process proceeds to S604, and if the control module 504 judges that the condition for granting a rank reward is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S605.

[0073] In S604, the awarding module 503, under the control of the control module 504, awards the rank reward to the target player.

[0074] In S605, the ranking evaluation module 502 generates or updates ranking information of the target player based on the received play results of the competitive game under the control of the control module 504. More specifically, the ranking evaluation module 502 derives an evaluation value for the current season of the target player based on the play results of the competitive game, and controls whether or not to perform a process of generating or updating ranking information based on the evaluation value. The ranking evaluation module 502 also updates ranking information for other players as necessary.

[0075] In S606, the control module 504 judges whether or not the timing for the season change has arrived. If the control module 504 judges that the timing for the season change has arrived, the process proceeds to S607, and if the control module 504 judges that the timing for the season change has not arrived, the process returns to S601.

[0076] In S607, the awarding module 503, under the control of the control module 504, refers to the ranking information of all players who played competitive games related to interpersonal matches in the ended season, and awards ranking rewards to the relevant players.

[0077] In S608, the ranking evaluation module 502, under the control of the control module 504, performs processing to initialize the ranking information managed for all players.

[0078] In this way, it is possible to realize evaluation and reward provision that ensures fairness among players, regardless of the length of time that the game device 100 has been used.

[0079] In this embodiment, as a mode that ensures fairness, evaluation and rewards are given according to the fact that a competitive game involving human-versus-CPU battles has been played. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in a mode that does not have a human-versus-CPU element or in a mode in which evaluation is different for human-versus-CPU battles and CPU-versus-CPU battles, the present invention can be applied to CPU-versus-CPU battles.

[0080] [Variations] In the above embodiment, while the ranking information is held regardless of the season, the ranking information related to the season is not held after the target period of the season has elapsed, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be implemented by holding the ranking information related to each season, but controlling the ranking information related to the season to be unavailable for processing after the target period of the season has elapsed so that the ranking information related to the season is not displayed or rewards are not given based on the ranking information related to the season.

[0081] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The game system according to the present invention can also be realized by a program that causes one or more computers to function as the game system. The program can be provided / distributed by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium or through an electric communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 100: game device, 101: control unit, 102: recording medium, 103: memory, 104: payment detection unit, 105: acquisition unit, 106: element DB, 107: presentation control unit, 120: display unit, 108: provision control unit, 130: first provision unit, 140: second provision unit, 150: third provision unit, 109: operation input unit, 110: communication unit, 200: server, 201: server control unit, 202: server recording medium, 203: server memory, 204: player DB, 205: matching processing unit, 206: management unit, 207: server communication unit, 300: network, 501: rank evaluation module, 502: ranking evaluation module, 503: grant module, 504: control module

Claims

1. An execution means for executing at least a part of a game that differs for each predetermined period; a management means for managing evaluation information that evaluates a play situation of the game for each player, the management means generating or updating the evaluation information of the corresponding player based on the play content of the game executed by the execution means; a control means for controlling management of the evaluation information by the management means; a rewarding means for rewarding each player based on the evaluation information; Equipped with the evaluation information includes a level of a player as first evaluation information and a ranking of the player as second evaluation information; the granting means grants rewards of different types, each having a different value in the game, for the first evaluation information and the second evaluation information, Each time the first evaluation information changes, a first type of reward is granted based on the first evaluation information; At a timing when the predetermined period is changed, a second type of reward having a higher value in the game than the first type of reward is awarded based on the second evaluation information; The first type of remuneration is different for each of the predetermined periods, The second type of remuneration is the same regardless of the predetermined period; The control means controls the management means so as not to retain the second evaluation information relating to any one of the predetermined periods after the period has elapsed.

2. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the management means so as to reset the second evaluation information to an initial state after a lapse of an arbitrary period of time.

3. The game system according to claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the management means so as to make the second evaluation information relating to a given period of time unavailable after the period has elapsed.

4. the first evaluation information is an absolute evaluation determined based on a game play history of the player, 4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the second evaluation information is a relative evaluation determined based on game play histories of a plurality of players.

5. The game is a competitive game including a CPU versus human versus human battle, 5. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the management means generates or updates the first evaluation information and the second evaluation information in accordance with a result of a competitive game played in the human-to-human competition.

6. 6. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the games that are different for each predetermined period are games of the same type having common content that includes game elements that appear in common.

7. 7. The game system according to claim 1, wherein each of the predetermined periods defines the same time length.

8. A server configured to be able to communicate with a game device that executes at least a part of a game that differs for each predetermined period, a management means for managing evaluation information that evaluates a play situation of the game for each player, the management means generating or updating the evaluation information of the corresponding player based on the play content of the executed game; a control means for controlling management of the evaluation information by the management means; a rewarding means for rewarding each player based on the evaluation information; Equipped with the evaluation information includes a level of a player as first evaluation information and a ranking of the player as second evaluation information; the granting means grants rewards of different types, each having a different value in the game, for the first evaluation information and the second evaluation information, Each time the first evaluation information changes, a first type of reward is granted based on the first evaluation information; At a timing when the predetermined period is changed, a second type of reward having a higher value in the game than the first type of reward is awarded based on the second evaluation information; The first type of remuneration is different for each of the predetermined periods, The second type of remuneration is the same regardless of the predetermined period; The control means controls the management means so as not to hold the second evaluation information relating to any one of the predetermined periods after the period has elapsed.

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