Game program, game device, game system

Abstract

To provide a game program capable of increasing fun.SOLUTION: A game program allows a control section 56 to function as first imparting means 564, predicting means 563, and display control means 569. The predicting means 563 determines whether to previously notice a special inhabitant character is imparted to a user before execution of a puzzle game when a puzzle game G1 is progressed until a clearing condition is satisfied. When execution of previously notice is determined by the noticing means 563, the display control means 569 displays a noticing screen for performing notice before execution of a first game. The first imparting means 564 imparts a first game medium to the user when the first game is executed after execution of noticing and a predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In the game described in Patent Document 1, a user can consume a predetermined consumable item to cause a selected character to appear in a specific area within the virtual game space for a predetermined period of time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-076189 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The game described in Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement in terms of its entertainment value. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a game program, a game device, and a game system that can increase interest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The first aspect comprises a computer comprising: a first game execution means for executing a first game in a first virtual space; a second game execution means for executing a second game in a second virtual space; a first providing means for providing the user with first game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the first game; a second providing means for providing a user with second game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the second game; a notification means for determining, before execution of the first game, whether to notify the user that the first game medium will be provided to the user if the first game has progressed until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control means for displaying images of the second game medium and the first game medium in the second virtual space; The display control means when it is determined by said notification means to make said notification, a notification screen for making said notification is displayed before execution of said first game; The first providing means is the first game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is granted to the user, but if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is not granted to the user; If the first game is executed without the notice being given, the first game medium will not be granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game. It is a game program.

[0006] In a first aspect, the notice means Counting the number of times the notice has been made, and when the number of times the notice has been made reaches a predetermined upper limit, determining that the notice will no longer be made; The first providing means is When the first game for which the notification was made is executed and the first game ends without the specified progress condition being met, the number of times the notification was executed can be counted as if the notification had been executed without the first game medium being given to the user.

[0007] In a first aspect, the first game execution means When the first game for which the notification was made is executed and the first game ends without the predetermined progress condition being satisfied in the first game, the first game for which the notification was made is resumed on the condition that the user consumes the consumable medium associated with the user; The first providing means is If the specified progress condition is met in the first game after the first game for which the notice was given is resumed, the first game medium can be granted to the user.

[0008] In a first aspect, the notice means Whether or not to make the notice can be determined based on the difficulty level of the first game. In a first aspect, the notice means Whether or not to make the advance notice can be determined based on the user's play history of the first game and the difficulty level of the first game.

[0009] In a first aspect, the notice means determining, at the time of the notice, whether or not to encourage the user to consume consumable media that can enable the user to advance in the first game advantageously, based on at least one of the user's play history of the first game and the difficulty level of the game; The display control means When the notification means determines to prompt the user to consume the consumable medium, a display for prompting the user to consume the consumable medium can be displayed on the notification screen.

[0010] In the first aspect, when the notice is a first notice and the notice screen is a first notice screen, The notice means is If it is determined that the first notice will be made before the execution of the first game, determining whether or not there is a first game medium that can be granted to the user when the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game; If it is determined that the first game medium does not exist, instead of the first notice, a second notice will be made to grant the user second game medium that will enable the user to progress in the first game advantageously when a predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game; The display control means When the notification means determines that the second notification will be made, a second notification screen for making the second notification can be displayed before the first game is executed.

[0011] In a first aspect, the first game medium can perform actions associated with the second game medium in the second virtual space. In a first aspect, the first game content is movably disposed in the second virtual space; The second game medium can be fixedly positioned in the second virtual space.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention provides a game system including: a first game execution unit that executes a first game in a first virtual space; a second game execution unit that executes a second game in the second virtual space; a first granting unit that grants the user first game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the first game; a second providing unit that provides a user with second game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the second game; a notification unit that determines, before execution of the first game, whether to notify the user that the first game medium will be provided to the user if the first game has progressed until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control unit that displays images of the second game medium and the first game medium in the second virtual space; The display control unit when the notification unit determines to make the notification, a notification screen for making the notification is displayed before the first game is executed; The first providing unit is the first game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is granted to the user, but if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is not granted to the user; If the first game is executed without the notice being given, the first game medium will not be granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game. It is a game device.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a game system including: a first game execution unit that executes a first game in a first virtual space; a second game execution unit that executes a second game in the second virtual space; a first granting unit that grants the user first game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the first game; a second providing unit that provides a user with second game content that can be placed in the second virtual space in accordance with the progress of the second game; a notification unit that determines, before execution of the first game, whether to notify the user that the first game medium will be provided to the user if the first game has progressed until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control unit that displays images of the second game medium and the first game medium in the second virtual space; The display control unit when the notification unit determines to make the notification, a notification screen for making the notification is displayed before the first game is executed; The first providing unit is the first game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is granted to the user, but if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the first game, the first game medium is not granted to the user; If the first game is executed without the notice being given, the first game medium will not be granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the first game. It is a game system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a game program, a game device, and a game system that can increase interest. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overview of a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process executed by a notice means of the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a lottery list of special resident characters in an embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lottery list of special resident characters in an embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram used when a character is selected by a second game executing means of the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the game system of the embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is an example of a screen displayed on a display during a game according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [Embodiment] An embodiment of a game system 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. <Game system explanation> In the game system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a server device 2 and a plurality of game devices 5 are connected to each other via a communication network 6 so that they can communicate with each other, and a game is executed on the game devices 5.

[0017] The game of this embodiment is an online game executed on the game system 1, and is composed of a combination of a puzzle game in which pieces placed on a puzzle board are eliminated and a simulation game in which a virtual game space can be developed. Such games are played using a game device 5, which is a home game console such as a PlayStation (registered trademark), a portable game console such as a Nintendo Switch (registered trademark), or an electronic device such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet. In the following, a case where the game device 5 is a smartphone will be exemplified.

[0018] <Game System Overview> The game system 1 is made up of a server device 2 and a plurality of game devices 5. The server device 2 stores game programs and game data, and manages the game data of the game devices 5, more specifically, manages the game data for each account.

[0019] The game device 5 executes a game based on user operations. To this end, the game device 5 receives, specifically downloads and installs, a game program and game data from the server device 2 via the communication network 6. Each user is assigned account information, including identification information and a password, in association with the game device 5. This account information is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2 at the time of login, and is used for user authentication on the server device 2.

[0020] After user authentication, the server device 2 and the game device 5 can communicate with each other. After logging in, the game device 5 receives data necessary for the game progress, such as data related to the game progress status, from the server device 2, and then progresses the game while outputting game images and sounds based on the user's operations.

[0021] <Game Overview> Next, an overview of the game will be described. In the game system 1 of this embodiment, the user can operate the game device 5 to select and play either the puzzle game G1 or the simulation game G2.

[0022] In the puzzle game G1, for example, players must match a predetermined number of pieces of the same color on a puzzle board to eliminate them from a series of multicolored pieces that appear one after another on the game screen. In this embodiment, the virtual game space in which the puzzle game G1 can be played, specifically the virtual game space in which the puzzle board is displayed, corresponds to the first virtual space. The puzzle game G1 includes multiple pre-prepared quests. Each quest has a different puzzle board and a clearing condition that must be met on that puzzle board. Clearing conditions include, for example, clearing a predetermined number of pieces within a predetermined time from the start of the puzzle game G1, clearing a specific piece, or achieving a score equal to or greater than a predetermined value at the end of the puzzle game G1. When a user operates the game device 5 to play the puzzle game G1 corresponding to a predetermined quest and achieves the clearing condition corresponding to that quest, the user is granted a predetermined reward, including game content. The game content is electronic data representing game elements. Hereinafter, the reward granted to the user for a quest is referred to as a "quest reward." The game media included in the quest rewards include game media corresponding to the puzzle game G1 and game media corresponding to the simulation game G2.

[0023] The game media corresponding to the puzzle game G1 include consumable media that can be used in the puzzle game G1. These consumable media are, for example, consumable items that can be used to advance the puzzle game G1 advantageously. Such consumable items include pre-game consumable items that can be selected for use before starting the puzzle game G1, and in-game consumable items that can be used while playing the puzzle game G1.

[0024] The game media corresponding to the simulation game G2 includes, for example, progress items necessary to progress through the simulation game G2, non-player characters that can be placed in the simulation game G2, and the like. The simulation game G2 develops the virtual game space by, for example, placing game objects such as buildings in the virtual game space and increasing the number of non-player characters (resident characters) that exist in the virtual game space. Hereinafter, the virtual game space in which the simulation game G2 is executed is also referred to as the "simulation game space." In this embodiment, the simulation game space corresponds to the second virtual game space.

[0025] In the simulation game space, a resident character C10, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, is placed. When the user operates the game device 5 to select the resident character C10, the user can accept a task from the resident character C10. The user can complete the tasks of the resident character C10 by consuming progress items acquired in the puzzle game G1. When the user consumes multiple progress items and completes all of the tasks requested by the resident character C10, a building corresponding to the resident character C10 is newly placed in the simulation game space. Furthermore, each time a new building is placed in the simulation game space, a new resident character appears in the simulation game space.

[0026] Therefore, in the game of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, you can play the puzzle game G1 to obtain progress items, and then consume those progress items in the simulation game G2 to increase the number of buildings and resident characters in the simulation game space and enjoy the development of the simulation game space.

[0027] Note that resident characters granted to users as quest rewards for the puzzle game G1 described above are also placed in the simulation game space. These resident characters are special characters that are granted to users as quest rewards for the puzzle game G1 with a predetermined probability, and therefore will be referred to below as "special resident characters." In contrast, resident characters that appear by placing buildings in the simulation game space are characters that users can easily obtain as they progress through the simulation game G2, and therefore will be referred to below as "normal resident characters." Furthermore, special resident characters and normal resident characters will be collectively referred to as "resident characters."

[0028] The simulation game space is divided into multiple island areas. In the simulation game G2, for example, in the initial state, only the first island area is open, and the other island areas are not. In this state, when the first island area is developed to a predetermined condition by, for example, placing multiple buildings in the first island area or increasing the number of resident characters in the first island area to a predetermined number, the next island area, the second island area, is opened. This allows the user to accept new tasks from the resident characters in the second island area, and by completing these tasks, the second island area can be further developed. By developing the opened island area, multiple island areas can be sequentially developed. The user can move between the multiple opened island areas by operating the game device 5. The user can watch the development of the simulation game space by moving between the opened island areas and viewing the buildings and resident characters placed in each world.

[0029] Users can obtain game media such as various items that can be used in the puzzle game G1 and the simulation game G2 by completing the quests mentioned above, as well as by purchasing them for a fee or by a lottery method called gacha. Gacha is a method of randomly selecting game media, such as items, based on a predetermined selection ratio. The randomly selected game media is then awarded to the user. Game media consumed to play gacha include, for example, "paid stones," which are paid game media awarded to users through a payment operation, and "free stones," which are free game media awarded to users through gameplay. Free stones can be obtained, for example, as quest rewards in the puzzle game G1.

[0030] Note that "granting game content to a user" is synonymous with "associating the game content with identification information identifying the user." Furthermore, "a user owns the game content" is synonymous with "the game content is associated with identification information identifying the user." Users can acquire various game content by consuming paid stones or unpaid stones. Game content that can be acquired by consuming paid stones includes the above-mentioned progress items, as well as game content that can be used in the puzzle game G1 and the simulation game G2. Furthermore, even if a user fails to meet the clearing conditions when completing a quest in the puzzle game G1, they can retry the quest by consuming paid stones or unpaid stones.

[0031] <Game system configuration> The hardware configuration of each of the server device 2 and the game device 5 will be specifically described below with reference to Fig. 1. Note that each of the multiple game devices 5 has the same configuration.

[0032] <Configuration of server device 2> 1, the server device 2 includes a network interface 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The network interface 21 and the storage unit 22 are electrically connected to the control unit 23 via a bus 29.

[0033] The network interface 21 is communicably connected to each game device 5 via a communication network 6 such as the Internet or a LAN. The storage unit 22 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. The storage unit 22 stores various programs including a part of the game program of this embodiment, as well as various data such as a user DB (Data Base) 221 and a lottery list DB 222.

[0034] The user DB 221 stores, for each user's identification number, user information, game media assigned to the user, and consumable media usable in each virtual game space, in association with each other. The user information includes information such as the user's name. The game media assigned to the user include buildings and special resident characters that can be placed in the simulation game space. The consumable media usable in each virtual game space include consumable items usable in the puzzle game G1 and evolution items usable in the simulation game G2.

[0035] The control unit 23 is configured with a microcomputer having a CPU and a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the server device 2. The control unit 23 executes various programs to function as information processing means 231, collating means 232, and lottery execution means 233. These means 231 to 233 correspond to an information processing unit, a collating unit, and a lottery execution unit, respectively.

[0036] (Information processing means) The information processing means 231 transmits and receives various data to and from each game device 5. Main data received by the information processing means 231 includes download request information for a game program, a gacha lottery request in response to a user operation, account information, game data, etc. Main data transmitted by the information processing means 231 includes information for confirming that the game device 5 has received the game program, information regarding game content obtained through gacha, etc.

[0037] (Means of verification) The verification means 232 uses the user identification information received from the game device 5 to authenticate the user's account. (Lottery execution means) The lottery execution means 233 executes a lottery process in which at least one game medium from among a plurality of game media eligible for lottery is associated with a user through a lottery in response to a gacha execution request, which is a lottery request from the user. Specifically, when a user performs an operation to execute a gacha on the game device 5, a gacha execution request is transmitted from the game device 5 to the server device 2. In response to this gacha execution request, the lottery execution means 233 selects at least one game medium from among the plurality of game media eligible for lottery by lottery based on the winning probability of each game medium from the lottery list. The lottery execution means 233 associates information about the selected game medium with identification information of the user who performed the operation that transmitted the lottery request. As a result, the user is awarded the game medium that they won by drawing the gacha themselves.

[0038] <Game Device Configuration> The game device 5 has a display 61, a speaker 62, and a touchpad 63 either externally connected or built-in. The game device 5 also has a network interface 51, a graphics processing unit 52, an audio processing unit 53, an operation unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56. The network interface 51, the graphics processing unit 52, the audio processing unit 53, the operation unit 54, and the storage unit 55 are electrically connected to the control unit 56 via a bus 59.

[0039] The network interface 51 is communicably connected to a communication network 6 for transmitting and receiving various data between the game device 5 and the server device 2. The graphics processing unit 52 renders game images in a moving image format based on game image information output from the control unit 56. The game images include characters and various objects related to the virtual game space. The graphics processing unit 52 is connected to, for example, a liquid crystal display 61, and displays the game images rendered in a moving image format on the display 61 as a game screen.

[0040] The audio processing unit 53 is connected to a speaker 62 , and reproduces and synthesizes game sounds based on instructions from the control unit 56 , and outputs the game sounds from the speaker 62 . The operation unit 54 is connected to the touchpad 63, and transmits and receives data related to operations and inputs to and from the touchpad 63. The user can input operation signals to the game device 5 by touching the touchpad 63.

[0041] The storage unit 55 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, a RAM, a ROM, etc. The storage unit 55 stores game data downloaded from the server device 2, various programs including a part of the game program, account information of the game device 5, etc. The control unit 56 is configured by a microcomputer having a CPU and semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the game device 5. The control unit 56 executes various programs to function as a communication means 561, a first game execution means 562, a notice means 563, a first awarding means 564, a second game execution means 565, a second awarding means 566, a lottery reception means 567, an audio control means 568, and a display control means 569. These means 561 to 569 correspond to the communication unit, first game execution unit, notice means, first awarding means, second game execution unit, second awarding means, lottery reception means, audio control unit, and display control unit, respectively.

[0042] (Means of communication) The communication means 561 communicates with the server device 2 via the network interface 51 . The communication means 561 generates information that can be grasped by the server device 2 based on various operation signals received by the operation unit 54 from the touchpad 63, and transmits the information to the server device 2. For example, the communication means 561 transmits account information, download request information for new game data, a gacha execution request, and the like to the server device 2. The communication means 561 also receives, from the server device 2, new game data transmitted from the server device 2 in response to the download request information, information regarding the game media selected by the lottery process, and the like.

[0043] (First game execution means) The first game executing means 562 executes the puzzle game G1 based on the operation of the touchpad 63 by the user. For example, when the puzzle game G1 is started based on a user's operation of the touchpad 63, the first game executing means 562 reads data included in the game data, such as objects and textures of a virtual game space corresponding to the puzzle game G1, from the storage unit 55 or receives it from the server device 2. The first game executing means 562 generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional game image information while executing the game program for the puzzle game G1 using the data, such as objects and textures of the virtual game space corresponding to the puzzle game G1. The game image information is processed by the graphics processing unit 52, and the processed game images are sequentially displayed on the display 61.

[0044] When the user performs an operation on the touchpad 63 to select a predetermined quest from among a plurality of quests provided in the puzzle game G1, the first game executing means 562 starts the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the predetermined quest. The first game executing means 562 progresses the puzzle game G1 based on the user's operation on the touchpad 63. For example, when a piece on the puzzle board satisfies a predetermined removal condition based on the user's operation on the touchpad 63, the first game executing means 562 removes the piece that satisfied the removal condition from the puzzle board and causes a new piece to appear on the puzzle board.

[0045] If the user selects to use a pre-game consumable item by operating the touchpad 63 before starting the puzzle game G1, the first game execution means 562 starts the puzzle game G1 with the consumable item appearing on the puzzle board, for example. In this case, the first game execution means 562 activates the effect of the consumable item when erasing pieces including the pre-game consumable item in the puzzle game G1. The effect that is activated at this time may be, for example, an effect of erasing all pieces within a predetermined range including the consumable item, and the predetermined range may be an effect of erasing all pieces arranged in the same row or column as the consumable item. Alternatively, the puzzle game G1 may be started after activating an effect of causing a predetermined number of pieces of a predetermined type to appear on the initial puzzle board or erasing a predetermined number of pieces of a predetermined type. The puzzle game G1 may also be started after activating an effect of increasing the time limit or the number of turns, which is the number of times the user can operate pieces.

[0046] If the puzzle game G1 ends due to the time limit or number of turns set for the quest having elapsed and the clearing conditions for the quest have not been met, the first game execution means 562 accepts a so-called continue operation, in which the user consumes free stones or paid stones to try again from the state at which the puzzle game G1 ended. When the user performs the continue operation, the first game execution means 562 restarts the puzzle game G1 while maintaining the same puzzle board and score state as when the puzzle game G1 ended. Note that the game state when the quest is resumed may differ depending on whether the continue operation is performed by consuming free stones or paid stones. For example, the consumable medium may appear on the puzzle board at the time the puzzle game G1 ended.

[0047] (Means of Notice) The notification means 563 determines, with a predetermined probability, whether to notify the player of a quest reward before the puzzle game G1 starts. The quest reward to be notified includes a special resident character that appears in the simulation game G2. Hereinafter, the quest reward including the special resident character will be referred to as a "special reward."

[0048] The notice means 563 determines whether to give a notice by executing the process shown in Fig. 3. The process shown in Fig. 3 is executed after the user selects a predetermined quest and before the puzzle game G1 corresponding to that quest starts. As shown in Fig. 3, the notification means 563 first determines whether or not to make a notification by executing a lottery process or the like (step S10). If the notification means 563 determines not to make a notification (step S10: NO), it ends the process shown in Fig. 3. In this case, the puzzle game G1 starts without making a notification.

[0049] When it is decided to make a notice (step S10: YES), the notice means 563 determines whether the number of times N that a notice has been made for the predetermined quest has reached an upper limit value Nmax (step S11). The notice means 563 counts the number of times a notice of a special reward has been made, in association with each of multiple quests individually. The initial value of the number of times N that a notice has been made for each quest is set to "0". The upper limit value Nmax is set to "1", for example. Therefore, when making a notice for the first time, the notice means 563 makes a negative determination in the processing of step S11 (step S11: NO), and determines whether a special resident character exists that can be given to the user as a special reward (step S12).

[0050] Specifically, the notice means 563 determines a special resident character to be awarded as a special reward using a lottery list La as shown in FIG. 4(A). The lottery list La is stored in the storage unit 55 of the game device 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(A), a plurality of special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 are registered in advance in the lottery list La. This lottery list La is used to determine special rewards for a plurality of quests Q11, Q12, Q13, etc. in the puzzle game G1. For the other quests Q21, Q22, Q23, etc. in the puzzle game G1, another lottery list Lb as shown in FIG. 4(B) is used. The other lottery list Lb registers special resident characters Cs21 to Cs24 that are different from the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 registered in the lottery list La shown in FIG. 4(A). In this way, in the puzzle game G1 of this embodiment, a plurality of lottery lists corresponding to special rewards are prepared in advance, and each lottery list is associated with a plurality of quests in the puzzle game G1.

[0051] Each lottery list may be associated with a respective one of the island areas provided in the simulation game space. For example, the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 registered in the lottery list La may be characters that appear only in the first island area of the simulation game space and not in any other island areas. Furthermore, the special resident characters Cs21 to Cs24 registered in the lottery list Lb may be characters that appear only in the second island area of the simulation game space and not in any other island areas.

[0052] 4(A), the notice means 563 selects, by lottery, one character from among the plurality of special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 registered in the lottery list La. Therefore, in this case, the probability that each of the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 will be selected as the special reward is 25%.

[0053] In the simulation game G2, because special resident characters are unique characters, once a special resident character is granted to a user as a special reward, it will not be granted to the user again. For example, if the special resident character Cs12 shown in FIG. 4(A) is granted to a user as a special reward for quest Q11, the special resident characters Cs11, Cs13, and Cs14 will be drawn from the lottery list La thereafter. In other words, the lottery list La will be the one shown in FIG. 5, with the special resident character Cs12 removed.

[0054] 4(A) or 5, the lottery list La includes at least one special resident character, and therefore there will be a special resident character that can be granted to the user as a special reward. In this case, the notification means 563 makes a positive determination in the processing of step S12 shown in Fig. 3 (step S12: YES), selects one special resident character from the lottery list La by lottery (step S13), and displays a notification screen on the display 61 notifying that a special reward including the selected special resident character will be granted to the user (step S14).

[0055] On the other hand, if the user plays multiple quests Q11, Q12, Q13, and so on and obtains special rewards as quest rewards for those quests, it is possible that all of the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 included in the lottery list La will be awarded to the user. In this case, there will be no special resident characters to be drawn from the lottery list La. In such a case, the notification means 563 makes a negative determination in the processing of step S12 shown in FIG. 3 (step S12: NO), and displays on the display 61 a notification screen notifying the user that a bonus reward will be awarded to the user, instead of the special reward notification screen (step S15). The bonus reward includes predetermined game media instead of a special resident character. The predetermined game media is, for example, a consumable item, such as a pre-game consumable item, which can be used to advantageously progress through the puzzle game G1.

[0056] When the notice means 563 executes the process of either step S15 or step S16, it increments the value of the number of times N of the notice of the quest to be started by "1" (step S17), and then ends the process shown in FIG. When the number of times N that a quest notice is executed increases by "1", even if the notice means 563 decides to issue a notice when the quest starts thereafter (step S10: YES), the number of times N that the notice is executed has reached the upper limit value Nmax, so the notice means 563 makes a negative determination in the processing of step S11 (step S11: NO), and no notice is issued. Thus, in the game system 1 of this embodiment, once a notice of a special reward or bonus reward has been issued for a specific quest, no notice is issued thereafter for that specific quest.

[0057] (First providing means) The first granting means 564 shown in FIG. 1 grants a quest reward corresponding to a quest to the user when a clearing condition corresponding to the quest is achieved in the puzzle game G1.

[0058] For example, the first granting means 564 determines whether or not a clearing condition corresponding to a predetermined quest has been achieved when the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the quest is completed. If the clearing condition of the quest has been met when the puzzle game G1 is completed, the first granting means 564 grants the quest reward corresponding to the quest to the user.

[0059] Specifically, the first granting means 564 grants the user a normal reward as the quest reward when no notice has been given by the notice means 563. The normal reward includes progress items used in the simulation game G2. The first granting means 564 grants the special reward to the user as a quest reward when the special reward has been announced by the announcement means 563. The special reward includes a special resident character that appears in the simulation game G2 in addition to the normal reward.

[0060] When the notification means 563 notifies the user of a bonus reward, the first providing means 564 provides the user with a bonus reward as a quest reward. The bonus reward includes game media such as pre-game consumable items in addition to the regular reward. The bonus reward is equivalent to the special reward in which the special resident character is replaced with a predetermined game media.

[0061] On the other hand, if the clearing conditions for a quest have not been met when the puzzle game G1 ends, the first granting means 564 does not grant the user a quest reward corresponding to that quest. In this case, the puzzle game G1 corresponding to that quest is temporarily ended, but the user can re-attempt the puzzle game G1 corresponding to that quest by selecting the quest again. If the clearing conditions for the quest are met in the puzzle game G1 that the user has re-attempted, the first granting means 564 grants the user a quest reward corresponding to that quest.

[0062] If a user plays a puzzle game G1 corresponding to a special reward and fails to satisfy the clearing conditions of a quest in the puzzle game G1, the user can resume the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward by performing a continue operation, provided that the user consumes free stones or paid stones. If the clearing conditions of the quest are satisfied in the resumed puzzle game G1, the first granting means 564 grants the special reward to the user regardless of the number of times N that the quest notice has been executed. Therefore, by continuing the continue operation, the user can continue playing the puzzle game G1 from which a special reward can be obtained until the clearing conditions are satisfied.

[0063] The first granting means 564 determines that a quest has been cleared when the clearing conditions for the quest are satisfied and the user is granted one of the normal reward, special reward, and bonus reward as a quest reward. The user can also play the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the cleared quest. However, even if the clearing conditions for the quest are satisfied in the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the cleared quest, the first granting means 564 will grant the user only a portion of the quest reward. The quest reward includes a first-time clearing reward and a normal clearing reward, and only the normal clearing reward is granted when a cleared quest is cleared again.

[0064] (Second game execution means and second awarding means) The second game executing means 565 executes the simulation game G2 based on the operation of the touchpad 63 by the user. For example, when the second game executing means 565 starts a simulation game G2 based on a user's operation of the touchpad 63, the second game executing means 565 reads data included in the game data, such as objects and textures of a virtual game space corresponding to the simulation game G2, from the storage unit 55 or receives it from the server device 2. The second game executing means 565 generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional game image information while executing a game program for the simulation game G2 using the data, such as objects and textures of the virtual game space corresponding to the simulation game G2. The game image information is processed by the graphics processing unit 52, and the processed game images are sequentially displayed on the display 61.

[0065] The second game executing means 565 determines, based on the user's operation of the touchpad 63, an island area to be displayed on the display 61 from among a plurality of island areas provided in the simulation game space. At that time, the second game executing means 565 displays, on the display 61, a plurality of resident characters and buildings associated with the island area to be displayed.

[0066] Among the resident characters, there is a resident character C10 that requests a predetermined task. When the user operates the touchpad 63 to select this resident character C10, the second game execution means 565 determines that the user has accepted the task from the resident character C10. When the user performs an operation to consume a predetermined number of progress items acquired in the puzzle game G1 for this task, the second game execution means 565 determines that the task has been completed. In this case, the second game execution means 565 displays a building, which is a game object corresponding to the task, in the island area of the resident character C10 that provided the task. Therefore, as the user sequentially completes the tasks of multiple resident characters present in a predetermined island area, the number of buildings present in the predetermined island area increases.

[0067] The second game execution means 565 causes a new normal resident character to appear in the predetermined island area each time the number of buildings in the predetermined island area reaches a threshold value set in stages, or each time a building is constructed in the predetermined island area. Therefore, as the number of buildings in the predetermined island area increases, the number of normal resident characters in the predetermined island area increases.

[0068] On the other hand, there is an upper limit on the number of resident characters that can appear in one island area, so if the total number of normal resident characters and special resident characters that can appear in a given island area exceeds the upper limit, the second game execution means 565 determines by lottery which resident characters will appear in the given island area from among those normal resident characters and special resident characters.

[0069] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, assume that a plurality of normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb19 and special resident characters Cs11 to Cs14 are associated with the first island area. Of these, in FIG. 6, the normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb18 and the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs13, which are shown in white, indicate those that the user has acquired, while the normal resident character Cb19 and the special resident character Cs14, which are shown in dotted hatching, indicate those that the user has not acquired. In this case, the normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb18 and the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs13 are the characters that can appear in the first island area, and the total number of these characters is 11. In this case, if the upper limit of the number of characters that can appear in the first island area is set to 15, for example, the second game execution means 565 causes all of the normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb18 and the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs13 to appear in the first island area. On the other hand, for example, if the upper limit of the number of characters that can appear in the first island area is set to eight, the second game execution means 565 selects eight characters by lottery from among the normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb18 and the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs13, and causes the selected eight characters to appear in the first island area.

[0070] Note that the second game execution means 565 may preferentially select special resident characters when selecting characters to appear in a predetermined island area. For example, if the upper limit of the number of characters that can appear in the first island area is set to eight, the second game execution means 565 may determine that all of the special resident characters Cs11 to Cs13 will appear, and then select the remaining five characters from the normal resident characters Cb11 to Cb18.

[0071] (Lottery application method) When a user operates the touchpad 63 or the like to request the holding of a gacha, the lottery reception means 567 transmits a message to that effect to the server device 2. For example, when a user requests the holding of a gacha for a player character, the lottery reception means 567 transmits a message to that effect to the server device 2.

[0072] (Voice control means) The audio control means 568 controls the audio output of the speaker 62 based on the user's operation on the game device 5 during execution of the game. (Display control means) When a game is executed, the display control means 569 controls the display output of the display 61 based on the user's operation on the game device 5. For example, the display control means 569 displays on the display 61 a play screen of the puzzle game G1, a play screen of the simulation game G2, etc.

[0073] Next, examples of screens displayed on the display 61 by the display control means 569 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the user starts the game, the display control means 569 causes the display 61 to display a top screen 70 shown in Fig. 7. The top screen 70 is provided with a gacha button 701, a quest button 702, and an island button 703.

[0074] The gacha button 701 is a button for requesting the execution of a gacha by consuming paid stones or free stones. When the user operates the gacha button 701, paid stones or free stones associated with the user are consumed and a gacha is executed. The quest button 702 is a button for starting the puzzle game G1. When the user operates the quest button 702, the display control means 569 displays a quest selection screen 71 shown in Fig. 8 on the display 61. The quest selection screen 71 is provided with a name display area 711, a status display area 712, and challenge buttons 713a to 713c.

[0075] The name display area 711 displays the names of each of a plurality of quests that the user can play. The status display area 712 displays the status of each quest. As shown in FIG. 8, the statuses of a quest include "Cleared," "Retired," "First Time," and "Not Released." The "Cleared" status refers to a quest in which the puzzle game G1 has been cleared while satisfying the quest's clearing conditions, i.e., the user has been granted a quest reward. The "Retired" status refers to a quest in which the user has attempted the puzzle game G1, which grants a quest reward, at least once but has not yet satisfied the quest's clearing conditions; in other words, the user has not been granted a quest reward. The "First Time" status refers to a quest in which the corresponding puzzle game G1 has been unlocked but the user has never attempted it. The "Not Released" status refers to a quest in which the user has not yet satisfied the predetermined conditions for challenging the quest in the puzzle game G1. Each quest switches to the "First Time" status when the corresponding unlocking condition is satisfied in the puzzle game G1. Note that quests for which the above-mentioned notification has been executed a maximum number of times may be displayed in a way that distinguishes between quests for which the maximum number of times has not been reached and quests for which the maximum number of times has not been reached. For example, the display mode of the challenge button 713a for the completed quest Q11, which has already reached the upper limit, and the challenge button 713b for the quest Q12, which has been retired from, may be different from that of the other challenge buttons.

[0076] The challenge buttons 713a to 713c are buttons for challenging a quest. A plurality of challenge buttons 713a to 713c are provided, one for each quest. When the user operates, for example, the challenge button 713c of a quest corresponding to the "first time" state among the plurality of challenge buttons 713a to 713c, if the notification means 563 determines that no special reward will be notified, the puzzle game G1 starts as is. That is, the display control means 569 displays a game screen 73 as shown in FIG. 9 on the display 61. When the user plays the puzzle game G1 on the game screen 73 shown in FIG. 9 and meets the conditions for clearing the quest, the display control means 569 displays a reward screen 74 as shown in FIG. 10 on the display 61. As shown in FIG. 10, the reward screen 74 is provided with a reward display area 741 and a back button 742.

[0077] The content of the acquired quest reward is displayed in the reward display area 741. Figure 10 shows an example in which the quest reward is a free stone A11 and a progress item A12. The reward display area 741 also displays the number of each quest reward that has been granted. The back button 742 is a button for returning to the quest selection screen 71 shown in FIG.

[0078] On the other hand, when the user operates the challenge button 713c of the quest corresponding to the "first time" state, for example, among the multiple challenge buttons 713a to 713c, on the quest selection screen 71 shown in FIG. 8, if the notification means 563 determines that a special reward will be notified, the display control means 569 displays the notification screen 75 shown in FIG. 11 on the display 61.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 11, this notice screen 75 is provided with item selection buttons 751 and 752, a start button 753, a notification area 754, and an additional reward display area 755. The selection buttons 751 and 752 are provided to correspond to each of a plurality of pre-game consumable items. The selection buttons 751 and 752 are buttons for selecting whether or not to use the corresponding pre-game consumable item.

[0080] The start button 753 is a button for starting the puzzle game G1. When the user operates the start button 753, the puzzle game G1 starts, and the display control means 569 displays a game screen 73 as shown in FIG. 10 on the display 61. When the user plays the puzzle game G1 on the game screen 73 shown in FIG. 9 and meets the conditions for clearing the quest, the display control means 569 displays a reward screen 79 as shown in FIG. 12 on the display 61. As shown in FIG. 12, the reward screen 79 further includes an additional reward display area 791, as compared to the reward screen 74 shown in FIG. 10.

[0081] Image data, name, etc. of the special resident character included in the special reward are displayed in the additional reward display area 791. By looking at the additional reward display area 791, the user can recognize that they have acquired the special resident character. On the other hand, when the user plays the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward, if the conditions for clearing the quest are not met, the display control means 569 displays a continue screen 76 as shown in FIG.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 13, the continue screen 76 is provided with a reward display area 761, a continue button 762, and an end button 763. The reward display area 761 displays game content that the user cannot obtain if the player gives up on the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward without continuing. In FIG. 13 , the reward display area 761 displays pre-game consumable items A21, which are items that can be obtained while playing the puzzle game G1, and special resident characters A22 as game content that the player will no longer be able to obtain. The reward display area 761 also displays text containing information that notifies the user that the player will no longer be able to obtain the reward displayed in the reward display area 761 if the player gives up on the quest without continuing. The information may include information that, if the player gives up on the quest, the number of times the notification is executed will reach an upper limit, and the player will no longer be able to obtain the special resident character A22 even if the player attempts the quest again after giving up.

[0083] The continue button 762 is a button for continuing. When the user operates the continue button 762, free stones or paid stones are consumed and the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward is resumed. The free stones or paid stones are displayed on the continue button 762, so the user can recognize that free stones or paid stones will be consumed in conjunction with the continue operation.

[0084] The quit button 763 is a button to be operated when giving up on the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward without performing a continue operation. For example, if the upper limit of the number of special plays, which is the number of times the puzzle game G1 corresponding to the special reward can be played, is set to one, when the user operates the quit button 763, the special reward will no longer appear as a quest reward even if the same quest is executed thereafter.

[0085] On the other hand, when the user operates, for example, the challenge button 713c of the quest corresponding to the "first time" state among the multiple challenge buttons 713a to 713c on the quest selection screen 71 shown in Fig. 8, if the notification means 563 determines that a bonus reward will be notified, the display control means 569 displays the notification screen 77 shown in Fig. 14 on the display 61. As shown in Fig. 14, the notification screen 77, compared to the notification screen 75 shown in Fig. 11, has an additional reward display area 771 instead of the character display area 775. The additional reward display area 771 displays, using image data, that some game content can be acquired as a bonus reward.

[0086] After the user operates the start button 753 on the preview screen 77, when the user plays the puzzle game G1 and achieves the conditions for clearing the quest, the display control means 569 displays a reward screen 78 as shown in FIG. 15, compared to the reward screen 79 shown in Fig. 12, the reward screen 78 has an item display area 781 instead of the additional reward display area 791. The item display area 781 displays game media that can be obtained additionally as a bonus reward.

[0087] 7 is a button for starting the simulation game G2. After the user operates the island button 703 to start the simulation game G2, when the user performs an operation to select a resident character to request a task, the display control means 569 displays a task screen 80 as shown in FIG.

[0088] The task screen 80 is provided with a character display area 81, reward display areas 82a and 82b, and execution buttons 83a and 83b. In the character display area 81, image data of the resident character requesting the task is displayed.

[0089] The reward display areas 82a and 82b each display image data of a building that can be placed in an area on the simulation game G2 by completing the task of the resident character. The execute buttons 83a and 83b are buttons for completing tasks corresponding to each building. The execute buttons 83a and 83b display images of progress items required to complete the task, as well as the required number of progress items. For example, when the user operates the execute button 83b, the number of progress items displayed on the execute button 83b is consumed. Then, the display control means 569 displays the building corresponding to the execute button 83b in the area of the simulation game G2, as shown in FIG. 17. The display control means 569 also displays an effect in which the resident character associated with the task and other resident characters praise the user for progressing the simulation game G2 by placing the building.

[0090] <Operation flow of game system 1> Next, the flow of operations of the game system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, in the game system 1 of this embodiment, when one of the multiple challenge buttons 713 is operated on the quest selection screen 71 shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not to notify the user of a special reward (step S20). If it is determined not to notify the user of a special reward (step S20: NO), the puzzle game starts (step S21). Then, when the puzzle game G1 ends, it is determined whether or not the conditions for clearing the quest have been met (step S22). If the conditions for clearing the quest have been met (step S22: YES), the user is granted a normal reward (step S23), and the screen returns to the quest selection screen 71 (step S24). If the conditions for clearing the quest have not been met (step S22: NO), the user is not granted a reward, and the screen returns to the quest selection screen 71 (step S24).

[0091] On the other hand, if it is determined that a special reward should be announced (step S20: YES), a special reward or a bonus reward is announced (step S25). Specifically, if a special resident character that can be awarded to the user exists and the number of times the announcement has been made has not reached the upper limit Nmax, a special reward is announced. On the other hand, if a special resident character that can be awarded to the user does not exist, or if the number of times the announcement has been made has reached the upper limit Nmax, a bonus reward is announced. After the special reward or bonus reward is announced, the puzzle game G1 starts (step S26). Then, when the puzzle game G1 ends, it is determined whether the conditions for clearing the quest have been met (step S27). If the conditions for clearing the quest have been met (step S27: YES), the special reward or bonus reward is awarded to the user (step S28), and the process returns to the quest selection screen 71 (step S24).

[0092] On the other hand, if the conditions for clearing the quest have not been met (step S26: NO), a continue screen 76 is displayed on the display 61 of the game device 5 (step S29). It is determined whether the user has selected to continue on this continue screen 76 (step S30), and if the user has selected to continue (step S30: YES), the puzzle game G1 is resumed (step S26). If the user has not selected to continue (step S30: NO), the user is not given a reward and the screen returns to the quest selection screen 71 (step S24).

[0093] In summary, in the game system 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 56 (computer) of the game device 5 functions as a first game executing means 562, a first granting means 564, a notice means 563, a second game executing means 565, a second granting means 566, and a display control means 569. The first game executing means 562 executes a puzzle game G1 (first game) in a virtual game space (first virtual space). The second game executing means 565 executes a simulation game G2 (second game) in a simulation game space (second virtual space). The first granting means 564 grants the user a special resident character (first game media) that can be placed in the simulation game G2 in accordance with the progress of the puzzle game G1. The second granting means 566 grants the user a building (second game media) that can be placed in the simulation game space in accordance with the progress of the simulation game G2. The notification means 563 determines, before the puzzle game G1 is executed, whether to notify the user that a special resident character will be granted if the puzzle game G1 progresses until a clearing condition (a predetermined progress condition) is satisfied. The display control means 569 displays images of the building and the special resident character in the simulation game space. If the notification means 563 determines to make a notification, the display control means 569 displays a notification screen 75 (first notification screen) that notifies the user of a special reward (first notification) before the puzzle game G1 is executed. The first granting means 564 grants the user a special resident character if the clearing condition is satisfied in the puzzle game G1 after the special reward notification has been made, but does not grant the user a special resident character if the clearing condition is not satisfied in the puzzle game G1. If the puzzle game G1 is executed without any advance notice of the special reward, specifically if the puzzle game G1 is executed with the quest reward set to the normal reward, the first granting means 564 will not grant the special resident character to the user regardless of whether the clear conditions for the puzzle game G1 are met.

[0094] <Effects> According to the configuration of the game system 1 of the above embodiment, when a user plays the puzzle game G1, there are cases where a special resident character is awarded as a quest reward and cases where a special resident character is not awarded, which increases the user's motivation to play the puzzle game G1, thereby increasing the interest of the game.

[0095] In the game system 1 of the above embodiment, the notification means 563 counts the number of times a special reward has been notified, and when the number of times N of the special reward notifications has been executed reaches a predetermined upper limit value Nmax, determines that no more notifications will be made. When a puzzle game G1 in which a special reward has been notified is executed and the puzzle game G1 ends without the clearing conditions being satisfied in the puzzle game G1, the first granting means 564 counts the number of times N of the notifications as if a special reward had been notified, without granting the special resident character to the user.

[0096] According to this configuration, it is possible to set a limit on the number of times that a puzzle game G1 in which a special reward has been announced can be played, thereby further increasing the user's motivation to play the puzzle game G1 when a special reward has been announced. The first game execution means 562 resumes the puzzle game G1 in which the special reward has been announced, on the condition that the user consumes the consumable medium associated with the user, when the puzzle game G1 in which the special reward has been announced is executed and the puzzle game G1 ends without the clearing condition being satisfied. The first granting means 564 grants the special resident character to the user, when the clearing condition is satisfied in the puzzle game G1 after the puzzle game G1 in which the special reward has been announced has started.

[0097] According to this configuration, even if the user fails to meet the clearing conditions for the puzzle game G1 for which a special reward has been announced, the user can be given an opportunity to resume the puzzle game G1, thereby increasing the user's chances of receiving a special reward.

[0098] When the notification means 563 determines to notify the user of a special reward before the puzzle game G1 is executed, it determines whether or not there is a special resident character in the puzzle game G1 that can be awarded to the user when the clearing conditions are met. When the notification means 563 determines that there is no special resident character, it decides to notify the user of a bonus reward (second notification) instead of notifying the special reward. The bonus reward notification notifies the user that a pre-game consumable item (second game medium) that can enable the user to progress advantageously through the puzzle game G1 will be awarded. When the notification means 563 determines to notify the user of a bonus reward, the display control means 569 displays a notification screen 77 (second notification screen) notifying the bonus reward.

[0099] According to this configuration, even if there is no special resident character that can be awarded to the user, the user is awarded a bonus reward as a reward in place of the special reward, thereby improving user satisfaction. <First Modification> Next, a first modified example of the game system 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0100] In the process of step S10 shown in FIG. 3, the advance notice means 563 of this modified example further determines whether or not to give an advance notice of a special reward based on the difficulty level of the puzzle game G1 played by the user. For example, suppose that the difficulty of the conditions for clearing quests Q11, Q12, Q13, and Q14 displayed on the quest selection screen 71 shown in FIG. 8 increases in this order. In this case, the advance notice means 563 may increase the probability of announcing a special reward as the difficulty of the conditions for clearing the quest increases. For example, the advance notice means 563 may increase the probability of announcing a special reward when starting quest Q14 compared to when starting quest Q11. In this case, a probability of announcing a special reward may be set for each quest.

[0101] With this configuration, the frequency with which special rewards are announced varies depending on the difficulty of the quest, which can further increase the enjoyment of the game. The notice means 563 may lower the probability of notifying the special reward as the difficulty of the conditions for clearing the quest increases.

[0102] <Second Modification> Next, a second modified example of the game system 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the processing of step S10 shown in FIG. 3, the notification means 563 of this modified example further determines whether or not to notify of a special reward based on the difficulty level of the puzzle game G1 being played by the user and the user's play history of the puzzle game G1.

[0103] Specifically, a difficulty level that quantifies the difficulty of each quest in the puzzle game G1 is preset. Meanwhile, the notification means 563 appropriately calculates a proficiency level that quantifies the user's skill in the puzzle game G1 based on the user's past play history of the puzzle game G1. The user's proficiency level value and the difficulty level value of the quest are comparable to each other. For example, if the user's proficiency level value is "5," the user has the skill appropriate to clear a quest with a difficulty level of "5." On the other hand, a quest with a difficulty level of "1" is considered too easy for the user. Furthermore, a quest with a difficulty level of "10" is considered too difficult for the user.

[0104] When a user plays a puzzle game G1 with a predetermined quest, the notification means 563 compares the value of the difficulty level of the predetermined quest with the value of the user's proficiency level to determine whether or not the user is likely to continue when attempting the quest. For example, the notification means 563 determines that the user is likely to continue if the value obtained by subtracting the user's proficiency level from the value of the quest's difficulty level is greater than "2." If the notification means 563 determines that the user is likely to continue, it increases the probability of notifying the user of a special reward. Alternatively, the notification means 563 increases the probability of notifying the user of a special reward as the value obtained by subtracting the user's proficiency level from the value of the quest's difficulty level becomes greater.

[0105] With this configuration, if the user attempts a quest with a higher level of difficulty, the possibility of a special reward being announced increases, further increasing the user's interest. <Third Modification> Next, a second modified example of the game system 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0106] In this modification, the notification means 563 determines whether to prompt the user to consume pre-game consumable items that can help the user progress through the puzzle game G1 advantageously when notifying the user of a special reward. For example, when it is determined to notify the user of a special reward, the notification means 563 prompts the user to consume pre-game consumable items in the notification based on the difficulty level of the quest. Furthermore, as in the second modification, the notification means 563 may also prompt the user to consume pre-game consumable items in the notification based on the user's skill level. For example, when the value obtained by subtracting the user's skill level from the difficulty level of the quest is greater than "2," the notification means 563 determines to prompt the user to consume pre-game consumable items in the notification.

[0107] On the other hand, when the notice means 563 determines to prompt the user to consume the pre-game consumable item, the display control means 569 displays a notice screen prompting the user to consume the pre-game consumable item. For example, the display control means 569 displays a notice screen 75 having a notice area 756 as shown in FIG. 19 .

[0108] This configuration can prevent the game from ending without the user fulfilling the clearing conditions, thereby increasing the chances that the user will be able to obtain a special reward. [Other embodiments] The various control means and processing procedures described in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses. The various control means and processing procedures can be appropriately modified in design within the scope that does not change the gist of the present invention.

[0109] The special resident character may perform actions associated with a building in the simulation game space. For example, if a cafe building is installed in the simulation game space, the special resident character may be a fixed resident character that appears only around the cafe building, or a fixed resident character that appears inside the cafe. Note that "fixed" here means that the character acts in association with the building, and does not mean that the character does not move at all within the simulation game space. In other words, the fixed resident character may move around or inside the corresponding building in the simulation game space.

[0110] Note that, if a character associated with a building is used as the special resident character, the special resident character may be granted to the user as a special reward on the condition that a cafe building is installed in the simulation game space. For example, in the lottery list La shown in FIG. 4(A), if special resident character Cs12 has been granted to the user and a building corresponding to special resident character Cs13 has not been installed in the simulation game space, the notification means 563 determines a special resident character using the lottery list La from which the special resident characters Cs12 and Cs13 have been removed.

[0111] It should be noted that the special resident character is not limited to one that operates in association with a building, but may be one that is placed so as to be able to move freely within the simulation game space. In the above embodiment, the game device 5 is a smartphone, but the game device 5 may be an amusement machine provided in a game center or the like.

[0112] The above games may be action games, shooting games, role-playing games, simulation games, board games, puzzle games, etc., and can be applied to various types of games. In the above embodiment, the object is a player character, but the object is not limited to this. For example, the object may be a card or an item (weapon, armor, or other equipment) used in the virtual game space.

[0113] In the above embodiment, the server device 2 and the multiple game devices 5 are integrated to function as a game program, but the present invention is not limited to this. All of the means of the game program may be provided in the server device 2 alone, the game device 5 alone, a communication terminal separate from the server device 2 and the game device 5 alone, or two of these devices that can be combined (for example, distributed processing between the server device 2 and the game device 5). Furthermore, when the server device 2, the game device 5, and the communication terminals are integrated to function as a whole, it is also possible to change as appropriate which means are to be functioned by which device.

[0114] The effects of this embodiment can be achieved even when these other embodiments are adopted. Furthermore, this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments, and other embodiments can be combined with each other as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 56: Control unit (computer), 562: First game execution means, 563: Notice means, 564: First giving means, 565: Second game execution means, 566: Second giving means, 569: Display control means.

Claims

1. Computer, game execution means for executing a game; a granting means for granting regular game content to a user in accordance with the progress of the game; a notification means for determining, before execution of the game, whether to notify the user that special game media that is not normally granted to the user as the game progresses and that can be placed in a predetermined virtual space based on the user's operation will be granted to the user if the game progresses until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control means for displaying a notice screen for making the notice before the execution of the game when the notice means determines to make the notice; The applying means is the game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are not granted to the user; If the game is executed without the notice, the special game medium is not granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, The game is executed without the advance notice, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is not granted to the user. Game program.

2. The notice means is The number of times the notice has been executed is counted, and when the number of times the notice has been executed reaches a predetermined upper limit, it is determined that the notice will not be executed thereafter. The game program according to claim 1 .

3. The applying means is When the game for which the notice was given is executed and the game ends without the predetermined progress condition being satisfied, the special game medium is not given to the user, and the number of times the notice was executed is counted as if the notice had been executed. The game program according to claim 2 .

4. The game execution means When the game for which the notification was made is executed and the game ends without the predetermined progress condition being satisfied, the game for which the notification was made is resumed on the condition that the user consumes the consumable medium associated with the user; The applying means is After the game for which the notice was given is resumed, if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the special game medium is granted to the user. The game program according to claim 1 .

5. The notice means is Deciding whether to make the announcement based on the difficulty level of the game The game program according to claim 1 .

6. The notice means is Deciding whether to make the announcement based on the user's game play history and the difficulty level of the game The game program according to claim 1 .

7. The notice means is determining, at the time of the notice, whether or not to encourage the user to consume consumable media that can enable the user to advance in the game advantageously, based on at least one of the user's play history of the game and the difficulty level of the game; The display control means When the notification means determines that the user should be prompted to consume the consumable medium, a display for prompting the user to consume the consumable medium is displayed on the notification screen. The game program according to claim 1 .

8. When the notice is the first notice and the notice screen is the first notice screen, The notice means is If it is determined that the first notice will be made before the execution of the game, determining whether or not there is any special game medium that can be granted to the user when the predetermined progress condition in the game is satisfied; If it is determined that the special game medium does not exist, a decision is made to make a second notice, instead of the first notice, in which normal game medium that enables the user to advance in the game advantageously when a predetermined progress condition in the game is satisfied is granted to the user; The display control means When the notification means determines that the second notification is to be made, a second notification screen for making the second notification is displayed before the game is executed. The game program according to claim 1 .

9. When the game is a first game and the game execution means is a first game execution means, the first game execution means executes the first game in a first virtual space; causing the computer to further function as second game execution means for executing a second game in a second virtual space; the second virtual space is different from the first virtual space, the predetermined virtual space is the second virtual space, The special game medium can be placed in the second virtual space. The game program according to claim 1 .

10. a game execution unit that executes a game; a granting unit that grants regular game content to a user in accordance with the progress of the game; a notification unit that determines, before execution of the game, whether to notify the user that special game media that is not normally provided to the user as the game progresses and that can be placed in a predetermined virtual space based on the user's operation will be provided to the user if the game progresses until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control unit that, when it is determined by the notification unit to make the notification, displays a notification screen making the notification before the game is executed; The granting unit the game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are not granted to the user; If the game is executed without the notice, the special game medium is not granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, The game is executed without the advance notice, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is not granted to the user. Game device.

11. a game execution unit that executes a game; a granting unit that grants regular game content to a user in accordance with the progress of the game; a notification unit that determines, before execution of the game, whether to notify the user that special game media that is not normally provided to the user as the game progresses and that can be placed in a predetermined virtual space based on the user's operation will be provided to the user if the game progresses until a predetermined progress condition is satisfied; a display control unit that, when it is determined by the notification unit to make the notification, displays a notification screen making the notification before the game is executed; The granting unit the game is executed after the notice is given, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium and the special game medium are not granted to the user; If the game is executed without the notice, the special game medium is not granted to the user regardless of whether the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, The game is executed without the advance notice, and if the predetermined progress condition is satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is granted to the user, whereas if the predetermined progress condition is not satisfied in the game, the regular game medium is not granted to the user. Game system.

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