Amusement Systems

Abstract

To provide an amusement system capable of increasing opportunities in which, a user can acquire a free gift associated with a game.SOLUTION: A user can play a game on a user terminal 7 by using a game server part 22 of a server device 2, a lottery of a free gift associated with the game is performed on the game server part 22 in association with a user's operation to the user terminal 7, and the user can use the free gift acquired in the lottery in the game, in an amusement system 1. In the amusement system, a vendor device 3 which is constituted as a physical device different from the user terminal 7 is connected to the server device 2, the lottery of the free gift is performed on the game server part 22 on the basis of the user's operation to the vendor device 3, and then, as one example of a physical free gift corresponding to the free gift which is acquired in the lottery, the physical free gift is printed and output to the user by a printer 35 of the vendor device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an amusement system having a prize lottery function. [Background technology]

[0002] Various online amusement systems have been provided and put into practical use, in which a server device and a terminal device on which a game is played are connected via a network, and the server device provides various game-related services to the terminal device. For example, a system has been proposed that uses SNS (short for social networking system; the same applies hereinafter) technology to allow users to play games on the browser of their terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Another proposed online sales system connects a purchasing terminal installed in a store or a user terminal device such as a mobile phone or personal computer to a server device via a network, and the server device draws a prize from a predetermined group of prizes based on a user's instruction to the terminal device, and provides the user with the prize that was won (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-206823 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-42233 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In online amusement systems such as the one described in Patent Document 1, a wide variety of content (or content usage rights), such as items and characters used in the game, is generally associated with predetermined conditions and allowed to be acquired by users in sequence. In such cases, in order to add an element of chance or good fortune to the acquisition of content, a system is sometimes adopted in which a lottery is held in which the content is positioned as a prize, and the user is allowed to acquire the prize that they have won. However, simply drawing prizes in association with the operation of a game terminal device in an online amusement system limits users to the opportunity to acquire prizes within the closed virtual world of the online game.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an amusement system that increases the opportunities for users to obtain prizes associated with games. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an amusement system (1) comprising a server device (2) to which a game terminal device (7) for playing a predetermined game can be connected via a network (4), the server device having storage means (21) for storing prize data (D11) corresponding to each of a plurality of prizes (e.g., cards) associated with the game, and lottery means (22) for drawing a prize to be awarded to a user from a group of prizes for a game terminal set as lottery candidates for at least some of the plurality of prizes in association with a user's operation on the game terminal device (S202), and executing a process (S204) for allowing the user to use the prize data corresponding to the drawn prize in the game, the amusement system (1) further comprising a vendor device (3) configured as a physical device separate from the game terminal device and connected to the server device via the network, the vendor device having a function of transmitting the prize data to the server device based on the user's operation. The server device is provided with a lottery request means (30, S302) for requesting a prize lottery, and a prize output means (30, 35, S307) for acquiring the prize data or data equivalent to the prize data from the server device as prize output data (S306), and outputting the prize to the user in a predetermined form (for example, the form of a physical card CDp) based on the prize output data, and the lottery means of the server device responds to the lottery request from the lottery request means of the vendor device by: A prize to be awarded to the user is drawn from a group of prizes for the vendor that are set as lottery candidates covering at least some of the multiple prizes (S221), information identifying the drawn prize (for example, a card number) is notified to the vendor device (S222), and the prize output means of the vendor device identifies the drawn prize based on the information notified from the lottery means, and outputs the prize to the user based on prize output data corresponding to the identified prize.

[0007] According to the amusement system of the present invention, a lottery means draws a prize in association with a user's operation on a gaming terminal device, and a process is executed in which the user uses prize data corresponding to the drawn prize. Additionally, the lottery means executes a lottery based on the user's operation on a vendor device, and the server device provides prize data or equivalent data to the vendor device as prize output data. Based on the prize output data, the prize is output to the user in a predetermined format. Therefore, users not only have the opportunity to obtain prizes within the closed virtual world of an online game, but can also obtain prizes by using the vendor device. In other words, the opportunity to obtain prizes associated with a game can be provided not only to users operating gaming terminal devices, but also to users operating vendor devices. This expands users' opportunities to obtain prizes, and the effect becomes more pronounced as the number and locations of installed vendor devices increase. The existence of the game can be promoted through the existence of the vendor device itself or the prizes paid out from the vendor device, thereby increasing recognition of the game in the real world, giving motivation to many users to play the game, and expanding the number and user demographic of the game.

[0008] According to the present invention, the group of lottery candidates for game terminals and the group of lottery candidates for vendors are set to target at least a portion of the multiple prizes corresponding to the prize data stored in the storage means of the server device. In other words, the maximum range of the group of lottery candidates is shared. Therefore, when new prize data is added to the storage means of the server device following a game update, for example, the corresponding new prize can be added not only to the lottery candidates for game terminals, but also to the lottery candidates for vendors. This eliminates the need to prepare separate prize data for each lottery candidate, reducing the effort required to store data and reducing the storage capacity of the server device.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the prize output means may output a physical prize based on the prize output data. This allows the prize displayed as a virtual entity on the gaming terminal device to be replaced with a physical entity in the real world on the vendor device and provided to the user. This can increase the user's desire to collect prizes or enhance the user's satisfaction with owning a prize.

[0010] Furthermore, the prize output means may output a physical prize by printing, on a predetermined printing medium, an image that is at least partially the same as the prize to be displayed on the gaming terminal device based on the prize data. Alternatively, or in addition, the prize output means may output, as the physical prize, a molded object corresponding to the identified prize based on the prize output data.

[0011] The prize output means may print out an identification information section (P5) representing information identifying the selected prize in a format readable by the gaming terminal device on the print medium together with images (P1-P4) of the prize. The server device may further include information processing means (22, S231, S232) for acquiring information identifying the prize read by the gaming terminal device from the identification information section, identifying the prize output by the prize output means based on the acquired information, and executing a process for allowing the user to use prize data corresponding to the identified prize in the game. According to this, by having the gaming terminal device read information from the identification information section of the prize provided to the user by the vendor device, the server device identifies the prize corresponding to the information and executes a process for allowing the user to use the prize data corresponding to the prize. Therefore, a prize provided to the user as a physical entity can be replaced with a virtual prize that the user can use on the gaming terminal device. This increases the interest of users who have acquired cards at the vendor device in the game, and provides the users with stronger motivation to play the game.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the vendor device further includes a storage means (31) for storing prize output data acquired from the server device. The prize output means determines whether prize output data corresponding to the identified prize exists in the storage means of the vendor device (S304). If the prize output data exists, the prize output means outputs the prize to the user based on the prize output data stored in the storage means. If the prize output data does not exist, the vendor device acquires the prize output data from the server device (S306) and stores the prize output data in the storage means of the vendor device. In this manner, once the vendor device acquires the prize output data from the server device, the prize output data is stored in the storage means of the vendor device. If a prize needs to be output using the same prize output data again, the data stored in the storage means of the vendor device can be reused without having to acquire the prize output data from the server device again. This reduces the time required for data acquisition, speeds up prize output, and reduces the burden on the server device.

[0013] The group of prizes for the vendor lottery candidates may include prizes that are not included in the group of prizes for the game terminal lottery candidates (for example, prizes of rank 2s, 2+s, and Xs in FIG. 6). This creates prizes that can only be obtained through a lottery for the vendor device, and can induce users to enter a lottery for the vendor device in order to obtain that type of card.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of prizes are each divided into a plurality of ranks (1 to Xs), and the storage means of the server device stores a lottery table (D3) that allocates the probability of winning each prize by lottery for each prize rank. The lottery means, whether drawing a prize from the group of prizes selected for the game terminal or the group of prizes selected for the vendor, may draw a rank according to the probability set forth in the lottery table and select a prize to be awarded to the user from prizes belonging to the selected rank according to a predetermined rule. In this manner, regardless of whether the lottery is for a game terminal device or a vendor device, the lottery means accesses the same lottery table to obtain the probability allocation, draws a rank according to the probability, and selects a prize to be awarded to the user from prizes belonging to the drawn rank. This allows for a common lottery procedure and reduces the amount of programming work required for the lottery. By standardizing the lottery procedure, it is possible to prevent bias in lottery trends due to differences in lottery procedures. Note that the lottery means may randomly select a prize to be awarded to the user from prizes belonging to the selected rank.

[0015] The lottery table may include a game terminal probability setting section (in FIG. 6, the portion of probability allocation corresponding to SNS free and SNS paid) that describes the probability allocation for each rank to be referenced when drawing a prize from the group of lottery candidates for the game terminal, and a vendor probability setting section (the portion of probability allocation corresponding to the vendor lottery) that describes the probability allocation for each rank to be referenced when drawing a prize from the group of lottery candidates for the vendor. By adjusting the probability allocation in each probability setting section, it is possible to flexibly set the group of lottery candidates and the drawing probabilities for the prizes included therein separately for the lottery for the game terminal device and the lottery for the vendor device, while sharing multiple prizes as a population. Of course, the group of lottery candidates and the probability allocation may be the same between the lottery for the game terminal device and the lottery for the vendor device.

[0016] The gaming terminal probability setting unit may set a probability of zero for some ranks, and the vendor probability setting unit may set a probability greater than zero for at least one of the ranks for which the gaming terminal probability setting unit has set a probability of zero. Ranks for which a probability of zero has been set have no chance of being selected in the lottery and are excluded from the lottery candidates. This allows the range of prizes for the lottery candidates to be appropriately set. Furthermore, if the vendor probability setting unit sets a probability greater than zero for at least one of the ranks for which the gaming terminal probability setting unit has set a probability of zero, the prize for that rank can be set as a prize that can only be obtained by a lottery for the vendor device.

[0017] The vendor device may be provided with fee collection means (34) for collecting a lottery fee from the user, and the lottery request means of the vendor device may request the server device to draw the prize on the condition that the fee collection means has collected the lottery fee. This eliminates the risk of excessive prizes being output in a lottery using the vendor device, while adding value commensurate with the lottery fee to the prize paid out from the vendor device, thereby increasing the user's satisfaction with obtaining a prize via the vendor device.

[0018] The server device has a function of providing a predetermined service to the user's gaming terminal device when it acquires user identification information (e.g., an ID unique to each user) from the gaming terminal device and authenticates the user, and the lottery means may execute a lottery for a prize from a group of prizes selected as lotteries for the gaming terminal only if the user of the gaming terminal device is authenticated, while executing a lottery for a prize from a group of prizes selected as lotteries for the vendor device without authenticating the user of the vendor device. This allows users who have not acquired user identification information to have the opportunity to obtain a prize using the vendor device, thereby increasing the effectiveness of attracting new users.

[0019] In the present invention, a gaming terminal device is sufficient as long as it is capable of allowing a user to play a game and is capable of receiving services from a server device via a network, and to that extent, any terminal device with an appropriate configuration and purpose may be used as a gaming terminal device. As an example, a user's personal terminal device may be used as a gaming terminal device.

[0020] In the above description, reference numerals of the accompanying drawings are given in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but this does not mean that the present invention is limited to the illustrated forms. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] As described above, the amusement system of the present invention not only provides users with the opportunity to obtain prizes within the closed virtual world of the online game, but also provides users with the opportunity to obtain prizes using vendor devices, thereby expanding the opportunities for users to obtain prizes. The existence of the vendor devices themselves, or the prizes paid out by the vendor devices, can be used to promote the existence of the game, increasing awareness of the game in the real world and motivating many users to play the game, thereby expanding the number of game users and the user demographic. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an amusement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the main parts of an amusement system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the relationship between card data and the virtual and physical cards output based on that card data. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of card data. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of play data. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of the lottery table in tabular form. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for a prize lottery executed on a user terminal. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a prize lottery executed on a vendor device. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for allowing a user to use card data corresponding to a card output by a vendor device in a game played on a user terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An amusement system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an amusement system in which a user plays a game using a plurality of cards, a lottery is held using at least some of the cards as candidates, and the selected cards are provided to the user as prizes. First, the overall configuration of the system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The amusement system 1 includes a center server 2 as a server device and a plurality of vendor devices 3. The center server 2 and the vendor devices 3 are connected via a network 4. The center server 2 is configured to function as a single logical server device by combining a plurality of server units 2A and 2B. However, a single server unit may also function as the center server 2. A single logical center server 2 may also be configured using cloud computing.

[0024] The vendor device 3 is provided as a terminal device for dispensing cards to users in exchange for payment of a predetermined lottery fee. The vendor device 3 is installed in facilities such as stores 5A and 5B. The store 5A is a facility where commercial game machines (so-called arcade game machines) 6 are installed, allowing users to play games in exchange for payment of a play fee, and corresponds to a commercial facility such as a game arcade or an amusement facility. However, the game machines 6 are not an essential component of the amusement system 1. Therefore, the installation location of the vendor device 3 is not limited to the facility where the game machines 6 are installed. The vendor device 3 may be installed in a commercial facility 5B, such as a shopping mall, where the presence of game machines 6 is not assumed. The vendor device 3 may be installed in a public facility. For example, the network 4 is constructed by connecting the Internet 4A to LANs 4B and 4C, which connect the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 to the Internet 4A, via a router 4D.

[0025] A user terminal 7 can be connected to the center server 2 via the network 4. The user terminal 7 is a personal terminal device provided for the user's personal use. For example, various computer devices that can be connected to a network and are provided for personal use, such as a PC 7a or a mobile phone (including a smartphone) 7b, can be used as the user terminal 7. Although not shown in the figure, computer devices such as home game consoles, portable game consoles, and portable tablet terminals can also be used as the user terminal 7 as long as they function as network terminal devices and are provided for the user's personal use.

[0026] The center server 2 provides predetermined services to the user terminals 7 and the vendor devices 3. When game machines 6 are connected to the network 4, the center server 2 may also provide services to those game machines 6. Services provided by the center server 2 to the user terminals 7 include a game service in which the user terminals 7 function as an input device for game-related operations and an output device for game-related images and sounds, while allowing the user to play a predetermined game. As part of the game service, the center server 2 also provides a service in which the center server 2 receives a unique user ID (user identification information) for each user from the user terminal 7 and authenticates the user, and a service in which the center server 2 records the results of the user's game play as play data and associates the play data with the user authentication information and stores the play data in a storage device on the center server 2. When multiple users play a common game via the network 4, the center server 2 may further provide a service in which these users are matched. When game machines 6 are connected to the center server 2, the center server 2 may also provide game-related services to those game machines 6. The game played on the game machine 6 may or may not be associated with the game played on the user terminal 7. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the term game refers to a game to be played on the user terminal 7.

[0027] Next, referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the main parts of the control system for the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 of the amusement system 1 will be described. First, the center server 2 will be described. The center server 2 is provided with a control unit 20 and a storage device 21. The control unit 20 is a computer unit that combines a microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as an internal storage device (not shown), required for the operation of the microprocessor. The storage device 21 is a storage device capable of retaining data, such as a hard disk storage device. An input device, such as a keyboard, and an output device, such as a monitor, are connected to the control unit 20, but are not shown. The storage device 21 stores a server operating system (server OS), various application programs to be run on the server OS, and data groups to be referenced by these programs. The application programs include a game program PG for realizing the above-mentioned game service. Data recorded in the storage device 21 includes game data D1, a group of play data D2, and a lottery table D3; specific examples of these will be described later. The game data D1 includes a group of card data D11 corresponding to each of the numerous cards that can be used in the game.

[0028] The control unit 20 includes a game server unit 22 and a vendor server unit 23. The server units 22 and 23 are logical devices implemented by combining the computer hardware of the control unit 20 with predetermined software. The game server unit 22 provides a game service to a user terminal 7 in response to access from the user terminal 7. As an example, the game server unit 22 provides an SNS (short for social networking service) function to the user terminal 7, allowing the user to play a card game on the SNS. Meanwhile, the vendor server unit 23 provides a vendor service associated with the output of prizes to the vendor device 3. The center server 2 also includes a billing function that cooperates with the user terminal 7 to charge the user of the user terminal 7 a service fee, such as a game play fee, and collects the fee using a predetermined payment method. However, since the billing function can be implemented in a similar manner to known systems, details of the billing function are omitted.

[0029] On the other hand, the vendor device 3 is provided with a control unit 30 and a storage device 31. The control unit 30 is a computer unit that combines a microprocessor with peripheral devices such as an internal storage device required for the operation of the microprocessor. The storage device 31 is a storage device capable of retaining data, such as a hard disk storage device. The storage device 31 stores programs to be executed by the control unit 30 and various data to be referenced by the programs. As an example, the storage device 31 stores a group of card data D11 distributed from the center server 2.

[0030] The control unit 30 is connected to an input device 32 such as operation buttons, as well as a monitor 33 as output devices, a coin selector 34, and a printer 35. The coin selector 34 is provided as a fee collection means, and determines the authenticity of coins (or alternative currency medals) inserted into the vending device by a user, and outputs a signal corresponding to the number or value of coins determined to be authentic. The printer 35 is a well-known printing device that outputs information such as images and characters to be printed on a predetermined printing paper in accordance with a printing command from the control unit 30. However, the printing paper used by the printer 35 is standardized to a card mount of a predetermined size. The printer 35 is built into the housing of the vending device 3, and a card CDp printed by the printer 35 is dispensed to the user from the outlet of the vending device 3.

[0031] Next, the data recorded in the storage device 21 of the center server 2 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 6. First, the card data D11 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 3, in the amusement system 1, a virtual card CDv is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 7 based on the card data D11. Meanwhile, a physical card CDp is printed out from the printer 35 of the vendor device 3. In other words, the card data D11 is data created for outputting the card CD to the user. Hereinafter, the card CDv and CDp may be collectively referred to as the card CD. The physical card CDp is an image of the virtual card CDv displayed on the user terminal 7 printed out on a card mount as a physical printing medium.

[0032] The format of the card CD may be set as appropriate. In the example of FIG. 3, the card CD includes a character image section P1 in which an image of a character CR symbolizing the card CD is displayed, a rank section P2 in which the rank of the card CD ("2+" in the example of FIG. 3) is displayed, a name section P3 in which the name of the character CR is displayed, and a characteristic display section P4 in which various card characteristics of the character CR in the game, such as the offensive power and defensive power of the character CR, are displayed. In the amusement system 1, many types of card CDs with different character CRs and characteristics are prepared, and a unique card number is associated with each type of card CD as card identification information in the card data D11. The type of card CD here is a concept for distinguishing card CDs based on whether all information (content) displayed on the card CD matches. In other words, since many card CDs of one type can be issued, the concept of "type" is used to treat card CDs with matching content as a single prize. Therefore, one card type corresponds to one prize, and the concept of "by card type" corresponds to the concept of "by prize."

[0033] The physical card CDp is provided with an identification information section P5 that expresses the card number in a format that can be read by the user terminal 7. As an example, the card number is displayed in the identification information section P5 as a two-dimensional barcode. The virtual card CDv is similar to the physical card CDp, but the identification information section P5 is omitted.

[0034] The game played on the user terminal 7 includes a mode in which the user collects cards CDs, builds a deck, and selects and uses cards CDs from the deck to challenge predetermined tasks or compete against opponents. The characteristics of the card CDs described above are parameters that are referenced when calculating the degree of completion of a task or the outcome of a battle. As one means for users to obtain card CDs, the amusement system 1 provides a means for awarding card CDs to users as prizes through a lottery held by the center server 2. The card number recorded in the identification information unit P5 is used by the user to use a virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained from the vendor device 3 in the game.

[0035] Next, an example of the structure of card data D11 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 4, card data D11 includes basic data D12 and image data D13. The basic data D12 describes a card number (card #), rank, image ID, parameter group, etc. The rank is an indicator of the difficulty of obtaining a card CD. The image ID is information specifying image data D13 to be used to represent a character CR. The parameter group is information describing various characteristics to be set in the card CD. On the other hand, image data D13 is data in which image information for drawing the character CR is recorded in association with the image ID. By referring to the basic data D12 and the image data D13 corresponding to the image ID specified in the basic data D12, the card CD can be displayed on the user terminal 7 or printed out from the printer 35. In addition, the identification information (two-dimensional barcode or barcode, etc.) of the physical card CDp can be read by the user terminal 7 to identify the card number, and by comparing that card number with a group of card data D11, the card data D11 corresponding to the card CDp can be identified, and a virtual card CDv corresponding to that card data D11 can be used in the game, or that card CDv can be displayed on the user terminal 7.

[0036] Next, the play data D2 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The play data D2 is data recording the results of a user's game play, and is data saved in the storage device 21 for the purpose of, for example, allowing the user to continue playing the game from where he or she left off last time. The play data D2 records, in association with a user ID, information such as a play log, status, and owned cards. The play log is information recording the user's past play details, such as the number of times the user has played and their match results. The status is information for determining various index values ​​indicating the progress of the game, such as the position, achievement level, and reach level achieved by the user in the game. The information on owned cards is information for determining the cards CD the user has obtained in the game, and, for example, the card numbers of cards CDs already obtained by the user are recorded as information on owned cards.

[0037] In addition, if it is possible to change the image and characteristics of the character CR on the card CD depending on the progress of the game after the user obtains the card CD, the initial values ​​of the image ID and characteristics are stored in the card data D11, and for the card CD obtained by the user, the card data D11 is copied to the user's play data D2, and the image ID and parameter group of the copied card data are changed.

[0038] Next, the lottery table D3 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing information recorded in the lottery table D3 in tabular form. As is clear from the example of Fig. 6, the lottery table D3 is a data table that describes the probability (in %) of winning a card CD in a lottery, in association with the rank of the card CD and the type of lottery. The game server unit 22 of the center server 2 refers to the lottery table D3 to draw a card CD to be awarded to the user as a prize.

[0039] In the example of FIG. 6, there are three types of lottery: SNS free, SNS paid, and vendor lottery. The SNS free lottery is a lottery held free of charge for users who access the game from the user terminal 7, while the SNS paid lottery is a lottery held in exchange for users who access the game from the user terminal 7 paying a predetermined lottery fee. The vendor lottery is a lottery held in exchange for users of the vendor device 3 paying a predetermined lottery fee. The lottery fees for the SNS paid lottery and the vendor lottery may be the same or different. The SNS free lottery may be limited to one per day. The SNS free lottery may be permitted when predetermined conditions associated with the game are met.

[0040] The ranks of the card CDs are set in order of increasing difficulty of acquisition from left to right in Figure 6, with the easiest card being rank 1 and the most difficult card being rank Xs. The probability for each rank is allocated so that the more difficult the rank is to obtain, the smaller the value. When comparing SNS free with SNS paid, the probability is allocated so that a relatively higher-ranked card CD is more likely to be won with SNS paid. Also, when comparing SNS paid with vendor lottery, the probability is allocated so that a relatively higher-ranked card CD is more likely to be won with vendor lottery. Furthermore, ranks with the subscript s (2s, 2+s, Xs, etc.) are ranks that can only be obtained through vendor lottery, and the probability for SNS free and SNS paid is set to zero (indicated by - in Figure 6). A set of cards CDs with ranks for which probabilities greater than zero are set for the SNS free and paid SNS are a group of lottery candidates for game terminals, and a set of cards CDs with ranks for which probabilities greater than zero are set for the vendor lottery are a group of lottery candidates for vendors. The probability allocation portion corresponding to the SNS free and paid SNS in Figure 6 corresponds to the game terminal probability setting unit in the present invention, and the probability allocation portion corresponding to the vendor lottery corresponds to the vendor probability setting unit in the present invention.

[0041] Next, various processes executed by the center server 2 and the vendor device 3 in connection with the prize lottery will be described. FIG. 7 shows the processes of the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 for conducting an SNS paid lottery in association with a user's operation on the user terminal 7. The processes in FIG. 7 are performed after the user operates the user terminal 7 to notify the game server unit 22 of their own identification information (user ID) and user authentication is completed. When the user instructs the user terminal 7 to start an SNS paid lottery, the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 cooperate to collect a lottery fee corresponding to the SNS paid lottery from the user (steps S701 and S201). The collection of the fee may be realized by transmitting and receiving electronic information between the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22. For example, a payment method such as collection of a fee using virtual currency such as electronic money or collection of a fee using a credit card may be used.

[0042] Once the fee collection is complete, the user terminal 7 requests the game server unit 22 to draw a lottery (step S702), and the game server unit 22 executes the lottery in response to the request (step S202). In this case, the game server unit 22 refers to the lottery table D3 to obtain the probability distribution for each rank associated with the SNS fee, draws a lottery for the rank of the card CD to be awarded to the user according to the probability distribution, and selects a predetermined number of card CDs (for example, one card) from the group of card CDs belonging to the drawn rank as a prize to be awarded to the user according to a predetermined rule. As an example of the predetermined rule, random selection is adopted. However, the rule is not limited to random selection, and a rule may be set so that cards are selected according to differentiated probabilities depending on the parameters of the card CD, etc. The selected card CD is the prize drawn in the lottery.

[0043] When the lottery is completed, the game server unit 22 notifies the user terminal 7 of the lottery result (step S203). In this case, information necessary for displaying the winning card CD on the user terminal 7, such as all of the card data D11 of the winning card CD, or a parameter group or the name of the character CR recorded in the image data D13 or basic data D12, is provided to the user terminal 7 as at least a part of the lottery result. Thereafter, the game server unit 22 updates the owned card information of the play data D2 recorded in the storage device 21 in association with the user ID of the user of the user terminal 7 so that the winning card becomes the user's owned card (step S204), and then ends the processing of FIG. 7. The processing of step S204 corresponds to processing for allowing the user to use the card data D11 corresponding to the card CD as the prize drawn in the game. Note that the user ID for identifying the play data D2 to be updated in step S204 may be the user ID acquired during user authentication, or may be newly acquired from the user terminal 7 in step S702.

[0044] Meanwhile, the user terminal 7 acquires the lottery result from the game server unit 22 (step S703) and displays the lottery result to the user (step S704). Thereafter, the user terminal 7 completes the process for the paid SNS lottery. In the case of the free SNS lottery, steps S701 and S201 can be omitted. Instead, whether the conditions for executing the free SNS lottery are met can be determined by correlating these processes with the user's operation on the user terminal 7. The user's operation that triggers the execution of the SNS lottery (whether free or paid) may be set appropriately as long as it is an operation on the user terminal 7. For example, it may be an operation to instruct the start of the SNS lottery, or a predetermined operation at the start of or during game play. Alternatively, it may be an operation for authenticating the user. However, because the probability allocations to be referenced in the lottery table D3 differ between the free SNS lottery and the paid SNS lottery, the game server unit 22 must distinguish between them. This distinction can be made, for example, by whether or not a fee collection process has been performed.

[0045] 8 shows the processing of the vendor device 3, the vendor server unit 23, and the game server unit 22 for conducting a vendor lottery in response to a user's operation on the vendor device 3. When a user operates the input device 32 of the vendor device 3 to request a vendor lottery, the vendor device 3 (more specifically, the control unit 30) collects a predetermined lottery fee from the user (step S301). Here, the fee is collected via the coin selector 34. When the fee is paid, the vendor device 3 requests a lottery from the vendor server unit 23 (step S302), and the vendor server unit 23 transfers the lottery request to the game server unit 22 (step S211). The game server unit 22 conducts a vendor lottery in response to the lottery request via the vendor server unit 23 (step S221). In this case, the game server unit 22 refers to the lottery table D3 to obtain the probability distribution for each rank associated with the vendor lottery, draws the rank of the card CD to be given to the user according to the probability distribution, and selects a predetermined number of cards CDs (for example, one card) from the group of cards CDs belonging to the drawn rank according to a predetermined rule (for example, a rule of random selection is set). The selected cards CDs are the prizes drawn in the lottery.

[0046] When the lottery is completed, the game server unit 22 notifies the vendor server unit 23 of the card number of the drawn card CD (step S222). The vendor server unit 23 notifies the vendor device 3 of the card number as the lottery result (step S212). The vendor device 3 acquires the card number notified from the vendor server unit 23 (step S303) and determines whether card data D11 corresponding to the card number exists in its own storage device 31 (step S304). If it is determined that the card data D11 does not exist, the vendor device 3 requests the vendor server unit 23 for the card data D11 corresponding to the notified card number (step S305), and the vendor server unit 23 transfers the request to the game server unit 22 (step S213). The game server unit 22 acquires the requested card data D11 from its own storage device 21 (step S223) and provides the card data D11 to the vendor server unit 23 (step S224). The vendor server unit 23 provides the provided card data D11 to the vendor device 3 (step S214). The vendor device 3 acquires the card data D11 provided from the vendor server unit 23 and stores it in its own storage device 31 (step S306). Subsequently, the vendor device 3 executes a process to print a card CD corresponding to the card data D11 using the printer 35 (step S307). If it is determined in step S304 that the card data D11 exists, the vendor device 3 skips steps S305 and S306 and proceeds to step S307. In this case, the card CDp is printed based on the card data D11 already stored in the storage device 31. This completes the process of FIG. 8. Note that the probability allocation to be referenced in the lottery table D3 and the information to be included in the notification of the lottery result differ between the SNS lottery (regardless of whether it is free or paid) and the vendor lottery. Therefore, the game server unit 22 must distinguish between them. This distinction can be made by determining whether the lottery has been requested from the user terminal 7 or the vendor server unit 23.

[0047] The process of Fig. 8 allows a physical card CDp to be dispensed to the user from the vendor device 3. Fig. 9 shows the process executed by the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 to record a virtual card CDv corresponding to the card CDp obtained by the user in the play data D2 as a card owned by the user in the game. Note that, hereinafter, recording the card CDv in the play data D2 as a card owned by the user may be referred to as "registration."

[0048] 9, the user terminal 7 first reads the two-dimensional barcode recorded in the identification information section P5 of the card CDp and acquires the card number embedded in the two-dimensional barcode (step S311). Subsequently, the user terminal 7 notifies the game server unit 22 of the acquired card number (step S312). That is, the user terminal 7 specifies the card number read from the card CDp and requests registration of the card CDv corresponding to that card number. In this case, a user ID may also be notified to the game server unit 22 to identify the user. If user authentication has been completed between the user terminal 7 and the game server unit 22 prior to the processing of FIG. 9, the user ID acquired by the game server unit 22 at the time of the authentication may be used as user authentication information in the processing of FIG. 9.

[0049] When the game server unit 22 receives the card number from the user terminal 7, it uses the user ID acquired from the user terminal 7 as a clue to extract the play data D2 stored in the storage device 21 in association with the user ID (step S231). Next, the game server unit 22 updates the owned card information in the play data D2 extracted in step S231 so that the card CDv corresponding to the card number received from the user terminal 7 is registered as the user's owned card (step S232). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if a card number is recorded as information on the owned card in the play data D2, the card number notified from the user terminal 7 can be added to the information on the owned card. If an upper limit is set on the number of owned cards and the number of owned cards has reached the upper limit, the user may be prompted to select a card to be deleted, and the card number to be deleted may be replaced with a newly acquired card number.

[0050] When the update of the play data D2 is complete, the game server unit 22 sends a completion notification to the user terminal 7 (step S233), and then ends the processing of FIG. 9. When the user terminal 7 receives the completion notification from the game server unit 22, it displays to the user as a processing result that the registration of the card CDv is complete (step S313). With this, the user terminal 7 ends the processing of FIG. 9.

[0051] As described above, the amusement system 1 of this embodiment not only allows users to obtain cards CD, which are prepared as prizes in advance in a game, in the form of virtual cards CDv via the user terminal 7, but also allows users to obtain cards CDp in the form of physical cards CDp via the vendor device 3, which is configured as a physical device different from the user terminal 7, thereby expanding users' opportunities to obtain prizes. The greater the number and locations of the vendor devices 3 installed, the more pronounced the effect. The existence of the vendor device 3 itself, or the cards CDp dispensed from the vendor device 3, can promote the existence of the game, increasing awareness of the game in the real world, thereby motivating many users to play the game and expanding the number and user demographic of the game. Applying a design related to the game (e.g., a design of a character CR appearing in the game or a design imitating a game symbol) to the exterior of the vendor device 3 can enhance the eye-catching effect of the vendor device 3 itself and further increase awareness of the game.

[0052] The virtual card CDv and the physical card CDp, which have the same card number, are displayed to the user or printed based on the common card data D11. Therefore, the virtual card CDv, which is merely displayed on the screen of the user terminal 7, can be replaced with the actual physical card CDp and provided to the user. This can increase the user's motivation to acquire cards CDs or enhance the user's satisfaction with owning cards. When a new card CD is added in accordance with a game update, etc., as long as the rank of the new card CD belongs to one of the ranks recorded in the existing lottery table D3, simply by recording the card data D11 corresponding to the new card CD in the storage device 21 of the center server 2, the new card CD can be added to the group of prizes for the game terminal lottery or the group of prizes for the vendor lottery according to its rank. Creating a new rank can also be achieved by simply rewriting the lottery table D3. Since the maximum range of the prize group of lottery candidates is common, there is no need to prepare a separate group of card data D11 for each type of lottery, which reduces the labor required for storing data and reduces the data storage capacity to be secured on the storage device 21.

[0053] In this way, the set of cards CD, which is the maximum range of candidates for lottery selection, is shared between the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3. By setting the probability distribution by rank according to the type of lottery in the lottery table D3, a group of candidate prizes for each type of lottery selection is set. Therefore, the basic lottery procedure—reading the probability distribution from the lottery table D3, drawing a rank, and randomly selecting a predetermined number of cards from the drawn rank—can be standardized regardless of the type of lottery selection. This reduces the amount of programming work required for the lottery selection. While minimizing the risk of bias in the lottery selection trends due to differences in the lottery selection procedures between the lottery for the user terminal 7 and the lottery for the vendor device 3, adjusting the probability distribution in the lottery table D3 allows for flexible selection of candidate prizes for each type of lottery selection, or for differentiating the probability of prizes of each rank being drawn according to the type of lottery selection. Regardless of the difference in the lottery mode, the prize groups and probability distributions of the lottery candidates may be the same.

[0054] The physical card CDp is provided with an identification information section P5, which represents a card number as card identification information that associates the card CDp with card data D11 in a manner readable by the user terminal 7. This allows the physical card CDp to be associated with the card data D11 and the virtual card CDv corresponding to that data D11 via the card number. This allows a user who has obtained the physical card CDp to use the card data D11 corresponding to that physical card CDp when playing a game, display the virtual card CDv corresponding to the card data D11 on the user terminal 7 as their own card, and use that card CDv to play the game. This further increases the interest of users who have obtained the physical card CDp in the game, providing them with strong motivation to play the game.

[0055] In the lottery table D3, the probability distribution is set so that there are ranks that can only be obtained through the vendor lottery, and therefore there are cards CD that cannot be obtained simply by playing the game on the user terminal 7. This can induce users to enter the lottery at the vendor device 3 in order to obtain such cards. This can enhance the effect of providing the vendor device 3. By setting the probability of obtaining a card CDp that can only be obtained through the vendor lottery low, such a card CDp can be positioned as a rare card that is rarely obtained. This can further enhance the effect of inducing users to enter the vendor lottery. Furthermore, by having the user terminal 7 read the card number in the identification information section P5 of the rare card, the user can use a virtual card CDv corresponding to that card CDp in the game. This further motivates users to obtain rare cards, and can more significantly enhance the effect of providing the vendor device 3.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the game server unit 22 functions as a lottery means for the game terminal device of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S202 and S204 in Fig. 7, the control unit 30 of the vendor device 3 functions as a lottery request means of the present invention by executing the processing of step S302 in Fig. 8, the control unit 30 functions as a prize output means of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S306 and S307 in the same figure and the printer 35 prints out a card in response to the processing of step S307, and the game server unit 22 functions as a lottery means for the vendor device of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S221 and S222 in Fig. 8. In addition, the game server unit 22 functions as an information processing means of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S231 and S232 in Fig. 9.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be embodied in various forms. For example, in the present invention, the gaming terminal device is not limited to a user's personal terminal device, and various gaming terminal devices such as arcade game machines may be used. A monitor in the vendor device is not essential and can be omitted as appropriate. When a lottery for a vendor device is executed by a server device, an additional lottery may be executed by the vendor device in association with the lottery. For example, in the additional lottery, a lottery may be executed to determine whether or not to award an additional prize to the user. If the user wins, the server device may request a further lottery, and the prize drawn may be further output to the user via the vendor device. If the vendor device has a monitor (display device), the status of the additional lottery may be displayed to the user.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the server device provides the prize data itself to the vendor device as prize output data. However, data equivalent to the prize data may also be provided to the vendor device as prize output data. For example, the server device may convert the prize data into print data that can be interpreted by the printer 35, and the converted print data may be provided to the vendor device and stored in the storage means of the vendor device. The server device may create print data based on the prize data each time a request is made by the vendor device. Print data corresponding to the prize data may be prepared in advance and stored in the storage means of the server device, and the print data may be provided to the vendor device. Other data equivalent to the prize data may also be data that has been processed to reduce the amount of data communication between the server device and the vendor device. For example, compressed character image data or image data with a reduced number of pixels may be provided to the vendor device.

[0059] The output of prizes from the vendor device is not limited to printouts. Instead of or in addition to printouts, prize data may be output to a storage medium brought by the user. A physical molded object corresponding to the prize drawn by the lottery, such as a molded object imitating the appearance or shape of a prize character or item, may also be output from the vendor device as a physical prize. For example, such a molded object may be created and output within the vendor device based on prize output data by incorporating a molding device such as a 3D printer using stereolithography instead of or in addition to the printout printer. Physical prizes such as printed materials and molded objects may be created and stored within the vendor device in advance of the lottery. Alternatively, when a molded object is awarded to a user as a prize, a printed material such as a ticket or exchange voucher recording information for exchanging the molded prize may be output as part of the physical prize based on prize output data obtained from the server device, and the user may use the printed material to obtain the prize. When a physical prize is given to a user via a ticket or the like, the ticket or the like does not necessarily have to be a physical entity, and information about the ticket or the like may be output as data to a storage medium brought by the user. Outputting data to a storage medium is effective when sound data used in a game (for example, music data in a music game) is set as the prize. Alternatively, a data communication function such as infrared communication or near-field wireless communication may be added to the vendor device, and data communication may be performed between the user's personal terminal device and the vendor device to output prize data to the user.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the identification information section P5 is provided on the physical card CDp, allowing the card CDp to be replaced with a virtual card CDv for use in a game. However, the identification information section P5 may be omitted, and an image of the card CDp may be provided from the user terminal 7 to the server device for image analysis, allowing the server device to identify the card data D11 corresponding to the card CDp. Alternatively, the means for replacing the physical card CDp with the virtual card CDv may be omitted, and the physical card CDp may be provided to users as a collectible item. Alternatively, a deck of physical cards CDp may be sold, allowing users to engage in real card battles using the deck. In this case, the vendor device 3 also functions as a means for users to obtain cards that can be used in real card battles. Even if replacement of a physical prize with a virtual prize is not possible, a user who obtains a real prize through the vendor device may wish to obtain a virtual prize through a lottery on a game terminal device, thereby motivating the user to play the game. Prizes are not limited to cards; various elements can be set as prizes as long as they are associated with the game. For example, prizes may be set as various items such as weapons, armor, tools, magic, spells, special moves, and costumes used by the user or the character set as the user's control target in the game. Alternatively, as mentioned above, sound data used in the game may be set as a prize. The title screen of the game, wallpaper on the game screen, and other elements may also be set as prizes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Amusement Systems 2. Center server (server device) 3 Vendor Equipment 4 Network 5A and 5B stores 7. User terminal (game terminal device) 20. Control unit of central server 21 Center server storage device (storage means) 22 Game server unit (lottery means, information processing means) 23 Vendor Server Department 30 Vendor device control unit (lottery request means, prize output means) 31 Vendor device storage device (storage means) 34 Coin selector (fee collection means) 35 Printer (prize output means) CD card (prize) CDp Physical Card CDv Virtual Card D11 Card data (prize data) D3 Lottery Table P5 Identification information section

Claims

[Claim 1] A vendor device that outputs prizes and a terminal device for playing games without outputting prizes are each connected to a server device via a network; the server device includes a server storage means for storing prize data corresponding to each of a plurality of prizes associated with the game; an information processing means for executing a process of making prize data corresponding to the prize available to the user in the game based on the prize identifying information acquired by the terminal device; and a lottery means for notifying the vendor device of information identifying a prize selected from a group of prizes selected as lottery candidates for the vendor, which are part of the plurality of prizes, in response to a request from the vendor device based on a user's operation, the vendor device includes a vendor storage means for storing the prize data or data equivalent to the prize data acquired from the server device as prize output data; a prize output means for identifying the prize drawn based on the information notified from the lottery means, and outputting the prize, the prize having an information section that can read information identifying the prize by the terminal device, based on prize output data corresponding to the identified prize, in order to use the prize in the game; the prize output means determines whether prize output data corresponding to the identified prize exists in the vendor storage means, and if it exists, outputs the prize to the user based on the prize output data in the vendor storage means, and if it does not exist, acquires the prize output data from the server device and stores the prize output data in the vendor storage means; Amusement system.

Images