Network Game System Trial Version Server Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network game systems restrict participation in communication games to only terminals with the released version of the game program, preventing terminals with trial versions from accessing services and playing games before purchasing the released version.
Innovation Solution
A network game system that allows game apparatuses with trial versions to connect to game apparatuses with released versions by requesting and receiving connection permission from a server, enabling communication games between the two, with features like identification information registration and selection of known players for safe and easy participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only terminals with released version game program are allowed to connect to the server, then game security and version control are improved, but accessibility and ease of participation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the game program into a trial version and a released version, allowing different levels of access. The trial version can connect to the server for limited purposes (playing against AI or registered players), while the released version provides full access. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling trial participants to access the server without compromising security, as the trial version operates under restricted conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that mediates between trial version terminals and released version terminals. The server accepts connection requests from trial versions, verifies their status, and allows them to play against registered players or AI. This intermediary approach enables trial participants to access the game server while maintaining security controls, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and security.
2Device complexity
If trial version game program is restricted from connecting to server, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability and versatility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The server is designed with multi-functionality to handle both trial version and released version terminals. It provides universal connection acceptance for trial versions (with restrictions) and full service access for released versions. The server can route trial version players to appropriate game modes (AI or registered players) while maintaining the same overall system architecture, thus achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If connection permission is required from server for trial version, then reliability of connection is improved, but ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary registration of players before the actual game connection. Players must register their information in advance, which establishes their identity and status (trial or released version). This preliminary action enables the server to reliably manage connections and permissions without requiring complex real-time authentication during the actual gaming session, thus improving connection reliability while keeping the user experience simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A network game system includes a plurality of game apparatuses, a game server and a network. In the game apparatuses whose players are acquainted with each other, each-other's profile IDs are registered via a game server, and the contents of the registration are managed by the game server. A game apparatus having a released version game program performs a communication game inviting request on the game server while a game apparatus having its trial version game program performs a communication game participating request on the game server. If the game apparatuses are game apparatuses whose each-other's profile IDs are registered, the game server permits a connection to execute a communication game between these game apparatuses.