On-line game method

• US 20040242326A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Eighting
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Eighting
• Inventors: Satou, Shouji, Fujisawa, Tomonori
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM

Abstract

Strengthening a relation between “products” and a virtual space, and improving values of both game characters and the “products” mimicking the characters by stimulating users'"'"' affection to original products. In an online game method, a product carrying an ID code assigned thereto and a number of image characters reflecting features of the product and correlated to the ID code are previously prepared, and a user can use the image characters as characters for the online game by inputting the ID code in the online game to register the image characters therein.

Claims

1. A method of providing an online game comprising the steps of:

preparing a product carrying an ID code assigned thereto and a number of image characters reflecting features of the product and correlated to the ID code in advance;

registering one of the image characters in response to input of the ID code in the online game; and

enabling said image character to be used as the online game character.

2. The method of providing an online game according to claim 1, wherein the image character mimics the corresponding product.

3. The method of providing an online game according to claim 1, wherein membership registration in the online game is made prior to inputting the ID code.

4. The method of providing an online game according to claim 1, wherein the product is a premium for a prize awarding machine.

5. The method of providing an online game according to claim 1, wherein the registered image characters are possibly shown in a form of an album.

6. The method of providing an online game according to claim 1, wherein a game point is given to a registered member simultaneously when the image character is registered.

7. An online game device for playing the online game method according to claim 1.

8. The online game device according to claim 7, comprising a mail server, and an administration server always monitoring incoming signals to the mail server and having a data area for each member.

9. A method of providing an online game by an administration server, comprising the steps of:

fetching an ID code assigned to a product from an online game terminal;

retrieving an image character corresponding to said ID code from a database and correlating the retrieved image character to said ID code; and

having the correlated image character used as a character for an online game based on said ID code, wherein said administration server for managing the online game with image characters appearing therein has the database with image characters each having features of the product.