Server device for net game, net game management method, net game management program and recording medium which stores net game management program

• US 6,821,205 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Tatsuya, Namba, Kazuhiro, Takahashi, Hidehisa
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/157,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/23
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers

Abstract

The present invention provides a server device for net games which can increase the acquaintances of the user through net games, give sufficient excitement to the user, and can run net games smoothly by improving the enthusiasm of users to participate in these games. A lobby server 13 stores profile information for each member when each member accesses using a client computer 2, and at the end of the encounter league, in which profile information is invariably exchanged, the lobby server 13 enables the stored profile information of one member to be read at the client computer 2 of the other member, and enables the stored profile information of the other member to be read at the client computer 2 of the first member.

Claims

1. A server device for net games which is communicably connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices used by users, and manages a game played in a game space by the users using said terminal devices, said server comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring profile information of a user which is transmitted from a terminal device used by the user;

exchanging means enabling that the profile information of the user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of another user, and the profile information of the other user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of the user when the users play a game with profile exchange using said terminal devices where profile information is exchanged, and

deciding means for selecting the other user, with whom said user is to play said game with profile exchange, from among the users according to screening conditions which the user sets using said terminal device, said screening condition including a speed of communication line connecting the terminal device of the other user and the network.

2. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising:

list creating means for creating a list of other users with whom profile information has been exchanged by said exchanging means; and

mail creating means by which an invitation mail for the user to request another user, selected from the list created by said list creating means using said terminal device, to play a game together can be read at the terminal of the selected other user.

3. The server device according to claim 2, further comprising detecting means for detecting the access status of the terminal device used by another user included in the list created by said list creating means.

4. A net game management method using a server device for net games which is communicably connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices used by users, and manages a game played in a game space by the users using said terminal devices, the method comprising the steps of:

a profile information acquiring step for the server device for net games to acquire profile information of a user which is transmitted from a terminal device of the user; and

a profile information exchanging step enabling that the profile information of the user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of another user, and the profile information of the other user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of the user when the users play a game with profile exchange using said terminal devices where profile information is exchanged, and

a deciding step for selecting the other user, with whom said user is to play said game with profile exchange, from among the users according to screening conditions which the user sets using said terminal device, said screening condition including a speed of communication line connecting the terminal device of the other user and the network.

5. A recording medium which stores a net game management program executable by a server device for net games, said net game management program causing the server device, which is communicably connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices used by users and manages a game played in a game space by the users using said terminal devices, to function as:

acquiring means for acquiring profile information of a user which is transmitted from a terminal device used by the user;

exchanging means by which the profile information of the user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of another user, and the profile information of the other user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of the user when the users play a game with profile exchange using said terminal devices where profile information is exchanged, and

deciding means for selecting the other user, with whom said user is to play said game with profile exchange, from among the users according to screening conditions which the user sets using said terminal device, said screening condition including a speed of communication line connecting the terminal device of the other user and the network.

6. A server device for net games which is communicably connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices used by users, and manages a game played in a game space by the users using said terminal devices, said server comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring profile information of a user which is transmitted from a terminal device used by the user; and

exchanging means enabling that the profile information of the user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of another user, and the profile information of the other user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of the user when the users play a game with profile exchange using said terminal devices where profile information is exchanged, wherein a game time of said game with profile exchange is set so as to be shorter than a game time of a profile exchange optional game where the exchange of profile information is optional.

7. The server device according to claim 6 wherein said game includes a plurality of innings and a total number of innings to be played during said game with profile exchange is set smaller than that to be played during the profile exchange optional game.

8. A server device for net games which is communicably connected via a network to a plurality of terminal devices used by users, and manages a game played in a game space by the users using said terminal devices, said server comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring profile information of a user which is transmitted from a terminal device used by the user;

exchanging means enabling that the profile information of the user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of another user, and the profile information of the other user acquired by said acquiring means can be read at the terminal device of the user when the users play a game with profile exchange using said terminal devices where profile information is exchanged; and

order presenting means allowing the user to read on the terminal device of the user an order of players forming an opponent team played by the another user at the terminal of the another user.