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

• US 20020183117A1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 6,821,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 said terminal device; and

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

2. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising deciding means for deciding a player with whom said game with profile exchange is played from among other users according to screening conditions which the user sets using said terminal device.

3. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the game time of said game with profile exchange is set so as to be shorter than the game time of a profile exchange optional game where the exchange of profile information is optional.

4. 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, who is 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.

5. The server device according to claim 1, 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.

6. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising order presenting means by which the player order of the team which another user to be an opponent will use for the game can be read at the terminal device of the user.

7. 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 device, the method comprising the steps of:

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

a profile information exchanging step enabling that the profile information of one user acquired in said profile information acquiring step can be read at the terminal device of the other user, and the profile information of the other user acquired in said profile information acquiring step can be read at the terminal device of the first user when the users play a game with profile exchange where profiles are invariably exchanged using said terminal devices.

8. A net game management program which causes 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, to function as:

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

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

9. A recording medium which stores a net game management program, said net game management program causing 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, to function as:

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

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