METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SERVER DEVICE, SERVER DEVICE, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM AND GAME SYSTEM

• US 20170216719A1
• Filed: 04/19/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Original Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Inventors: Ino, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,873,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

To enhance motivation of a player to invite another player to a social game, thus activating the social game and a platform that provides the social game, a server device includes incentive giving means that gives an incentive to a player who operates a first terminal device when a player of a second terminal device that receives, from the first terminal device, invitation information including solicitation information to at least suggest participating in the game and specific information to at least specify a landing screen associated with a home screen of the game operates the second terminal device to access the landing screen on a basis of the specific information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a server device that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, and that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line, comprising:

by the server device, enabling a first terminal device to send invitation information to a second terminal device, wherein the invitation information includes specific information to at least specify a landing screen associated with the game;

by the server device, detecting when the second terminal device is operated to access the landing screen on a basis of the specific information;

by the server device, responsive to said detecting, giving a first incentive to a first player who operates the first terminal device; and

by the server device, giving a second incentive to the first player when a second player who operates the second terminal device participates in the game and achieves a specific matter that is predetermined in the game.

2. The method for controlling according to claim 1, wherein

the specific information is associated with identification information to distinguish the first player from other players, and

in the first incentive giving step, when the second terminal device accesses the landing screen, the server device identifies the first player who transmits the invitation information to the second terminal device using the identification information associated with the specific information.

3. The method for controlling according to claim 1, wherein

a third incentive is further given at least to the first player when the second player registers as a player of the game via the landing screen.

4. The method for controlling according to claim 2, wherein

a third incentive is further given at least to the first player when the second player registers as a player of the game via the landing screen.

5. The method for controlling according to claim 1, further comprising:

limiting a number of times of the first incentive that can be given in a predetermined duration and changing limitations of the number of times of the first incentive that can be given for every predetermined duration.

6. The method for controlling according to claim 2,

further comprising:

limiting a number of times of the first incentive that can be given in a predetermined duration and changing limitations of the number of times of the first incentive that can be given for every predetermined duration.

7. The method for controlling according to claim 3, further comprising:

limiting a number of times of the first incentive that can be given in a predetermined duration and changing limitations of the number of times of the first incentive that can be given for every predetermined duration.

8. The method for controlling according to claim 4, further comprising:

limiting a number of times of the first incentive that can be given in a predetermined duration and changing limitations of the number of times of the first incentive that can be given for every predetermined duration.

9. A server device that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, and that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line, the server device being operative:

to enable a first terminal device to send invitation information to a second terminal device, wherein the invitation information includes specific information to at least specify a landing screen associated with the game;

to detect when the second terminal device is operated to access the landing screen on a basis of the specific information;

responsive to said detecting, to give a first incentive to a first player who operates the first terminal device; and

to give a second incentive to the first player when a second player who operates the second terminal device participates in the game and achieves a specific matter that is predetermined in the game.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program that can be readable by a computer that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, and that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line and which program, when executed by said computer, provides an incentive giving function that:

enables a first terminal device to send invitation information to a second terminal device, wherein the invitation information includes specific information to at least specify a landing screen associated with the game;

detects when the second terminal device is operated to access the landing screen on a basis of the specific information; and

responsive to said detecting, gives a first incentive to a first player who operates the first terminal device; and

gives a second incentive to the first player when a second player who operates the second terminal device participates in the game and achieves a specific matter that is predetermined in the game.